Black Music Month Celebrates: Diana Ross

🎶Do you know where you're going to?

Do you like the things that life is showing you?

Where are you going to?

Do you know?

Do you get what you're hoping for?

When you look behind you, there's no open doors

What are you hoping for?

Do you know?

Once we were standing still in time

Chasing the fantasies that filled our minds

You knew how I loved you, but my spirit was free

Laughing at the questions that you once asked of me🎶 - Diana (Do You Know Where You're Going To)

Oh the sounds of the Motown queen Diana Ross. For the past 65 years Diana Ross has been one of the most legendary and iconic voices of world music. She is not only one of the most successful artist of all time, but her music has become the soundtrack to pop culture as we know it.

Diana was born Diane Ross on March 26, 1944 in Detroit, Michigan. She was the second oldest of six children born to Ernestine and Fred Ross. When Diane was born the doctor’s accidentally signed “Diana” on her birth certificate and this would become her legal name, though everyone closest to her always referred to her as Diane. Diana spent most of her childhood between Detroit and Highland Park, Michigan. Growing up in the latter of Highland Park she was a neighbor and friend of future fellow Motown Records alumni, William “Smokey” Robinson.

As a teenager Diana had a talent for singing, but her original ambition in life was to be a fashion designer, a field she studied heavily in her school years. By the time Diana was 15 years old she started putting her singing talent in motion. She joined a female group known as the Primettes, who were an extension of the male collective known as the Primes, which was composed of future Motown alumni/The Temptations members Paul Williams and Eddie Kendricks.

With the help of her friend Smokey Robinson, who had now become a leading figure at Motown Records, The Primettes made the transition to Motown and became The Supremes in 1961. Two years after first signing with Motown The Supremes had the first hit record with “When the Lovelight Starts Shining Through His Eyes”.

🎶He gave me the eye

But I just passed him by

I treated him unkind

But he didn't seem to mind

I told him be on his way

But not a word did he say

He just stood there kind of bold

While I acted cold

But when the lovelight starts shining through his eyes

Made me realize I should apologize

And when he placed a kiss upon my face

Then I knew, oh then I knew

That he won my heart

So I quickly apologized

Hoping he hadn't changed his mind

But not a word did he say

So I turned to walk away🎶 - The Supremes (When the Lovelight Starts Shining Through His Eyes).

The Supremes would become one of Motown’s most popular acts and one of the biggest groups in the country. They would have more hits during their time together like “Where Did Our Love Go” (1964) and “Forever Came Today”(1968), but as the 60’s came to a close and the 70’s started approaching Diana started seeking her own light as a solo artist. "Someday We'll Be Together” would be the final single that Diana recorded with The Supremes.

Diana released her self titled solo debut album in 1970. Though the album was only a moderate commercial success, the album was critically acclaimed for its tracks that would become Diana’s signature songs including “Reach Out and Touch (Somebody's Hand)” and "Ain't No Mountain High Enough”. All in all the album proved that Diana could stand on her own as a solo act.

🎶Reach out and touch

Somebody's hand

Make this world a better place

If you can

Reach out and touch

Somebody's hand

Make this world a better place

If you can

Take a little time out your busy day

To give encouragement

To someone who's lost the way

Just try)

Or would I be talking to a stone

If I asked you

To share a problem that's not your own

(Oh no)

We can change things if we start giving

Why don't you🎶 - Diana Ross (Reach Out And Touch).

As the 70’s progressed Diana embarked on a successful career as an actress. Her earliest films Lady Sings The Blues (1972) and Mahogany (1975) were big hits for Diana, as were their soundtracks. Diana’s solo career had also soared to new heights throughout the remainder of the 70’s and into the 80’s thanks to albums like Diana (1980) and Why Do Fools Fall In Love (1981).

In my childhood Diana struck a personal chord with me thanks to my family. My mother and my grandmother loved Diana’s music and her films Lady Sings The Blues and Mahogany, but it was actually my older sister who inadvertently made me a fan of Diana when my grandmother gave her the 1999 ABC television film Double Platinum starring Ross and R&B sensation Brandy Norwood on home video. Double Platinum is one of my favorite music films ever to this day and along with Brandy’s then album, Diana’s album Every Day Is A New Day is one of my favorite albums every. That record really made me appreciate Diana’s music very much.

Fast forward to today and Diana is still one of the greatest and most influential Music artist of all time. Her children including her daughter Tracee and her son Evan have followed in her footsteps as successful performers of show business and her music continues to inspire even the youngest artist of today. Black Music Month Celebrates Diana Ross.

🎶You were the first who ever brought me out

Showed me what life and love was all about

Gave me things that I never need

You're in my thoughts, my every dream

I found joy in your touch, I miss your kisses

The way you made me blush

Life is cruel now that you're gone

I love you so I can't let go, yeah

Not over you yet

Not trying to forget

The way that you loved me

Not over you yet

Not trying to forget

The way that you loved me🎶 - Diana Ross (Not Over You Yet).