Diana Ross Biography

Fast Facts

• Earned a Guinness World Record in 1993 for having more hits than any other female artist in the charts
• Studied to be a fashion designer at a college preparatory magnet school, and even after joining a doo-wop group called the Primettes, she used her skills to be the group's hair stylist, make-up artist, seamstress and costume designer
• Made several films for Motown, most notably "Lady Sings the Blues," a story loosely based on the life of musician Billie Holiday
• First gaining fame as the lead singer of The Supremes, she was known for her high, reedy and vulnerable-sounding singing voice
• Performed a free concert in New York City's Central Park to raise funds to build a children's playground there, but the event was postponed midway through due to a violent storm, and in the end, Ross funded the park out of her own pocket
• Sang "God Bless America" at Shea Stadium in New York City 10 days after the September 11th terrorist attacks