Diana Ross is (again) “The Boss”

In 1980 Diana Ross was already a legend of music. At 36 he had lived more than one artistic life: the debut with the Supremes (34 million copies sold only in the United States), the 1970 solo turning point, motherhood, success at the cinema (in 1978 he had played Dorothy in the Refurbishment of “The Wizard of Oz”, together with a very young Michael Jackson). The contract with the MOTOWN Which he had signed when he was still a girl, before reaching the great success, was expiring.

For a while, the diva of Black Music had begun to demonstrate a form of dissatisfaction with the records. Ross had decided to remain faithful to Motown, the label that in fact had made it one of the brightest stars of US pop music (and world), even after the end of the Supremes adventure. But arrived at that point of his career,. The queen demanded greater independence and more control over artistic choices. After all, the album “Diana”, co-produced by that genius of Nile Rodgersit had been a sensational success, yet another: thanks to Hit as “Upside Down” and “I’m coming out” the Ellepì had sold over 1 million copies only in the United States and consecrated the singer of Detroit as a ‘ icon. It became so powerful and influential – it is no coincidence that the 1979 album was titled “The boss” – To be ready, at that point, to write an interesting page of the record industry. Making the story.

An unprecedented contract

Strengthened by the record successes collected in those years, Diana Ross sat at the Table of the negotiations with the record records of Motown, led by the great chief Berry Gordy, willing to move on to the income. With a special councilor: Simmons Gene. That’s right: the bassist of the Kiss, at the time, had a story with the Ross (the two had begun to attend in 1980: they would be three years later). According to biographers and enthusiasts, It was he who suggested to the 36 -year -old diva of Tagliari the umbilical cord that binds it to Motown, taking advantage of his enormous popularity to negotiate a new contract with the RCA Record.

Because the giant of the US discography not only ensured the voice of “Upside Down” the total artistic control over his music, but.He offered her an unprecedented contract of over 20 million dollarsthe greatest signature of the signature never given to a musical artist before. The pop star accepted: «I want everyone to know that even if the facts could suggest that I had some problems with the Motown, it wasn’t like that at all. I love society and all those who have worked for me over the years “, he will then explain, in the aftermath of the announcement of the sensational passage. «I could understand why he did it, but he killed me anyway. After twenty -one years, suddenly, he left, “said Berry Gordy, many years later, talking about the divorce from his pupil.

NEVER NEVER LIKE HER

The story after more than forty years continues to be one of the most emblematic of the career of an extraordinarily influential artist, considered – not wrongly – One of the first African American women to become a global figure in the world of pop music, capable of having a significant impact not only on the movement panorama but also on the representation of African American women in the media and in popular culturebreaking many racial and gender barriers in the mainstream. After that move, Ross put his face on it, becoming one of the first women’s artists to produce entire albums, risking and dirtying his hands, from “Who do fools fall in love?” from 1981 to 1984 “Swept Away”, passing “Silk Electric” of 1982 and “Ross” of 1983, before the iconic Return to Motown with “Workin ‘Overtime”, produced again by Nile Rodgers, in a perfect closure of the circle. In 1993 the Guinness Book of Records will declare it as the most successful female artist of the twentieth century by number of records (150) had in the English and American rankings.

The new tour, at 80 years old

At 80, Diana Ross, seen on Sunday night at the Grammy Awards, where he awarded Kendrick Lamar with the prize as “Song of the Year” for “Not Like Us”, He prepares to reiterate that he is still “The Boss” With a tour that this summer will see her perform in the United Kingdom – departure on 22 June from Birmingham, grand finale on July 2nd at the O2 Arena in London – with not one, not two, but three different orchestras, the Hallé Orchestra, the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra. “Even in the dark we can rise and keep alive the light of hope and love»He said from the Grammy stage. His story is proof of this.