Few singers have been associated as closely with soul music as Diana Ross.
The American singer, 81, who will perform as part of the Abu Dhabi concert series Saadiyat Nights on Friday, was a driving force in soul music's crossover to the mainstream, while also expanding its once rigid creative structure that relied primarily on groups, to welcome a female solo star.
Her legacy building continued over the next five decades, with Ross scoring more hits and showing the kinds of career pivots and “eras” that have become the norm in the industry today.
From music and fashion to the big and small screens, here are four ways in which Diana Ross established her influence.
1. Ross made the soul singer a superstar
From left, Mary Wilson, Florence Ballard and Diana Ross of The Supremes in New York City in 1965. Getty
From its onset in the early 1960s, commercial soul music was shaped by vocal groups – a link to the genre’s roots in a cappella-focused doo-wop and gospel music.
That visual familiarity, the labels figured, would offset some of the new and bold aspects introduced to the genre, such as the d
Continue Reading on The National UAE
This preview shows approximately 15% of the article. Read the full story on the publisher's website to support quality journalism.