Diana Ross Hosting the Tonight Show

[daviddh]

I remember when Baby Its Me was released. she was on the Tonight show. I satyed up on a school night to see her perform the new single. I was so angry when she came out singing Aint Nobodys Business......and no mention of the new album.i just went to bed and never finished the show

[JohnnyB]

I remember when Baby Its Me was released. she was on the Tonight show. I satyed up on a school night to see her perform the new single. I was so angry when she came out singing Aint Nobodys Business......and no mention of the new album.i just went to bed and never finished the show

She was also on the show early in 1977 promoting the An Evening With TV special. Although I did not see the show, I've read she performed The Lady Is A Tramp instead of something from Diana Ross '76. Was this a continuation of Berry Gordy's plan to showcase Diana as an all around entertainer, not just a singer promoting a new release? I wonder if, in hindsight, Motown recognizes the missed opportunities to promote product.

[reese]

She was also on the show early in 1977 promoting the An Evening With TV special. Although I did not see the show, I've read she performed The Lady Is A Tramp instead of something from Diana Ross '76. Was this a continuation of Berry Gordy's plan to showcase Diana as an all around entertainer, not just a singer promoting a new release? I wonder if, in hindsight, Motown recognizes the missed opportunities to promote product.

I suspect that Diana was still operating under Motown/Berry's idea that their artists weren't only as big as their last hit record. I have since read that Diana actually tired of singing THE LADY IS A TRAMP and took it out of her AN EVENING WITH DIANA ROSS concert. When Berry saw the show, he asked her conductor Gil Askey why it wasn't in the show. When told that Diana was tired of singing it, Berry responded "Put it back in there."

I do remember the week that "Diana" [[1980) was released. She appeared on a Bob Hope special and mentioned that she had a new album. The set actually included multiple copies of the album cover. Yet she didn't sing any of its songs. She sang REACH OUT, AIN'T NO MOUNTAIN HIGH ENOUGH, and a medley of songs about flying with Bob.

There were many lost opportunities for promotion, but I think Motown knew that Diana was bigger than a hit record. Looking at her chart positions in the 70s, one could speculate that singles such as SURRENDER, I'M STILL WAITING, and others might have done better if she had performed them on tv. But then you look at smashes like UPSIDE DOWN, I'M COMING OUT, and IT'S MY TURN which she never performed on tv until after they had been hits. Even in the RCA days, she rarely did tv to promote her releases, relying on videos and her reputation. So who knows?

[vgalindo]

Yes Reese. I remember that Bob Hope special and thinking how could she have not done anything from her new album Diana, but had posters of it all over in the background .

[JohnnyB]

I suspect that Diana was still operating under Motown/Berry's idea that their artists weren't only as big as their last hit record. I have since read that Diana actually tired of singing THE LADY IS A TRAMP and took it out of her AN EVENING WITH DIANA ROSS concert. When Berry saw the show, he asked her conductor Gil Askey why it wasn't in the show. When told that Diana was tired of singing it, Berry responded "Put it back in there."

I do remember the week that "Diana" [[1980) was released. She appeared on a Bob Hope special and mentioned that she had a new album. The set actually included multiple copies of the album cover. Yet she didn't sing any of its songs. She sang REACH OUT, AIN'T NO MOUNTAIN HIGH ENOUGH, and a medley of songs about flying with Bob.

There were many lost opportunities for promotion, but I think Motown knew that Diana was bigger than a hit record. Looking at her chart positions in the 70s, one could speculate that singles such as SURRENDER, I'M STILL WAITING, and others might have done better if she had performed them on tv. But then you look at smashes like UPSIDE DOWN, I'M COMING OUT, and IT'S MY TURN which she never performed on tv until after they had been hits. Even in the RCA days, she rarely did tv to promote her releases, relying on videos and her reputation. So who knows?

I remember that special as well Reese. I fully expected something from "diana" and was really curious since a first single hadn't been released at that time.