Discount Tix MARY In Branson$34.95Kids: $8.96 + Free Popcorn, Coupon Book, & Massage!

[supremester]

Front Row Still Available!!!

Mary WilsonFREE Branson Guest Card
Includes $3,900 in coupons & a gas discount! [[$39.95 value)
For information or reservations:
Call: 1-800-504-0115
Local: [[417) 544-1944
Our reservation line is open:
7 days a week [[8:00 am - 10:30 pm)

Sale! $34.50 per adult

On Sale!
book now! [[http://traveloffice.org/booknow.html)
Sale! $34.50 per adult


On Sale!
FREE 20-minute Massage
[[Good for every person traveling with you)!

Find discount tickets for Mary Wilson at Andy Williams Moon River Theater [[http://www.bransonshowtickets.com/mary-wilson/andy-williams-moon-river-theater) in Branson, Missouri
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For information or reservations:
Call: 1-800-504-0115
Local: [[417) 544-1944
Our reservation line is open:
7 days a week [[8:00 am - 10:30 pm)

Sale! $34.50 per adult

On Sale!
book now! [[http://traveloffice.org/booknow.html)
Sale! $34.50 per adult


On Sale!

Sale! $34.50 per adult

On Sale!
book now!http://traveloffice.org/branson/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2015/02/mary-wilson-729x387.jpg

[[http://traveloffice.org/booknow.html)

Call us toll free to book

888-996-3224

[[8:00am - 11:00pm CST • 7 days a week)
Adult Ticket Price: $34.95


Child [[12&U): $8.96

[jobeterob]

You get $39.00 in coupons or $3900 in coupons?

I would go if I were around there.

I take it tickets to some heritage acts can be a hard sell?

[RobertZ]

You get $39.00 in coupons or $3900 in coupons?

I would go if I were around there.

I take it tickets to some heritage acts can be a hard sell?
I didn't know Mary was a masseuse! That gal does it all!

[marv2]

I wished I could go, I'm too busy making my own money! LOL!

[jobeterob]

I wished I could go, I'm too busy making my own money! LOL!

Maybe you could lend a bit to Mary so she doesn't have to go to Diana again ~ cuz she sure ain't makin any off these kinda gigs! LOL

[marv2]

Maybe you could lend a bit to Mary so she doesn't have to go to Diana again ~ cuz she sure ain't makin any off these kinda gigs! LOL

After Bernie Madoff? I doubt Mary will be calling Diane.......hehehehehehe

[supremester]

I'm just having her do my feet.



I didn't know Mary was a masseuse! That gal does it all!

[RobertZ]

I'm just having her do my feet.

Appropriate, biblically, according to how her fans view her...
BUT to be fair, Branson is still mostly a country town. If Mary could move less than 200 tickets for a 1-nighter here in NJ [[10% of the 1730 seat Bergen Performing Arts Center) with a full page in the season catalog, a diverse population, and a season-series audience base ... I wonder why she does not perform in Valerie Simpson's Sugar Bar? That would draw a crowd.

[jobeterob]

Appropriate, biblically, according to how her fans view her...
BUT to be fair, Branson is still mostly a country town. If Mary could move less than 200 tickets for a 1-nighter here in NJ [[10% of the 1730 seat Bergen Performing Arts Center) with a full page in the season catalog, a diverse population, and a season-series audience base ... I wonder why she does not perform in Valerie Simpson's Sugar Bar? That would draw a crowd.

Does Valerie really have a Sugar Bar somewhere?

[captainjames]

Come on guys Mary has not had Diana's phone number in over 15 years now at least.

[RobertZ]

Does Valerie really have a Sugar Bar somewhere?

Dude! Hang 'yer head in shame!
http://www.sugarbarnyc.com/
Come to NY & I'll treat.
A&S also had "20/20" [[20 West 20th St, NYC) years ago. I saw Jennifer Holiday perform there, and Nick and Val were on the scene and wonderful, gracious hosts.

[jobeterob]

Dude! Hang 'yer head in shame!
http://www.sugarbarnyc.com/
Come to NY & I'll treat.
A&S also had "20/20" [[20 West 20th St, NYC) years ago. I saw Jennifer Holiday perform there, and Nick and Val were on the scene and wonderful, gracious hosts.

Will I have to nod at Marv as part of my penance?

[RobertZ]

Will I have to nod at Marv as part of my penance?

I promise, no. It's a music bar and restaurant, not purgatory.

[supremester]

Make him go to Branson as penance with NO popcorn, NO coupon and NO massage.

[RobertZ]

Make him go to Branson as penance with NO popcorn, NO coupon and NO massage.
NO popcorn?! TOO harsh.
9486

[carole cucumber]

Or, of more current vintage:

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://tomjonesintl.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/soakin-up-rays.jpg&imgrefurl=http://tomjonesintl.com/2013/06/14/sir-tom-jools-holland-perform-for-one-org-to-protest-the-g8-summit-a-great-cause/&h=418&w=770&tbnid=Ww1OQk7XxNSeTM:&zoom=1&docid=jnkXynL1UH26OM&ei=p2F0VZDsCcSGyATWwICIBA&tbm=isch&ved=0CIEBEDMoSDBI

[carole cucumber]

HMMH...???? .......Tom Jones.... a player???????

http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/soul-singer-diana-ross-and-singer-tom-jones-partying-news-photo/156084027

[RobertZ]

HMMH...???? .......Tom Jones.... a player???????

Nan
Love it! Ms. Ross looks gorgeous, and seems to be thinking "I don't think so ..."

[marv2]

an
Love it! Ms. Ross looks gorgeous, and seems to be thinking "I don't think so ..."

No,what she was saying. was........."Tom can you believe I am sitting here 5 months pregnant with another man's baby and my husband I just married less than 4 months ago doesn't even know it"!

[marv2]

Here he is at the same party with the right one! Mary Wilson!

9487

[vgalindo]

The right one...You got that right.. The one that would easily sleep with a married man!! LOL

[marv2]

The right one...You got that right.. The one that would easily sleep with a married man!! LOL

As opposed to getting pregnant by a married man, while you yourself are a newlywed.....................GEEZ!

[RobertZ]

Mr. Jones is still a quite big draw [[if he leaves his shirt on - LOL!) I believe I read he and Mary are still friends. Do we know if he ever offered her to tour as his opening act or featured background singer? That would be a good gig.

[helga]

Here he is at the same party with the right one! Mary Wilson!

9487

I also see something else hangin' to the right in this photo...and it ain't Mary. Oh boy!

[carole cucumber]

Here he is at the same party with the right one! Mary Wilson!

9487

Obviously Mary was incorrect in identifying a similar photo [[Tom & Mary in same outfits; Mary wearing same earrings) in "Dreamgirl" . She places it in 1967.
And as she states in Dreamgirl, [[based upon her diary) her affair with Tom was over by December 1969.
So in the 1971 photo... perhaps Tom was putting the moves on Diana. He and Mary were likely talking about days gone by.

[marv2]

Obviously Mary was incorrect in identifying a similar photo [[Tom & Mary in same outfits; Mary wearing same earrings) in "Dreamgirl" . She places it in 1967.
And as she states in Dreamgirl, [[based upon her diary) her affair with Tom was over by December 1969.
So in the 1971 photo... perhaps Tom was putting the moves on Diana. He and Mary were likely talking about days gone by.

Nah I highly doubt since Tom Jones made it real clear that Diana Ross was not attractive in his opinion plus the fact that Diane is [[5) five months pregnant in that picture with Berry Gordy's child. She had been married to Robert Silberstein for approx 4 months by the time of the picture also.

[marv2]

The way he is looking at Mary's boobs, I don't think he is ready to throw in the towel just yet! LOL!!!

9489

[marv2]

They sure took a lot of pictures together at that party. Almost enough to give people the wrong impression, hehehehehehehehehehe!

9490

9491

[luke]

I'm assuming a lot of people knew what was going on--no?

[marv2]

I'm assuming a lot of people knew what was going on--no?

Everybody knew except for Carolcucumber! LOL!

[Roberta75]

I'm assuming a lot of people knew what was going on--no?

Except Mrs Linda Jones who was toms wife at the time.

[marv2]

Except Mrs Linda Jones who was toms wife at the time.

She knew, she knew she could not complete with Mary Wilson in many ways...............

[milven]

As opposed to getting pregnant by a married man, while you yourself are a newlywed.....................GEEZ!

Aren't these two quotes contradictory of each other? In the top quote she got pregnant while a newlywed and in the below quote she got was already pregnant a month when she got married Not that it matters Just don't take everything posted here as gospel


No,what she was saying. was........."Tom can you believe I am sitting here 5 months pregnant with another man's baby and my husband I just married less than 4 months ago doesn't even know it"!

[marv2]

Aren't these two quotes contradictory of each other? In the top quote she got pregnant while a newlywed and in the below quote she got was already pregnant a month when she got married Not that it matters Just don't take everything posted here as gospel

Oh it's the Gospel truth! Diana Ross married Bob Silberstein in January 1971. She was pregnant at the ceremony , pregnant by Berry Gordy Jr. Her daughter was born in August 1971. the pics feature of her in this thread were taken in April 1971 which makes her 5 months pregnant when she attended Mary Wilson's boyfriend, Tom Jones' party in Vegas!

[luke]

Are people as supportive of Claudette and Mrs Brian Holland when their husbands were having affairs with..now who was that...hmmm.

[milven]

Yes, I agree with that quote But your other quote said that she was a newlywed when she got pregnant by a married man She actually was single when she got pregnant by a married man So your two quotes did contradict each other Not that it matters

[supremester]

And he's lying about Bob not knowing it, but, then again, it's not the first time. And what's the big deal about getting pregnant - it proves you have sex? Who doesn't? What a stooopid thing to even bring up. Why don't you ask Marv about Mary getting pregnant while she was single? They are BFF's so I'm sure she told him all about it...... Adios.......hehehehehe

[marv2]

Are people as supportive of Claudette and Mrs Brian Holland when their husbands were having affairs with..now who was that...hmmm.

Throw in Eddie Kendricks wife according to what was revealed during the Unsung episode on him!

[marv2]

And he's lying about Bob not knowing it, but, then again, it's not the first time. And what's the big deal about getting pregnant - it proves you have sex? Who doesn't? What a stooopid thing to even bring up. Why don't you ask Marv about Mary getting pregnant while she was single? They are BFF's so I'm sure she told him all about it...... Adios.......hehehehehe

What kind of woman is going to be knockin da boots with a man just weeks before she marries her "true love"? If Silberstein knew that Diane was screwing Berry enough to get pregnant just under one month before she married him, then he is a "special kind of guy" LOL!!!

[luke]

What Tom Jones says to Mary about Diana when he came to the Supremes suite to pick Mary up is pretty funny.

[marv2]

What Tom Jones says to Mary about Diana when he came to the Supremes suite to pick Mary up is pretty funny.

He said something like, Why is she screaming and trying to cover up? No one wants a bone but a dog.................." LOL!!!!

[Roberta75]

Oh it's the Gospel truth! Diana Ross married Bob Silberstein in January 1971. She was pregnant at the ceremony , pregnant by Berry Gordy Jr. Her daughter was born in August 1971. the pics feature of her in this thread were taken in April 1971 which makes her 5 months pregnant when she attended Mary Wilson's boyfriend, Tom Jones' party in Vegas!

For petes sake get a life. Now your Dianes obgyn. For a lady that you dont like you sure spend a heck of a lot of your life fretting over and discussing.

[marv2]

For petes sake get a life. Now your Dianes obgyn. For a lady that you dont like you sure spend a heck of a lot of your life fretting over and discussing.

Someone here said not long ago, I think it was Thomas, you seem to be pretty obsessed with me.

[supremester]

What did he say, "Gee Mary, what kind of bitch sets "her best friend/sister" up to be caught undressed and unready by a total stranger in her dressing room and then lies about it later. No wonder she can't stand your ass?" Is that what he said?
What Tom Jones says to Mary about Diana when he came to the Supremes suite to pick Mary up is pretty funny.

[Roberta75]

Someone here said not long ago, I think it was Thomas, you seem to be pretty obsessed with me.

You and Thomas be wrong about that now go on you must have more stuff on Diane to file away. Im just pointing out to folks how you have Diane Ross in your head 24-7

[captainjames]

Sorry folks Bob was aware that Diana was pregnant, so I am not sure what that has to do with anything here.

[captainjames]

Now back to this discount book ???? what coupons ?? and who does that ??

[marv2]

Sorry folks Bob was aware that Diana was pregnant, so I am not sure what that has to do with anything here.

You didn't answer the question. Don't be scurrred......hehehehehehehe.

[jobeterob]

Is this another concert of Mary's that is not selling and is going awry? As in giveaway tickets and cancellations?

[supremester]

You didn't answer the question. Don't be scurrred......hehehehehehehe.
What did he say, "Gee Mary, what kind of bitch sets "her best friend/sister" up to be caught undressed and unready by a total stranger in her dressing room and then lies about it later. No wonder she can't stand your ass?" Is that what he said? hehehehehehehehe!!!!! lol

[jobeterob]

Has the show been cancelled?

[supremester]

Is this another concert of Mary's that is not selling and is going awry? As in giveaway tickets and cancellations?

Well it depends on who booked it. If it was in-house, there will be a point when, if things don't pick up, they will cancel. If Mary booked the house, she'll play the dates if she comes out ahead. I'm guessing it's in-house as I don't think Mary would commit to the expense of 5 nights. I have a friend who I suggested go see her in Branson. He called and told me about the markdown as he called to get their $15 back. The fact that it drooped a third four months out says they are not optimistic and since they are still selling front row with all the promos, it kind of doesn't look good. It's Branson - I wouldn't think of it as Mary Wilson Territory, but you never know. Mary's gigs have declined a lot - she's not getting the festival gigs anymore and those netted her 8-15k per. Now she's working off the door in joints and split bills etc. If it were me, I'd book her as a late night show at The Flamingo after Donny & Marie or ONJ. Donny owns the room for a while and could bring her in cheap. If she drew hundreds to that dump off the strip, I think she'd pull well there and grow it. It a tough time for these acts as the clocks tick, fan bases dwindle. Queen Ree did the buy 3 get 4 at BergenPac - did you ever expect THAT??? St Louis didnt sell out for Miss Ross at like 93%...........

[jobeterob]

Thanks for the rundown.

[jobeterob]

When is this show? Has it been cancelled now or is it a month away?

[jobeterob]

When is this show? Has it been cancelled now or is it a month away?

This is for more than 3 months away. Anything could happen.

[marv2]

This is for more than 3 months away. Anything could happen.

Why are you so concerned with Mary's show being cancelled or not?

[supremester]

Probably the same reason YOU discuss certain artists ticket sales

[RobertZ]

I thought for sure the popcorn would bring 'em in. Mary should book venues like A&S's Sugar Bar, maybe the Blue Note, BB Kings, etc. There seems to be more interest in her speaking gigs.

[RobertZ]

Is this another concert of Mary's that is not selling and is going awry? As in giveaaway tickets and cancellations?
"Going awry" or "going away"? Of course if it goes away, it has gone awry.

[marv2]

Mary Wilson reigns Supreme and that is all that matters. She's as busy now at age 71 as ever!

[jobeterob]

Mary Wilson reigns Supreme and that is all that matters. She's as busy now at age 71 as ever!

Not quite as Supreme if the concert tanks and cancels and like it or not, it's been happening.

[marv2]

Not quite as Supreme if the concert tanks and cancels and like it or not, it's been happening.

Mary Wilson is the reigning Supreme. She is booked through the end of the year just as she is every year around the World!

[detmotownguy]

Mary Wilson is the reigning Supreme. She is booked through the end of the year just as she is every year around the World!
It is impossible to erase or minimize Mary's contributions. She is permanently imbedded in music history. She is important.

[marv2]

Not quite as Supreme if the concert tanks and cancels and like it or not, it's been happening.

Oh you mean like "The Return to Love" tour? I can see how that can be a major public embarrassment and career changer..................

[milven]

Oh you mean like "The Return to Love" tour? I can see how that can be a major public embarrassment and career changer..................

I don't think that RTL has affected Diana's career. She seems to have done pretty well since then. And Mary has done better too since RTL. It put her more in the spotlight and she is in demand to do interviews about the Supremes and answer questions about Diana [[who seldom does interviews) and reiterate that she and Diana are friends. Mary and Diana are constantly working and I see no reason to compare their careers as you constantly do here. Diana is doing fine at her level of stardom and Mary is doing just as well on her level.

Can't we be allowed to like both ladies without dissing one to promote another?


BY SJARIF GOLDSTEIN / sgoldstein@staradvertiser.com

The price of paradise is not just about paying a little more [[OK, a lot more) for milk and gas and housing than people in the rest of the U.S.

For music fans, the price of paradise is also about the paucity of opportunities to see the world’s top performers.


DIANA ROSS

» Where: Blaisdell Arena
» When: 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday
» Cost: $45-$225
» Info: [[866) 448-7849, www.ticketmaster.com


Sure, many big acts have visited the islands over the past 20 years or so: Michael Jackson, the Rolling Stones, Prince, Janet Jackson, U2, the Eagles, homegrown singers like Bruno Mars and Jack Johnson. But most residents of U.S. cities the size of Hono*lulu get the chance to see each of those stars over the course of a few years.

In Hawaii, music fans are lucky to get just one big concert event every two or three years.

Still, even as rare as big shows are here, most superstars with careers spanning decades make it to Hawaii at some point.

Most.

Diana Ross has somehow put together a 56-year career without ever performing in the islands.

That stretch ends Friday night, when the legendary diva who co-founded The Supremes makes her Hawaii debut at Blaisdell Arena. Three more shows follow over the weekend: Saturday night at the arena and Sunday and Monday nights at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center.

WITH ROSS’ last U.S. No. 1 single coming in 1981 [[“Endless Love” with Lionel Richie, which spent nine weeks at the top and in 2011 was named by Billboard magazine the biggest duet ever), it can be easy to forget — or, for younger people, to never have known — how iconic a pop star Ross is.

To millennials, Ross might be the mother of sitcom star Tracee Ellis Ross [[“Girlfriends” and now “Black-ish”) and mother-in-law of singer Ashlee Simpson.

For children of the ‘90s, their most indelible memory of Ross might be her appearance on the 1999 MTV Video Music Awards, in which she entered to see co-presenter Lil’ Kim wearing a revealing dress and decided to jiggle the rapper’s left boob. [[SO easy to find on YouTube.)

Fans who live and breathe ’80s music might remember her for “Endless Love,” which is still a staple at weddings and kara*oke nights, and a few hits into the middle of the decade.

Anyone older than that remembers her as one of the brightest superstars pop music has ever produced.

Ross sang lead on 18 No. 1 hits — 12 with The Supremes, five solo and the duet with Richie. No one has more, and only Elvis Pres*ley and Mariah Carey can match it.


DIANA BY THE NUMBERS

18 — No. 1 pop songs on which Diana Ross sang lead.

41 — Total weeks atop the pop charts for Ross combining those 18 songs.

3 — Major films Ross has starred in: “Lady Sings the Blues” [[which earned her an Oscar nomination); “Mahogany” [[which she sang the chart-topping title theme to); and “The Wiz” [[a “Wizard of Oz” adaptation in which she played Dorothy).

3 — Broadway productions Ross has a strong connection to: one she won a Tony for [[“An Evening with Diana Ross”) and two she partly inspired [[“Dreamgirls,” based on The Supremes, and “Motown: The Musical”).


And Carey knows her place. At “VH1 Divas 2000: A Tribute to Diana Ross,” Carey said, “The first time I realized what a superstar was when I was watching Diana Ross’ live Central Park concert [[in 1983) on TV with my mom when I was a little girl. … We all love Miss Ross because she’s glamorous, talented, unpredictable and strong.”

IN THE early ‘60s The Supremes were known as the No-Hit Supremes because the highest they charted with their first nine singles was No. 23. That changed suddenly in August 1964, when the title track off their album “Where Did Our Love Go” topped Billboard’s Hot 100 pop chart … and then “Baby Love” and “Come See About Me” followed it there, all in the space of five months.

The Supremes wound up with five straight No. 1s, and suddenly the Beatles were the only more prominent group on the charts.

As seminal an act as Liverpool’s Fab Four are in pop music history, The Supremes [[along with fellow Motown stars such as the Temptations and Marvin Gaye) were just as important in shaping the industry over the 50 years since.

The Supremes became the biggest “girl group” and have yet to be topped. Without them, who knows whether Destiny’s Child and TLC and even the Go-Go’s would ever have come to be? [[Girl groups aside, Ross also introduced the world to the Jackson 5, so if not for her, this world might never have known Michael Jackson’s “Thriller,” and what kind of world would that be?)

Ross and bandmates Mary Wilson and Flo Ballard brought glamour to pop music, often donning matching gowns and even wigs for an image crafted by Motown president Berry Gordy Jr. and his “finishing” staff to appeal to both whites and blacks. It worked, as The Supremes were Motown’s biggest crossover act. In fact, they were arguably bigger with white listeners than with the black audience, as only seven of those 12 pop No. 1s reached such heights on the R&B chart.

In solidifying R&B’s place in pop music, The Supremes and their Motown colleagues paved the way for funk, disco, hip-hop and arguably even electronic dance music.

TO SAY The Supremes accomplished something is really to say Diana Ross accomplished it. Though Wilson and Ballard were capable singers, Ross sang lead on every single smash.

By 1967, after 10 No. 1 hits, Motown acknowledged what America already knew, changing the group’s name to Diana Ross & The Supremes.

In January 1970 the group performed together for the last time, at the Frontier Hotel in Las Vegas, and Ross embarked on a solo career. By September, Ross had her first solo No. 1 — “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” — and there was no looking back.

The ’70s and ’80s brought more of the same, with five more No. 1s, and Ross threw in a Tony Award — for her one-woman show — and an Oscar nomination — for best actress in the Billie Holiday biopic “Lady Sings the Blues” — for good measure, cementing her superstardom.

Ross is one of the most sampled artists in rap, showing up on hundreds of tracks, most famously “Mo Money Mo Problems,” by The Notorious B.I.G., which rode a clip from Ross’ solo smash “I’m Coming Out” to the top of the charts.

The cultural impact of “I’m Coming Out” goes beyond one sample. It has also become an anthem for gay pride and made Ross an icon in the LGBT community.

ROSS ALSO built on the glamorous image she cultivated with The Supremes, setting the standard with daring gowns, often featuring plunging necklines, and hair big enough to eclipse the sun.

The dedication to fashion and her lasting stage presence earned Ross a reputation as the ultimate diva.

Ross lives up to that reputation to this day. At 71 she has not cut back on the extravagance of the costumes in her shows. Reviews have her in no fewer than five outfits each night.

But those same reviews say Ross delivers far more than sartorial sophistication. Indications are that the Supreme Diva brings the great vocals and energy you’d expect from an entertainment biz lifer.

“She’s still got it!” wrote R. Eric Thomas on PhillyMag.com last June after her first Philadelphia show in a decade. “The 70-year-old’s voice was as clear and pure as on her recordings.”

This weekend, Hawaii audiences get to hear that voice, to experience that diva … live.



http://www.honolulupulse.com/2015/06/tgif-diana-ross/

[Bluebrock]

I don't think that RTL has affected Diana's career. She seems to have done pretty well since then. And Mary has done better too since RTL. It put her more in the spotlight and she is in demand to do interviews about the Supremes and answer questions about Diana [[who seldom does interviews) and reiterate that she and Diana are friends. Mary and Diana are constantly working and I see no reason to compare their careers as you constantly do here. Diana is doing fine at her level of stardom and Mary is doing just as well on her level.

Can't we be allowed to like both ladies without dissing one to promote another?


BY SJARIF GOLDSTEIN / sgoldstein@staradvertiser.com

The price of paradise is not just about paying a little more [[OK, a lot more) for milk and gas and housing than people in the rest of the U.S.

For music fans, the price of paradise is also about the paucity of opportunities to see the world’s top performers.


DIANA ROSS

» Where: Blaisdell Arena
» When: 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday
» Cost: $45-$225
» Info: [[866) 448-7849, www.ticketmaster.com [[http://www.ticketmaster.com)


Sure, many big acts have visited the islands over the past 20 years or so: Michael Jackson, the Rolling Stones, Prince, Janet Jackson, U2, the Eagles, homegrown singers like Bruno Mars and Jack Johnson. But most residents of U.S. cities the size of Hono*lulu get the chance to see each of those stars over the course of a few years.

In Hawaii, music fans are lucky to get just one big concert event every two or three years.

Still, even as rare as big shows are here, most superstars with careers spanning decades make it to Hawaii at some point.

Most.

Diana Ross has somehow put together a 56-year career without ever performing in the islands.

That stretch ends Friday night, when the legendary diva who co-founded The Supremes makes her Hawaii debut at Blaisdell Arena. Three more shows follow over the weekend: Saturday night at the arena and Sunday and Monday nights at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center.

WITH ROSS’ last U.S. No. 1 single coming in 1981 [[“Endless Love” with Lionel Richie, which spent nine weeks at the top and in 2011 was named by Billboard magazine the biggest duet ever), it can be easy to forget — or, for younger people, to never have known — how iconic a pop star Ross is.

To millennials, Ross might be the mother of sitcom star Tracee Ellis Ross [[“Girlfriends” and now “Black-ish”) and mother-in-law of singer Ashlee Simpson.

For children of the ‘90s, their most indelible memory of Ross might be her appearance on the 1999 MTV Video Music Awards, in which she entered to see co-presenter Lil’ Kim wearing a revealing dress and decided to jiggle the rapper’s left boob. [[SO easy to find on YouTube.)

Fans who live and breathe ’80s music might remember her for “Endless Love,” which is still a staple at weddings and kara*oke nights, and a few hits into the middle of the decade.

Anyone older than that remembers her as one of the brightest superstars pop music has ever produced.

Ross sang lead on 18 No. 1 hits — 12 with The Supremes, five solo and the duet with Richie. No one has more, and only Elvis Pres*ley and Mariah Carey can match it.


DIANA BY THE NUMBERS

18 — No. 1 pop songs on which Diana Ross sang lead.

41 — Total weeks atop the pop charts for Ross combining those 18 songs.

3 — Major films Ross has starred in: “Lady Sings the Blues” [[which earned her an Oscar nomination); “Mahogany” [[which she sang the chart-topping title theme to); and “The Wiz” [[a “Wizard of Oz” adaptation in which she played Dorothy).

3 — Broadway productions Ross has a strong connection to: one she won a Tony for [[“An Evening with Diana Ross”) and two she partly inspired [[“Dreamgirls,” based on The Supremes, and “Motown: The Musical”).


And Carey knows her place. At “VH1 Divas 2000: A Tribute to Diana Ross,” Carey said, “The first time I realized what a superstar was when I was watching Diana Ross’ live Central Park concert [[in 1983) on TV with my mom when I was a little girl. … We all love Miss Ross because she’s glamorous, talented, unpredictable and strong.”

IN THE early ‘60s The Supremes were known as the No-Hit Supremes because the highest they charted with their first nine singles was No. 23. That changed suddenly in August 1964, when the title track off their album “Where Did Our Love Go” topped Billboard’s Hot 100 pop chart … and then “Baby Love” and “Come See About Me” followed it there, all in the space of five months.

The Supremes wound up with five straight No. 1s, and suddenly the Beatles were the only more prominent group on the charts.

As seminal an act as Liverpool’s Fab Four are in pop music history, The Supremes [[along with fellow Motown stars such as the Temptations and Marvin Gaye) were just as important in shaping the industry over the 50 years since.

The Supremes became the biggest “girl group” and have yet to be topped. Without them, who knows whether Destiny’s Child and TLC and even the Go-Go’s would ever have come to be? [[Girl groups aside, Ross also introduced the world to the Jackson 5, so if not for her, this world might never have known Michael Jackson’s “Thriller,” and what kind of world would that be?)

Ross and bandmates Mary Wilson and Flo Ballard brought glamour to pop music, often donning matching gowns and even wigs for an image crafted by Motown president Berry Gordy Jr. and his “finishing” staff to appeal to both whites and blacks. It worked, as The Supremes were Motown’s biggest crossover act. In fact, they were arguably bigger with white listeners than with the black audience, as only seven of those 12 pop No. 1s reached such heights on the R&B chart.

In solidifying R&B’s place in pop music, The Supremes and their Motown colleagues paved the way for funk, disco, hip-hop and arguably even electronic dance music.

TO SAY The Supremes accomplished something is really to say Diana Ross accomplished it. Though Wilson and Ballard were capable singers, Ross sang lead on every single smash.

By 1967, after 10 No. 1 hits, Motown acknowledged what America already knew, changing the group’s name to Diana Ross & The Supremes.

In January 1970 the group performed together for the last time, at the Frontier Hotel in Las Vegas, and Ross embarked on a solo career. By September, Ross had her first solo No. 1 — “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” — and there was no looking back.

The ’70s and ’80s brought more of the same, with five more No. 1s, and Ross threw in a Tony Award — for her one-woman show — and an Oscar nomination — for best actress in the Billie Holiday biopic “Lady Sings the Blues” — for good measure, cementing her superstardom.

Ross is one of the most sampled artists in rap, showing up on hundreds of tracks, most famously “Mo Money Mo Problems,” by The Notorious B.I.G., which rode a clip from Ross’ solo smash “I’m Coming Out” to the top of the charts.

The cultural impact of “I’m Coming Out” goes beyond one sample. It has also become an anthem for gay pride and made Ross an icon in the LGBT community.

ROSS ALSO built on the glamorous image she cultivated with The Supremes, setting the standard with daring gowns, often featuring plunging necklines, and hair big enough to eclipse the sun.

The dedication to fashion and her lasting stage presence earned Ross a reputation as the ultimate diva.

Ross lives up to that reputation to this day. At 71 she has not cut back on the extravagance of the costumes in her shows. Reviews have her in no fewer than five outfits each night.

But those same reviews say Ross delivers far more than sartorial sophistication. Indications are that the Supreme Diva brings the great vocals and energy you’d expect from an entertainment biz lifer.

“She’s still got it!” wrote R. Eric Thomas on PhillyMag.com last June after her first Philadelphia show in a decade. “The 70-year-old’s voice was as clear and pure as on her recordings.”

This weekend, Hawaii audiences get to hear that voice, to experience that diva … live.



http://www.honolulupulse.com/2015/06/tgif-diana-ross/

Well said!! Both ladies are doing well at their respective levels. Ignore the negative comments. Both Diana and Mary continue to fly the flag and keep the legacy of the Supremes alive and well. Amen to that!

[jobeterob]

They both do their own thing, their own way. Quite something for 71 as well. That's a lot to do at that age. No reunion though other that the stage meeting for Motown the Musical.