Call Her Miss Ross: The Unauthorised Biography of Diana Ross - Softcover

Taraborrelli, J. Randy

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0330320599 ISBN 13: 9780330320597

Publisher: Pan Books, 1991

Synopsis

Diana Ross is one of the biggest-selling female recording artists in history, topping the charts for 30 years since she began The Supremes. This book is the result of research into the life, personality and vision of the woman who calls herself "Miss Ross". J.Randy Taraborrelli has compiled a biography filled with anecdotes and revelations, which unravels the public and private lives of a woman who came out of Detroit to bridge the gap between the black and white worlds. Her triumphs, tragedies, virtues and vices are told in a frank style by a writer who has studied her for more than 20 years. Based on hundreds of interviews with family members, friends and colleagues, the book describes her tempestuous romances with Smokey Robinson, Ryan O'Neal, Gene Simmons and Berry Gordy; her two marriages, the first to a white public relations man she hardly knew, the most recent to Arne Naess, one of the world's richest men; her peculiar, on-again-off-again relationship with Michael Jackson; the antagonistic rivalry engendered among the other Motown artists who felt she unscrupulously clawed her way to the top; the purported Mafia affiliations of Motown, for whom she recorded; how devastated she was when she lost the Best Actress Oscar for "Lady Sings the Blues"; and her eccentric behaviour, as recounted by those who have borne the brunt of it. J.Randy Taraborelli "discovered" Diana Ross when he was a child, and organized the first international fan club for the Supremes at the age of 11. This passion eventually led to a career in writing about music personalities for a variety of magazines. He is the author of "Motown", "Cher" and "Laughing Till It Hurts: The Complete Life and Career of Carol Burnett", and the former publisher and editor-in-chief of "Soul" magazine.

About this title

From the Inside Flap

wn's brightest star, the one with guts enough and ambition enough to make her dreams come true, no matter where they took her. Rules that apply to others have never applied to Diana Ross. She won't let them.
CALL HER MISS ROSS goes behind the footlights and stage facade, behind the broad smile and beautiful voice, for an exclusive look at the real Diana. J. Randy Taraborrelli has interviewed over 400 people and uncovered stories that have never been told before. The ultimate control maven, she became the star of The Supremes without giving Mary Wilson and Florence Ballard a second throught, but also gave them both money when they ended up broke; self-centered, she dated newlywed Smokey Robinson on the sly in order to get more work at Motown; fiercely devoted mother of five, she gives her children anything they desire; impossible employer, she insists that everyone call her "Miss Ross"; insecure star, she demands complete control over every record, every movie, and every performance, no

From Library Journal

Let me put it to you straight: This much-talked-about "unauthorized" biography has all the dirt for love/hate Ross "fans" and loyal fans alike, dragging Ross's name through the mud even more than former Supreme Mary Wilson's Dreamgirl ( LJ 12/86). Enough is enough! We've heard it all before in the tabloids where so-called employees "tattle" about the star's feisty ways--the very source, claims Taraborrelli, of most of his information. Yet, unlike Wilson, Taraborrelli starts in on Ross early, opening with the funeral of former Supreme Florence Ballard and going on to imply that Ross slept her way to the top. Taraborrelli leaves one with the impression that Ross couldn't love if her life depended on it--though the great lady's recent marriage to Norwegian shipping tycoon Arne Naess is shown in a better light. What's sad is that Taraborrelli spends so much time depicting Ross as "the bitch of all time" that much of what makes her a megasuperstar is not even touched upon. Probably more than anything, he should have given some account of how Ross came out on top in a business dominated by men. Call Her Miss Ross , we surely do; but she deserves better. Unauthorized reading.
- Reginald E. Pruitt, "Library Journal"
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: Pan Books
• Publication date: 1991
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0330320599
• ISBN 13: 9780330320597
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 576