Diana Ross U.S Open...

Diana Ross sang Ain't No Mountain High Enough and God Bless America at the tribute for Billie Jean King at the U.S. Open. It was the dedication of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. The USTA National Tennis Center opened in 1978, and inaugurated Arthur Ashe Stadium, the world’s largest tennis stadium, in 1997. Louis Armstrong Stadium is the second tennis stadium of the U.S. Open. More pictures to find on www.dianarossfanclub.net

Photographer Francesco Scavullo Gets Exhibition at New World Stages

By Robert Simonson25 Aug 2006

New World Stages, the Off-Broadway complex in Midtown, will host an exhibition entitled "Francesco Scavullo: A Photographic Retrospective" beginning Sept. 28 and continuing through Nov. 2.

Francesco Scavullo, who died in 2004, was a celebrity photographer who shot every cover of Cosmopolitan for thirty years and created numerous photographs for Vogue, Rolling Stone, Interview, Town & Country, Seventeen, Harper's Bazaar, Elle and other top fashion magazines.

Among his subjects were Grace Kelly, Brooke Shields, Rene Russo, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Paulina Porizkova, Cindy Crawford, Burt Reynolds and Madonna. He conceived movie posters and album covers for Edgar Winter, Diana Ross, and Barbara Streisand. Scavullo's photographs are part of the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, MOMA, Guggenheim and the Amon Carter Museum in Fort Worth, Texas.

The Gallery’s inaugural exhibition featured the work of photographer Patrick McMullan.
The Gallery at New World Stages will be open Monday through Saturday, from 11 AM to 6 PM, as well as one hour prior to and after performances at New World Stages. The Gallery entrance is located at 343 West 49th Street.

Diva Dearest

By Karu F. Daniels, AOL Black Voices

Why did Diana Ross make her daughters sleep on the floor?

"My mother is a regular person who happened to make it big," her eldest child, Rhonda Ross rationalized in a recent interview with 'Vibe Vixen' magazine.

"Her parents and her sisters are regular working folk. So she did not want us to be a part of the rich, trust-fund socialite life that some of our peer group was in."

While the family kept an apartment in Manhattan and lived in a palatial Connecticut home with maids and servants, they stayed in Detroit every summer, sleeping on their cousins' bedroom floor, reports writer Aliya S. King in the new edition of the urban female magazine -- on newsstands now.

It was an attempt to keep them grounded.
Literally!

Her younger sister Tracee Ellis Ross (star of the long-running sitcom 'Girlfriends') graces the cover of the magazine for a feature titled "The Anti Diva," in which Rhonda, a jazz singer and actress, is quoted heavily in.

In her first big cover story, Tracee talks about her life as the daughter of a diva and as a television star in her own right.

"Finding identity in the shadow of a well-known parent was awkward for Tracee," Rhonda added. "And our mom was not always well-liked.

"I can't tall you how many people have said, 'You are so normal and grounded that my idea of who your mother is must have been wrong."

"As I got older, I was so self-conscious of being labeled a diva that sometimes I allowed myself to be walked over," Tracee revealed. "I could cry about it right this minute."

Tracee also talked extensively about the drama about co-star Jill Marie Jones abruptly leaving 'Girlfriends.'

But let's not rush things.

Diana Ross to perform; Jimmy Connors, Evert, John McEnroe to honor King

NEW YORK -- Diana Ross will perform, and Jimmy Connors, John McEnroe, Chris Evert and Venus Williams will participate in next week's opening night ceremony at the U.S. Open.
The focus will be the renaming of the U.S. Tennis Association National Tennis Center in honor of former player and pioneer Billie Jean King.
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg also will take part in the Aug. 28 ceremony, which will be shown live on USA Network.
Diana Ross is expected to perform one of her classics as a tribute to King and "God Bless America." She'll be joined by members of the Frank Sinatra School of the Arts Concert Choir.

Tracee Ellis Ross on Vibe Vixen.

Tracee Ellis Ross from the hit show "Girlfriends" graces the new edition of Vibe Vixen, Vibe Magazine's sister publication. She looks fab (and SO much like her momma).

DIANA ROSS – I LOVE YOU cd 2006

DIANA ROSS
“I LOVE YOU”
Album release date: 2nd October 2006
“When I was in the studio, surrounded by these very talented singers and musicians, sharing these songs, I was filled with deep emotion. What a gift love and music is to me.
My gift to you.” Diana Ross

Diana Ross has built her life on love; from a self-acknowledged childhood growing up in a house filled with family love, through those chart topping wistful teenage love songs (Baby Love, Where Did Our Love Go) which shaped the career of one of the most successful artists of all time, to today, when she talks often of the love of her children, and her gift of the love of life.

It is not surprising then, that for her first studio album in over seven years, “I Love You”, – remarkably almost her 60th album, that Diana chooses to dedicate the entire album to this most constant factor in her life.

The genesis of project and the creative journey of making the album are explained by Diana and co-executive producer Marylata E. Jacob:

THE SONGS

Each of the 14 songs chosen for this project has a very specific purpose or meaning to Diana. We researched and listened to hundreds of songs, literally, to find these 14. We wanted this CD to be played at celebrations of love and life: weddings, family gatherings, intimate moments.


The foundation of the concept started with Harry Nilsson’s “Remember”. Diana was listening to this song, while looking through family photo albums and became inspired to record a new CD. “Remember” has a dreaminess that sets up getting in touch with fond memories and present feelings. Diana has a connection with Nilsson’s work as she performed live, songs from his acclaimed animated musical, “The Point”.

Continuing with the search, we concentrated on songs with real craftsmanship in songwriting. Songs that haven’t been heard from in a long while but are completely timeless and recognisable. Lyrics that were affirmations of love.

“More Today Than Yesterday” was originally recorded by Spiral Starecase in the mid 60’s. It had this great upbeat vibe and always makes us smile. For live performances it is a strong, true audience participation sing-along with Diana song.

Marvin Gaye originally released “I Want You” in 1974. A little known fact is Diana’s brother, T-Boy Ross co-wrote this song with Leon Ware. While it is an homage to the talent of the Ross family, the reality is, it just grooves for days. It’s sensual and intimate. This song bridges the classics with the newer generation of line dancing songs made popular recently by R Kelly.

“I Love You (That’s All That Really Matters) is the only original song recorded for the CD. The writer, Fred White, has been touring with Diana as a back up singer for six years. His experience of her live persona and vocal range really came into play when he was writing this song, always with her in mind. It was serendipitous, as I had called Fred looking for the phone number of a singer, when he asked me if he could send me a song for Diana. When I heard it, I felt it was perfectly suited for the album’s concept. While Diana and I were on the way to a meeting, I popped the CD into my car stereo for her. She immediately took to the song.

“What About Love” was written for and released on the soundtrack of Oprah Winfrey’s stage production of “The Colour Purple”. The composers are Brenda Russell, Allee Willis and Stephen Bray. Having recently been involved with Oprah’s Legends’ Ball and her relationship with Brenda Russell, interest in the soundtrack was piqued. The day the soundtrack CD was released, Diana chose it to record. Its offering is to be the ballad that Diana is renowned for performing.

Hal David and Burt Bacharach, two of the finest songwriters of all time, wrote the classic song “The Look of Love”. Artists ranging from Dusty Springfield to Sean Lennon have recorded this song. Why? Because it is brilliantly written. Diana’s made this song in to her own by having lived the lyrics. Guitarist, Heitor Pereira, a Brazil native and formerly of Simply Red, beautifully and tastefully captured the spirit and aura of Diana.

Bill Withers recently received a Lifetime Achievement Award from ASCAP here in Los Angeles, and with good reason. “Lovely Day” has a groove and simple lyric that has universal appeal to each of us, whether in or out of a relationship. Everyone is game for a lovely day.
This song makes Diana dance.

“Crazy Little Thing Called Love” went through a metamorphosis to emerge as this energetic version. This playful and fun-filled rendition was solely Diana’s vision, everything from the marching drums and brass, the New Orleans jazz vibe, and the Brian May guitar solo. Brian, having heard the final version, remarked simply, “Freddie would be proud”.

Diana, growing up in Detroit, listening to records, while slow dancing under a single source of light, was as close to heaven as it could get. Diana envisioned “Only You” in a new light. Her romantic, ultra slow sultry version is truly unique and decidedly Diana. The vocal is heartfelt and comes from DR’s own personal experience of young love.

“To Be Loved” was written by the legendary Berry Gordy and originally recorded by Jackie Wilson in 1958. It is the ultimate declaration of love.

While Diana and her son were watching Paul McCartney perform in Los Angeles, “I Will” captivated them. The simplicity of the lyric and strong melody made it a welcomed song into the heart of the CD. Peter Asher’s long history with the Beatles, gave this song depth.

“This Magic Moment” originally recorded by the Drifters, was brought to new life with Diana’s rendition.

Billy Preston passed away, shortly after we recorded the vocal on his song “You Are So Beautiful”. This song was chosen for its universal message. It reaches out and speaks not only to lovers, but also to relationships of all kinds, mother to child, child to grandparent, sister to sister, friend to friend.

“Always And Forever” was written by famed songwriter Rod Temperton and originally recorded by Heatwave. It’s a classic love song for all generations. A song to play as your first dance as husband and wife.

Book ending the sequence is a reprise of the song that started it all “Remember”. Love is a journey, as is this CD.

THE PRODUCERS

Co Executive producer Marylata E Jacob was first on board. “Miss Ross and I have a longstanding history of working together. 22 years ago, I was first hired as her personal secretary and album coordinator. My career rose over the years to become the Head of Music for DreamWorks film studios from its inception for it’s first seven years. The highlight resulted in a Grammy nomination for Best Producer, Soundtrack for Shrek.”

Next was up was Diana’s long time producer, Peter Asher. Together, their collaborations have sold millions of records. The single highlights are “When You Tell Me That You Love Me”, “One Shining Moment” and “If We Hold On Together” from the Spielberg/Lucas animated film, The Land Before Time. Peter produced ten songs, in his hometowns of Los Angeles and London.

Co-producer Steve Tyrell was introduced to Diana Ross when he produced Rod Stewart’s “Thanks For The Memory: Great American Songbook IV” CD, released in Autumn 2005. The first single was the duet with Rod and Diana, “Crush On You”. This album went to number two in the US, upon the release of the first single. Steve, working with his favourite New York arrangers and players, produced five songs.

THE SINGERS AND MUSICIANS

The best players from Los Angeles, New York and London were involved with this CD. Diana attended every session from the initial demos, tracking, overdubs and mixing. The players were blown away by her collaborative spirit, musicianship and direction. They gave their all on these tracks. Diana even flew to London to attend two days of orchestral recording sessions at EMI’s own, Abbey Road studios.

DIANA’S VOCALS

Diana is honest in her love of words. These song’s lyrics were true expressions of her depth and delight of love.

FROM CO-PRODUCER PETER ASHER:

Says Peter Asher, who returns to working with Diana having produced her 1991 hit album The Force Behind The Power: “On the 11th May, 1965 a callow young philosophy student recently turned pop star fell in love. As part of the so-called “British Invasion” his duo got to be on a major American TV show, Hullabaloo, with the Supremes. Their records were number ones in the UK. Their unbearably beautiful lead singer exuded a kind of glamorous professionalism and sense of style that was overshadowed only by the genius of her singing. The spirit, power and history of American soul music condensed into a voice of such understated elegance and sung with phrasing of such precision and subtlety that it could make you cry.

“41 years later I am proud that not only have Diana and I remained friends, but that I have again been given the opportunity to work with that extraordinary voice in the studio. Her contribution in the studio was very significant, above and beyond her singing – itself seemingly unchanged by the passing years in its emotional intensity and brilliance, yet having gained a certain wisdom and clarity that makes you believe every word she sings. On this record she tells us an eternal story, and does so with ineffable brilliance and accuracy.

“We must remember love in the past, nurture it in the present and dream of it in the future.”

Words surely Diana would herself echo.

TRACKLISTING

1. Remember
2. More Today Than Yesterday
3. I Want You
4. I Love You (That's All That Really Matters)
5. What About Love
6. The Look Of Love
7. Lovely Day
8. Crazy Little Thing Called Love
9. Only You
10. To Be Loved
11. I Will
12. Magic Moment
13. You Are So Beautiful
14. Always And Forever
15. Remember Reprise

The Supreme Ms Ross. By Sandra McLean (Australian interview)

THERE have been so many stories about Diana Ross's bad behaviour, it makes sense to approach a phone interview with this legendary soul diva with care.Yes, I will call her Ms Ross as directed.

No, I won't stray from the list of questions that have been sent to her home in Los Angeles. Of course, I won't bring up anything about the nasty tell-all book written by Supremes bandmate Mary Wilson or Ross's arrest for drink driving in 2002.

As it turned out there was no real need to be alert or alarmed. Ms Ross wasn't cranky, rude or even watching the clock.

"I wonder why my phone keeps ringing?" she ask playfully, our interview having gone over the allotted time.

She was happy to chat and who wouldn't want to keep talking to a woman described by record producer Peter Asher as the "spirit, power and history of American soul music condensed into a voice of understated elegance"? If her singing on stage is a fraction as good as her phone manner, her concerts must be sublime.

Ms Ross doesn't need to give interviews often. After a 40-year career, nine Top 10 albums and a multitude of hits both as a solo artist and with those fabulous soul sisters, The Supremes, her reputation as a musical artist of note means she needs little introduction to anyone who has listened to music in the past half century.

True, many of her biggest hits and stellar moments were in the 1960s and 1970s, but Ross has proved adept at keeping pace with the times, taking note of emerging young female singers such as Beyonce Knowles who all want to be like her, briefly swapping soul for disco in the 1970s and teaming up with pop acts such as Westlife.

These smart musical moves, as well as an uncanny ability at 62 to sound and look like a woman half her age, have kept Ross in the picture.

The odd angry headline has also kept her on the pop culture radar. Seven years ago she created controversy at the MTV Music Awards when she grabbed the breast of rapper Lil'Kim during an awards presentation. Bizarrely, Ross was in trouble again later that year for a similar misdemeanour when she grabbed the breast of a security guard whom she felt had frisked her improperly at Heathrow Airport. The photographs of Ross taken at that time jar with the woman on the end of the phone who is talking happily about her new album that is all about love and her belief that her children are a vital part of her life.

Ross's album, her first in six years, is called I Love You and it indicates she is perhaps in a better place in her life now than four years ago when she was pulled over by Arizona police for driving on the wrong side of the lane to a video store.

The songs, written by her favourites such as John Lennon, Paul McCartney and Burt Bacharach, are "affirmations of love", says Ross.

A personal choice on the album is the Lennon McCartney song, I Will. "I had to work hard to find that song," she says. "I saw Paul McCartney perform the song here in Los Angeles and when I was looking around the entire arena there was one little girl on the shoulders of her father she could not have been more than 10 and she was singing every word. I thought I don't even remember that song I have to find it. It was such a personal affirmation of love."

Talk of love brings Ross to her children. The second of six children, she has five of her own, three girls and two boys. She has had two husbands, the second, Arne Naess Jr, who fathered her two sons, was killed while mountain climbing in 2003.

All her children are involved in show business either as singers, actors or entrepreneurs.
"It's in the genes," Ross says, "and I've been very happy to pass it on to them."

The eldest, Rhonda, was born in the 1970s when Ross was busy with her career across two continents and making movies as well as hit songs. However, her career has never really stopped and last year Ross was reported as saying her fame had a negative effect on all her children's lives and stopped her from doing all the things she wanted to do with them.

"How did I manage having children? Well, that's a funny question," she laughs. "You mean, how did I manage with my career?

"It actually does require a lot of organisational skills and planning because it is quite hard figuring out how you are going to get balance in your life. My priorities were always in the right place as far as what was most important to me in my life and family is at the top. You have to really work on it and have really good mentors and people around you who will support you.

"We used to live in Connecticut when the kids were younger and I tried really hard to have a normal life, to raise my children so they could go to school and live in a neighbourhood and ride their bicycles. I fought for that little piece of normality."

Looking at Ross in her glamorous costumes at her 2004 Wembley concerts in Britain, it's hard to imagine her in slippers and dressing gown getting the children ready for school. During her career, she has sung lead vocals on at least one hit for 33 consecutive years between 1964 and 1996, including songs such as Where Did Our Love Go? and Ain't No Mountain High Enough. In 1976 she was named by Billboard magazine as the female entertainer of the 20th century. In 1993 The Guinness Book of World Records pronounced her the most successful female artist because of her 18 No.1 singles.

Are such accolades a boost or a burden? "It is wonderful. It says more about the music than about me. Or maybe it says more about the audience. I have made music which has touched the lives of so many people. But you continue to want excellence and to try and create excellence in all you do. I just try being the best Diana Ross I know how to be."

Diana Ross, Sanctuary Cove, November 4.

SUPREME LADIES by John Burfitt THE SUPREMES WERE ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS GIRL GROUPS OF ALL TIME AND SOME PAST MEMBERS ARE TOURING

AS THE FORMER LADIES OF THE SUPREMES.

The backstage dramas of the 1960s iconic girl group The Supremes have kept the publishing industry busy since the group finally broke up almost 30 years ago.

First there was Mary Wilson’s bitter bestseller Dreamgirl in which she told how Diana Ross had turned on all those around her, and then the sequel Supreme Faith. Ross hit back with her spleen-venting Secrets Of The Sparrow.

Then came the exposé Call Her Miss Ross, which further put the boot into Ross, while All That Glittered left none of the divas unscathed.

Now Cindy Birdsong has announced she too has finished her book about her time in The Supremes, while the backstage musical Dreamgirls has been made into a movie and is due for a Christmas release.

So, with their infighting now almost as famous as the legendary music they created, it is refreshing when former member Scherrie Payne says she has no plans to write her memoirs.

Speaking from her home in Los Angeles on the eve of the Australian tour of The Former Ladies of The Supremes, Payne says, “I have been asked – many times – but no, there will be no book from me.

“If I was to write a book, I would have to tell the truth, and there are things I don’t want to sugarcoat.

“There were good things and bad things, but I’d rather move ahead. What it should be all about is the music, because there is real joy in that music. They are songs that made you feel good.”

Payne was the lead singer of the group for four years in the 1970s after Ross had departed.
She is joined in The Former Ladies of The Supremes by another former Supreme, Lynda Laurence, as well as singer Freddi Poole.

In the show, Payne, Laurence and Poole share the vocals on such classics as Stop! In The Name Of Love and Love Child, as well as later Supremes hits like Stoned Love and Up The Ladder To The Roof.

While they share lead vocals now, Payne and Laurence stepped back six years ago to let Diana Ross take centre stage when they joined her on the infamous Return To Love Supremes reunion tour.

The tour eventually fell apart as Ross and Wilson engaged in a public slanging match over the contract terms. But Payne has only high praise for Ross, claiming she was nothing like the diva she is reputed to be.

“Anyone who says something bad about her, I am not sure where they are coming from as she could not have been lovelier,” she says.

“Don’t believe everything you read because she really is so warm and gracious – a great lady.
“People change with time. When The Supremes began, those three original girls were so young and just starting out. Everyone is a little older now with more experience to themselves.

“You hear this side of the story and that side of the story, and then the truth is in there somewhere as well. I have to say working with Diana was a pleasure.”

With some of the old wounds set to be picked over again with the movie Dreamgirls, Payne says it is more important to remember the impact The Supremes had when they first hit.

“They were three young black girls whose music took the world by storm in a very different time. They really made a difference,” she says. “As another young black woman watching them, they did nothing but inspire me, and then I eventually became one.”

Payne had a solo hit in the mid-1980s with the Dreamgirls disco number, One Night Only. She is currently working on a new remix of the song to coincide with the release of the movie.

“You just want to move with that song – it is wonderful. We also have a new single, Sisters United, which is the first new Supremes song in 30 years. The Supremes music has always made people happy.”

The Former Ladies of The Supremes appear at the Capitol Theatre on Saturday 23 September. Bookings on 136 100.

About the upcoming Diana Ross "I Love You" cd released outside the U.S.A.

The release of Ms. Ross new Cd's are making perfectly good sense to me. As we know, Diana Ross has not been a strong seller is the U.S. lately, a steady seller maybe...but not a strong one. With that in mind, be aware that the release of a 'definitive' CD, will certainly keep her name on a lot of buyer's lips (though certainly not in their collection) until her new CD comes out this fall. If successful, who knows, maybe a label in the U.S. will pick it up for distribution. Remember, Cher, went this route with 'Believe,' which was a big international hit before it ever hit the U.S. 'Blue' was a wake up call to those in the industry, and hopefully a lot of music business eyes are on the remake album to see how it does in the overseas department. 'Blue,' to me, was an unexpected success and is considered icing on a cake that hasn't even been baked.

And although the new album is an album of remakes, I have a feeling it will marketed and sold to the same audience who bought 'Blue.' And don't think twice about slamming the album before you heard it because as we all know, Diana is the Queen of Remakes! Her version of 'Ain't No Mountain High Enough' closely rivals Marvin & Tammi's classic single, which is a pretty hard thing to do. Her interpretation of 'Reach Out I'll Be There' is startling when compared to the original Four Tops version, and has since, become one of my favorite songs by her. And of course, I get blown away AND amazed when I hear her sing 'I Will Survive' and 'Carry On' - two classic disco songs that has since challenged the originals for immortality on my dance card. There are more covers by her than original recordings and each one has been sensitively and effectively done. I get goosebumps by her version of 'Amazing Grace,' 'Family,' 'Blame It On The Sun,' 'Come In From the Rain,' and the entire soundtrack of 'Lady Sings the Blues.' Ms. Ross has the ability to interpret these and many more songs and put her signature on them. That's her prerogative and her gift. She's not a writer; she's a songstress and it's her ability to interpret songs that makes her one of the world's most treasured singer. Whether it'll be, 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow' from the Academy Awards, 'You've Got A Friend,' from Mohammad Ali's 50th birthday celebration, or 'I Wanna Know What Love Is' from the Motown at the Apollo special (or whatever show it was), she knows how to work it!

So FANS, before you become one of THOSE people who try to condemn a movie they haven't seen, queer bash because of ignorance or gossip badly about people you never met - give everyone a break and save your reviews and opinion on the album UNTIL you actually hear it. Stop your hattin', give her a chance and wait until the album comes out. I have a feeling she's gonna surprise us with her versions.

FrednSF

Have a nice (and autographed) jersey

Home News Tribune Online 08/15/06

Jon Bon Jovi is giving the shirt off his back for charity. Rather, it's the celebrity autographed shirts of Bon Jovi's Philadelphia Soul arena football team that he's giving away.

The Sayreville native and Bon Jovi frontman placed four autographed jerseys on eBay yesterday to raise money Project H.O.M.E, a Philadelphia-based group that provides services for homeless people with mental illness and/or substance-abuse disorders.

The jerseys have the autographs of celebs like Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Uma Thurman, Scarlett Johansson, Tommy Lee, Michael Douglas, Diana Ross, Jessica Alba, Kanye West, Eva Longoria, Anna Nicole Smith, Slash and Clay Aiken. Some of the signatures were collected by the "Extra" celebrity TV show, others by Bon Jovi.
"My mission with the Philadelphia Soul has been to use the team as a means to help local charities and causes in the community," said Bon Jovi in a press release.
Opening bids range from $200 to $500 on eBay. The auctions end on Aug. 24. A link to the auctions is available by visiting
http://www.bonjovionline.com/.

(I Love You) More Than Yesterday

More Today Than Yesterday
( Spiral Starecase )

I don't remember what day it was
I didn't notice what time it was
All I know is that I fell in love with you
And if all my dreams come true
I'll be spending time with you

Every day's a new day in love with you
With each day comes a new way of loving you
Every time I kiss your lips my mind starts to wander
And if all my dreams come true
I'll be spending time with you

Oh, I love you more today than yesterday
But not as much as tomorrow
I love you more today than yesterday
But, darling, not as much as tomorrow

break

Tomorrow's date means springtime's just a day away
Cupid, we don't need ya now, be on your way
I thank the lord for love like ours that grows ever stronger
And I always will be true
I know you feel the same way too

Oh, I love you more today than yesterday
But not as much as tomorrow
I love you more today than yesterday
But only half as much as tomorrow

Updates website Diana Ross!!

See new updates on www.dianarossfanclub.net

New upcoming cd "I Love You" tracklist.
Tourdates 2006 Australia.

A year ago the FLOS visiting Jim Saphin in the U.K

Who'd have thought The Supremes would want to save our cliff...

CAN THE Former Ladies of the Supremes stop Fairlight's cliff erosion in the name of love?

The three current members of the legendary Motown act stepped assuredly into the debate surrounding the area's encroaching coastline when they struck a pose atop the receding cliff last week (left).The trio - comprised of Freddi Poole, Lynda Laurence and Scherrie Payne - made the surreal appearance on their way around the UK on a two-week tour.

The Fairlight Coastal Protection Trust, set up by residents to force action on the crumbling cliffs, probably weren't expecting this sort of star power to become involved in the cause.But the coup was no accident, thanks to an association dating back nearly 40 years between the act and Fairlight Cove resident Jim Saphin.

Jim became president of the Diana Ross and The Supremes Fan Club Of Great Britain in 1966 (pictured right). In his four years in the role, he enrolled almost 1,000 members from Great Britain and Europe, and had the opportunity to meet the ladies whenever they visited the UK.He said: "In January of 1968, The Supremes were booked to play a two week engagement at London's Talk Of The Town. During this time I arranged a fan club reception at EMI House in London.

Original members Diana Ross and Mary Wilson together with Cindy Birdsong (who replaced Florence Ballard) gladly signed autographs and posed for photographs with many of the fans."In 1970 when my career jeopardised my continuation of the fan club, I was obliged to resign as President, although my admiration for their music has never died to this very day."I have managed to stay in touch and maintain my friendship with almost the complete line-up of The Supremes, and there was eight Supremes in all."

Jim was pleased to welcome the support of the trio for the trust, which must raise £57,850 by mid-September towards a geological survey integral to the prevention of cliff erosion.

The scheme will also be funded by DEFRA and Rother District Council.If this does not go ahead, the trust fears 200 homes could be lost to the sea in the next century.Jim said: "It was a real thrill for me to have Lynda, Scherrie and Freddie come visit in my hometown. They asked me to offer their sincere support to the members of The Fairlight Cove Preservation Trust and hoped that a speedy resolution would soon be found to save the cliffs."
11 August 2005

From www.defamer.com

Friday, 7/28, 1pm. At Pico Restaurant at Shutters at the Beach in Santa Monica. We were having lunch, when my co-worker leaned over to me and pointed out a lady at the entrance who was wearing big sunglasses. He jokingly said, "Hey, it's Diana Ross!" We all laughed a little. Then she walked by our table with her companion. Turns out it really WAS Diana Ross. I guess we sometimes forget that in L.A., that when you think someone looks like a celebrity, there's a good chance it is a celebrity. I had to leave the lunch early, but my dining companions said that as Ms. Ross was leaving, she got her sunglasses caught in her weave before she could finally get them on.

Tracklist New cd "I Love You"

01) Remember
02) More Today Than Yesterday
03) I Want You
04) I Love You (That's All That Really Matters)
05) What About Love
06) The Look Of Love
07) Crazy Little Thing Called Love
08) Lovely Day
09) To Be Loved
10) Only You
11) I Will
12) You Are So Beautiful
13) Always And Forever
14) Remember Reprise

From www.defamer.com

I work at the Beverly Hills library every Saturday and see celebrities there infrequently. This weekend I was approached by someone I didn't recognize, except that she's been in the library before. She asked me to help her find a video about "wild street kids," since some racks have been cleared out for reorganizing, but I couldn't track down the video about homeless children that she was looking for. Then she gave me her name, "Diana Ross" and asked me to find the tape in her records. I tried not to betray anything in my face...it really was her! She was wearing all white, no makeup, looked "pretty good, considering," as a coworker put it.
Although I wasn't able to help her any further with that video, she did check out "Being John Malkovich."

The Dutch Diana Ross photoshoot soon!!

I was at The Dutch Diana Ross' photoshoot and make some great backstage pictures.

It was very nice to be there and see how she was dressed in different outfits.

I took some great pictures as well who looked like professional photos.

Soon more on my website www.dianarossfanclub.net

and of course on www.dutchdianaross.com

Jim

ET/ PEOPLE's Emmys Party 2004 / DIANA ROSS & THE QUEER EYE GUYS

Who's the biggest diva of them all? Three of the Queer Eye for the Straight Guy's Fab Five (from left: Kyan Douglas, Carson Kressley and Thom Filicia) celebrate with Diana Ross at the Mondrian. Their show took the prize for outstanding reality programming.

Wilkerson's designs strike contemporary note

New York fashion designer Edward Wilkerson's got presence -- he has a look that grabs your gaze and doesn't let go. It's why, when in town last Thursday to pick up Fashion Group International of Chicago's Superstars award, a fellow Peninsula Hotel guest asked if he was one of Madonna's dancers (her crew was also staying at the hotel). And why, even on Chicago's downtown streets, women stop him for on-the-spot fashion advice.
Wilkerson is practical when it comes to giving his Lafayette 148 ladies what they want -- looks that are "contemporary and sophisticated at the same time." With a collection that sells at Nordstrom, Mark Shale and Saks Fifth Avenue, Wilkerson adds ethnic touches such as hand-beaded accents and bold embroidery to separates while including staples like tie-waisted white blouses and wool-blend pencil skirts in the line.
An avid photographer who never leaves home without three cameras and a sketch book, Wilkerson found inspiration for his Fall '06 collection in Venice, Italy. And specifically, in late philanthropist and art collector Peggy Guggenheim, who turned her home on the Grand Canal into an art museum. "She was a patron of the arts and had incredible style," he says. "The fall collection is very elegant, very luxurious. We use a lot of velvet trims, fur trims, boucles. Our tweeds are mixed with cashmere, and everything kind of sparkles and shines."
We talked to Wilkerson, who also has hosted photo exhibitions near his Brooklyn home, about style, Africa (he loves it) and Oprah (he dressed her in 2003 for an Essence magazine cover shoot).
Q. What's the most unusual thing that has inspired one of your collections?
A. What always influences my collections is travel, exotic travel. I love Kenya; I love Morocco ... I also love Europe and Asia. I remember going to Milan and driving with a friend to Portofino [on the Italian Riviera] for lunch, 1-1/2 hours away. I said, 'This is great and all, but this [place] needs a little salt. Diana Ross would have been fabulous here. She would up it a notch.' So this past Resort collection was 'Diana Ross-goes-to-Portofino.' I photographed the buildings, the boats in the marina, some of the villas. I made a [fabric] print out of my photographs, and it's the 'Portofino print.' "
Q. You've traveled throughout Africa. What fascinates you most about the diverse continent?
A. I'm always inspired by places with a deep, rich cultural heritage, and what amazes me about Africa is tradition. This is also evident in China, also evident in Bali, that life is pretty much the same as it always has been. You go to some parts of Kenya -- they may have a laptop but they're still in their traditional Masai dress.
Q. What's one of Americans' biggest misconceptions about Africa?
A. That they're always fighting and that there's poverty. But there's poverty two blocks away from me [in Brooklyn]. We're so focused on the negative things that happen in the world that we don't look in our own backyard.
Q. You were on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" in 2003. What stands out most about meeting her the first time for the Essence cover shoot?
A. [The fact] that she was so approachable threw me. We basically talked nonstop throughout the photo shoot. [With] her travels to Africa and my travels to Africa, we really had a shared interest. We both love interiors, so we talked about that. Clothes, traveling, food.
Q. You spend months each year traveling. What do you always carry with you on the plane?
A. I'm never without my cashmere shawl because I'm always cold. My portable DVD player. My own selection of teas. My selection of CDs -- I mix a lot of my own music, and a lot of it's very meditational. I always travel with scented candles. I like to create my own environment.
Q. If you weren't a fashion designer or photographer, what would you be?
A. An architect, because to me building a house and building clothes are altogether the same thing.

Stylebook: Sexy, romantic & stylish Designer inspired by a beautiful country and a beautiful woman

Sunday, August 13, 2006By LaMont Jones, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Edward Wilkerson, design director for the chic bridge label Lafayette 148 New York, likes to spend a few weeks each year visiting markets across the United States, where he meets store managers, sales reps and customers, and notes local differences among women who like to wear his clothes.
During his first visit to Pittsburgh in 2003, he observed that his typical client here "is sophisticated, but also has an artsier side to her. The way she was put together, it wasn't so matchy-matchy. It was more separate dressing, mixing special pieces together."
Mr. Wilkerson will have his eyes wide open when he returns to Pittsburgh for an appearance at a fall-winter trunk show at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at Saks Fifth Avenue, Downtown.
The Art Deco period inspired the line, with rich jewel tones such as crimson, amber and jade against a black backdrop, with silver and gold accents "for extra shimmer," Wilkerson said. "It conjures images of film noir and smoky jazz clubs of the '20s, where artists and musicians came together."
The brand brought in Barbara Gast to supervise design of the collection's 120 knit pieces, which she described as "practical but chic." Handcrafted embellishments sprinkle the line, from the cropped, bead-trimmed "Betsy" jacket that took 35 hours to complete to the "Sandra" sequin skirt that required 241 hours of hand-beading.
Wilkerson has named Lafayette 148's spring 2007 collection "Diana Ross Goes to Portofino." It was inspired by a trip to the Italian coastal town last year, where he said cobblestone streets, clear blue skies and waters and stylish Italian women walking by in high heels "engulfed my imagination."
"And the image of Diana Ross in the '60s came to mind," he continued. "I felt what was missing was a little soul. What I mean by that is rhythm. Watching the women walk by, I started to put it to music. And 'Baby, baby, where did our love go?' came to mind. Sexy, romantic and stylish. My mission was to mix the colors of the clay and the gold and blue buildings that lined the street. So I photographed them and made a print called 'Portofino print.' "
The designer's keen sense of design, drape and color -- and his ability to translate elegant, wearable looks into plus and petite sizes -- have won him many celebrity fans, from Halle Berry and Katie Couric to Oprah Winfrey and Queen Latifah.
The 10-year-old Lafayette 148 label is growing, and Wilkerson hopes within two years to expand his designs to handbags and shoes. Other possibilities are menswear, jewelry and a fragrance.
A New York native, Wilkerson attended Parsons School of Design and worked for Anne Klein, Calvin Klein and Donna Karan. An avid photographer and world traveler, he is seeking a publisher for "Tribal Knowledge," a photo-driven book it took him seven years to complete.

Diana Ross "I Love You" Tour 2006.

Gotham Gets Its Very Own Star Map.

The people of Tinseltown have had them for years -- those maps that show you exactly where all the stars live, breathe, eat, and whatever else they do that mere mortals don't. But New Yorkers haven't -- partly because up until quite recently, the really big stars stayed mostly out West, and also because, frankly, New Yorkers just aren't supposed to care, right?

Well, now that West 27th Street in Chelsea has become Sunset Boulevard East, and since you're just as likely to spot a celeb at the Grey Dog Cafe as you are at the Urth Caffé (as Gawker.com's Gawker Stalker has been doing for a while now), the intrepid real-estate detectives at New York magazine have unveiled perhaps the most comprehensive -- and, according to the mag's editors, accurate -- star map for the Big Apple yet. (The image above, in case you were wondering, is a montage.)Using publicly available real-estate records, published reports, and, it says, "the occasional in-the-know friend or well-placed source," the magazine tracked down a huge trove of Gotham's stars' whereabouts -- and it just proves that packing 1.6 million people into a sliver of land 13 miles long and 2 miles wide makes for some interesting neighbors.Imagine, for instance, The Donald and Bruce Willis jostling each other on line at their local bagel joint in the morning on 56th street? Or Natalie Portman holding the door open for the quite-preggers Heidi Klum and hubby Seal at far West Village celeb-boite Perry St.? Or, perhaps, Ricky Martin, Jimmy Buffett, and Jay-Z all getting together in their Columbus Circle 'hood to confect a Latin-inflected rap-remake of "Margaritaville"? Hey, geographically speaking, it could happen. And what other insights into celeb real-estate can we glean from the map? The news people -- Barbara Walters, Tom Brokaw, Diane Sawyer, and Katie Couric -- all seem to live up on the patrician Upper East Side. (Don't worry -- Star and Barbara are separated by 15 blocks.) Famously combustible divas Diana Ross and Naomi Campbell live within just a couple blocks of each other in the Fifties in Midtown; good thing PBS' Charlie Rose is around to calm 'em down. The cool kids -- like Chloë Sevigny, director Wes Anderson, the Strokes' Julian Casablancas, and David Blaine -- live near each other in the nebulous East Village-y, NYU, south-of-Union Square district. Then there's the outright weird Upper West Side block that houses Moby, Garrison Keillor, Faye Dunaway, and Ron Howard.And, finally, we learn that the twelve-block swath through the middle of town from about 24th Street to 36th Street is a pretty celeb-free zone -- unless, of course, you count Gilbert Gottfried as a celebrity.

Five Minutes With: Lee Daniels

By Dana Goldstein, Campus ProgressWednesday August 9, 2006

Lee Daniels’ films challenge boundaries: that between black and white, sex and violence, tragedy and love. As the producer of “Monster’s Ball,” Daniels brought to the big screen a story of racism, the death penalty, and romance in the rural South. Halle Berry became the first African-American woman ever to win a best actress Oscar for her starring role in the film. Now Daniels has stepped behind the camera as director of “Shadowboxer,” a surreal hit man film built around an interracial, quasi-incestuous relationship between Cuba Gooding, Jr. and Dame Helen Mirren. The premise might seem bizarre, but “Shadowboxer,” through scenes of unflinching violence and beauty, casts a powerful spell. Daniels talked with Campus Progress about sex scenes, racial politics, and the understated gay aesthetic of his films.

Interracial romance is a theme in your work. What attracts you to such stories?
With all my films, I have a tendency to cast colorblind, and this movie, it was cast colorblind. It just so happened that it was interracial. Originally it was Diana Ross [playing the role of Rose], and then Helen Mirren stepped in. I mean, I just find the best actor for the role. Now that might have something to do with the fact that I’m black and I’m a filmmaker, and I always try to give everybody of color a chance. But I give the best actor available the job, because in life, everybody is mixed up with everybody, and it’s not cookie cutter the way Hollywood pretends it to be.
I remember reading that there was controversy over you casting Mo’Nique in her role, since the character of Precious was originally intended to be an anorexic white woman, not a plus-sized black woman. The screenwriter was very angry about that choice and withdrew his name from the project. Was that another instance of you casting colorblind?
It was just a case of “may the best actor get the job.”
In both “Monster’s Ball” and in “Shadowboxer,” there seems to be a theme of using sex to represent escape and redemption. There’s something about your sex scenes that seem so raw and real, because they’re not what we’re used to seeing on the screen. How do you coax those performances out of your actors, and is it really challenging?
Again, I try to project as much honesty as I can on sex scenes, because I think that sex is an integral part of human nature, and there’s nothing to be ashamed about. And I think that we have a tendency—not that I want to be in your face, and I don’t really want to see pornography—but I think that we need to understand the connection between human suffering and sex, and that sex isn’t just sex for pleasure.
In the theater that I saw the film in, there was a lot of sort of giggling or even comments about the age difference between Mikey and Rose.
Really? Like in a bad way?
People were like, “Get it on, Grandma!” and stuff like that.
I heard that too! People were like, “Go Grannie, go grannie!” I didn’t know what to make of that. Am I gonna be offended by this? How do I take that?
I had the opposite reaction. Going into it, I thought I was going to feel weird about the age difference, but then Helen Mirren was very sexy in the role. So I was wondering if you could talk about the reactions you’re hearing.
Well, what I’m hearing is all over the place. You know, some people love it, some people hate it. But that’s been with my movies all across the board. Some people loathe it. And when they loathe it, they go on and on about it, and then I know that I’ve struck a chord. They could just say, “Oh, this is terrible.” But they go into into detail, and then they go for the jugular. And I remember calling my friend Lenny Kravitz, because I’m working with him, and saying, “Why are people either adulating over this film or they’re like going for the jugular?” And he said, “It’s because you evoked something.” There’s no gray area. There’s no, “Oh, this is okay.” You walk away thinking about the film. It evokes an emotion. And I think that’s what cinema is about—good cinema. You walk away thinking, “God dang it, why’d I pay good money for this, I hated it. Can you believe he had the nerve?!” Or you go, “Oh wow.”
“Shadowboxer” is less explicitly political than “Monster’s Ball,” which dealt with the intersection of racial and sexual politics in the rural south. But in “Shadowboxer,” the character of Rose comes from this radical activist background, and turns to crime when she becomes frustrated by her inability to make the world a better place.
All of the characters that I have in all of my films are people that I understand, and know, and identify with. So these are all people that I personally know. Personally. There was a lady that lived around the corner from me when I was growing up, she was a Black Panther—I grew up in the sixties and the seventies. And she was a great lady and through a series of events, her life just twirled out [of control]. I called her my black Patty Hearst, because she really got caught up and before you know it, she killed a couple of people. She started out from a really great place and through a series of events, she got strung out. So, of course, Helen Mirren is white. I’m black, and I sort of took creative liberty.
You’re a gay filmmaker, but we haven’t really seen any gay characters in your films. Do you think those are stories you’re going to want to bring to the screen in future projects?
Actually, I was one of the producers on “ Brokeback Mountain.” It ended up that I couldn’t get the movie made, so I didn’t produce the movie. But it was with me for awhile. I do feel that there is a gay sensibility in all of my films. There’s something in there. You’ve got a little bit of “Valley of the Dolls,” especially this one I directed, you see more of a taste, I should say, that there is an affinity toward men’s asses and penises—if you look closely.

Beyonce's Exclusive Eavesdrop: Never Before Heard Excerpts of Her Much-Talked about Interview in the August-September 2006 Issue of GIANT Magazine.

"I didn't know why people compared me to Diana Ross... until I studied
her... Her mannerisms, her grace...she is fierce."

- Beyonce Knowles
One would think that GIANT Magazine's current iconic cover featuring a multi-platinum beauty carefree in curlers would be enough to satisfy its editors. But, GIANT Magazine is all about thinking big. In an unprecedented move to connect readers with their heroes, GIANT Magazine has secured the permission of Beyonce Knowles to release private audio from the phenom's one-on-one interview with editorial director Scott Polson-Bryant. The ultimate entertainment publication shatters the barriers of traditional publishing with an exclusive podcast featuring unpublished portions of Beyonce's revealing interview.
Available simultaneously on Giantmag.com, iTunes and BeyonceOnline.com on August 7, 2006, the seven-part podcast features Beyonce in her own words and her own voice. Nothing stands between the megastar and her fans as she emotionally explains why she would have taken the part in "Dreamgirls" for free, reveals the intimate details about the secret recording of her new album, "B-Day," laughs playfully about the parody of her on "Saturday Night Live" and how her alter-ego, Sasha, "grabbed the mic" from Prince on stage. Hear Beyonce also speak on Diana Ross, and her last conversation with the late Luther Vandross.
"In our current issue of GIANT, Beyonce proves she's one of the most beautiful women in the world. She's half-dressed, wearing curlers, and still looks absolutely stunning," explains GIANT's new Editor-in-Chief Smokey D. Fontaine about his first issue. "Now, she has gone a step further by granting approval for our landmark podcast. This was not planned at the time of the interview. However, after observing her fearlessness during the photo shoot and her forthright attitude, we approached her with a brand-new idea and she agreed. With this groundbreaking event, Beyonce truly bridges the gap between celebrity and consumer. The woman is an undisputed trailblazer - someone we will talk about for decades to come."
The never-before-heard podcasts of the unpublished GIANT interview will be released by GIANT Magazine every other day through August 21, 2006.

'The Wiz' to be shown at library.

The Anderson County Library continues its monthly Film Night at 7 p.m. Aug. 18 with the film version of the classic Broadway musical "The Wiz."
The G-rated film, directed by Sidney Lumet, features Diana Ross as a kindergarten teacher in New York City’s Harlem. Caught up in a cyclone, she’s swept to the Land of Oz, which looks a lot like Manhattan. On her trip to meet the Wizard (Richard Pryor), she’s joined by the Scarecrow (Michael Jackson), the Tin Man (Nipsy Russell) and the Cowardly Lion (Ted Ross).
The presentation will be at the Main Library, 300 N. McDuffie St., Anderson. Popcorn, candy and soda will be available for purchase, with proceeds going to the Friends of the Library.
For more information, contact Marybeth Evans, community services coordinator, at (864) 260-4500, ext. 107.

Diana Ross to Tour Australia

Soul legend Diana Ross – one of the most successful female artists of all time – is set to tour Australia in November.
Ross, whose hits both with The Supremes and solo include ‘Ain’t No Mountain High Enough’, ‘Stop! In The Name Of Love’ and ‘Upside Down’ just to name a few, will be playing in Australia.
She will be the special guest at the Melbourne Cup Carnival Chairman’s dinner, an event which costs hundreds of dollars if you are lucky enough to have a ticket made available to you. Last year the musical guest was Luciano Pavarotti.
Those of you without a wad of fifties falling out of your pocket every time you raise your arm and click your fingers so Bigglesworth can get you another glass of port* can check her out at her other dates.
October 31 - The Regent, MelbourneNovember 1 – Melbourne Cup Carnival Chairman’s Dinner, MelbourneNovember 3 – Sydney, Capitol TheatreNovember 4 – Sanctuary Cove, Queensland (venue TBC)
Tickets are on sale 9am, Thursday August 10.

Diana Ross coming to carnival

MOTOWN singer Diana Ross will be the entertainment at a $1150-a-head dinner during this year's Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival.A limited number of public tickets will be sold for the annual Victoria Racing Club's Chairman's Dinner on November 1.
The Supremes' star is the second big entertainer VRC has lured for the black-tie event. Tenor Luciano Pavarotti performed last year.

US musician Chris Isaak will also sing for the guests, who are expected to include celebrities and powerbrokers. Diana Ross will be in Melbourne for one show at the Regent Theatre.
Chairman's Dinner tickets go on sale through the VRC on August 10.

Going Back to His Roots.

RuPaul, multi-media supermodel, is back with a new album and some X-rated plans. He spoke with Peter Hackney.
With the possible exception of Dame Edna Everage, RuPaul is the most famous drag queen in the world.

A fixture on the US gay circuit through the 1980s, RuPaul achieved international success in 1993 with the release of his debut album, Supermodel of the World, featuring global smash hit ‘Supermodel (You Better Work)’. He’s since recorded a further five albums; released a duet with Elton John; secured a contract as the face of MAC Cosmetics; hosted a popular US talk show, The RuPaul Show; and made his mark on Hollywood, filming several mainstream roles (most famously Jan Brady’s guidance counsellor in the Brady Bunch movies) and a slew of independent parts.

But if he was trying to “make it” in 2006 instead of the early ’90s, RuPaul, who’s just released a new album, ReWorked, reckons he wouldn’t stand a chance.

“When I released Supermodel of the World, there was a window of opportunity in this country that allowed that to happen. And it’s definitely closed at this point,” the performer tells SX from his East Village, Manhattan apartment.

“There’s this new spirit towards men who use femininity as a palette and it’s really, unfortunately, the strongest in the gay community. The gay community today is obsessed with ‘straight acting’, with appearing to be, quote-unquote, ‘normal’. I guess they’re thinking that conservative, right-wing religious people will think, ‘Oh, they’re fine – they’re just like us! Give them the right to marry!’ I think that’s the wrong approach. I think we have to embrace everything about ourselves: femme, butch, whatever.”

Partly to blame, says RuPaul, is yours truly. Well, not me personally, but gay journalists and the gay media as a whole, who the performer says are generally shirking community responsibilities.

“There are several amazing, wonderful queer artists right now – Lady Bunny, Ari Gold, Adam Joseph – but they don’t get the exposure they should get. I believe the gay news media should foster and encourage gay culture, but gay magazines around the world, especially here in the United States, usually put straight people on the cover. You know, Essence magazine, which is a black women’s magazine over here, would never have Britney Spears on the cover, because there’d be an outcry. But gay culture chases after straight people.”

RuPaul opines that a collective “self-loathing” is at the core of the problem and, somewhat surprisingly for a drag performer, he points to the gay community’s “diva worship” as an example.

“The gay community’s worship of female pop stars ... well, I love it, and I’ve been a part of it. My generation, we loved Diana Ross and Cher, and I’m a big fan of Kylie. But I think there’s also an aspect of self-loathing in there. I haven’t quite figured out how it angles in there, but I definitely get a sense of it. I think that it’s tied into the gay obsession with straight culture, because in this country at least, it’s very rare for the gay community to really go gung-ho and support our own.”

This isn’t something I expected to hear from a man who has ‘glamorous pop diva’ down pat, but anyone fearing that the drag star has become serious and staid, fear not. A few minutes later, speaking about Australia, Ru (as he likes to be called) launches into an Aussie accent, raucously quoting his favourite lines from the Stephan Elliot comedy Welcome to Woop Woop, his “very favourite” film.

As we all know, Americans just can’t do Australian accents; even that queen of accents, Meryl Streep, didn’t quite get there as Lindy Chamberlain in Evil Angels. But RuPaul as an Aussie sounds 100 per cent, dead-set dinky-di; completely indistinguishable from someone born and bred here.

“I’m a huge Aussie-phile,” he explains, laughing at my incredulity. “I’m obsessed with your country. In fact, I was in a relationship with an Aussie for six years. We’re not together anymore, but we speak on the phone every day and we’re still family. We often talk about packing up and going there.

“Mathu Anderson, who’s always done my hair and make-up, is also Australian,” he continues. (Anderson took the photo that graces this week’s cover.) “And I’ve just always had Australians in my life. I’d really love to go back soon, because it’s been a few years now.”

Before that happens, RuPaul has a few other projects to complete: US promotion for his new album ReWorked (a collection of his singles, remixed); completing Starbooty: Reloaded, a movie he wrote, produced and stars in; and adding a new bow to his list of achievements – porn movie director.

“You’re going to be the new Chi-Chi LaRue?” I ask.

“Sure am, honey,” he replies. “Actually, I’ve been a friend of Chi-Chi’s for about 17 years and I just called her yesterday to ask what kind of deal I should ask for from this company. I can’t say anything more about it, but I can’t wait to direct my first full-length porn feature. You know, it’s so hot that in my lifetime I’ve been able to do all of these different things, and now adding ‘porn director’ to my résumé is just, well, I think it’s just fabulous!”

RuPaul’s new album ReWorked is out now.

www.rupaul.com

Sisters are doing it for themselves

Former Ladies of the Supremes reunite in Los Angeles
Published 08/10/2006


The much-anticipated 20th Anniversary Celebration of the Former Ladies of the Supremes took place at the Music Box at the Henry Fonda Theatre in Hollywood on the evening of Saturday, July 29.
Scherrie Payne's powerful lead on the 1970 proto-disco mega-hit "Stoned Love" surpassed even Jean Terrell's original lead vocal. Lynda Lawrence pulled the enthusiastic, mostly middle-aged audience in, leading them sing-along-style on the infectious chorus.
The Ladies veered off-course on at least one occasion. Scherrie and Lynda left Freddie Poole onstage for a raucous solo on Aretha Franklin's signature song, "Respect." Freddie got the crowd worked up and dancing in the aisles. But I think a more fitting song considering the event would have been the 1971 Jean Terrell-led Supremes gold record "Nathan Jones."
The format, equal time for each lady, worked against the overall cohesion of the group. Scherrie Payne, known as "the little lady with the big voice," is the major talent in the current line-up, and should handle at least 50% of the leads. Her incredible solo on a little-known song she wrote, "Another Lifetime from Now," electrified the house.
The image of a selfish diva way out in front, hogging the spotlight, attention and bucks, may have taken a licking in the past few years, but it still works for me. If a woman has the talent to pull it off, I say go for it!
Freddie Poole took the lead on "You Can't Hurry Love," and she did an admirable job, but no blue ribbon. Her delivery was nowhere near as smooth as Diana's silky lead, and her phrasing was choppy at best.
Al three ladies shared the lead on their bouncy new single "Sisters United," which they debuted. The emotional highlight of the night was when the trio honored the Supremes who came before them. Diana Ross could not attend due to a scheduling conflict, and Jean Terrell was also a no-show. Florence Ballard died tragically in the mid-70s.
Tribute offer Lynda offered a beautiful tribute to the Supreme she replaced in late 1971, Cindy Birdsong, who Lynda said taught her everything she knows. With that warm introduction, a now very slim Birdsong, who replaced founding member Florence Ballard in 1967 when the group was renamed Diana Ross and the Supremes, took the stage to sing a song she penned for the evening, in tribute to all eight ladies of the Supremes.
Payne, who replaced Jean Terrell as lead singer in 1973, went on to honor the recently ailing Mary Wilson. She said the original Supreme was invited, but her lawyer declined on her behalf, which brought a tremendous roar from the heavily gay audience.
Wilson sued the Former Ladies of the Supremes for trademark infringement. Wilson claimed they had no right to use the name Supremes in any form. Ironically, the court ruled against her, stating, in essence, that the Supremes are whoever Motown says they are.
These animosities and deep personal wounds were always just under the glamorous, sequined surface of the concert. But Birdsong put it best when she said they were all sisters. All the ladies who were at one time members of the group share in the legacy, memories and glory of being a Supreme.
"It was the best, the very best part of my life, being in the Supremes. I thank Mary Wilson, Diana Ross, and Berry Gordy for that opportunity, I thank all the ladies who shared that experience with me, including my predecessor Florence Ballard, and all the fans that have sustained us over the many years," a teary-eyed Birdsong said as the three-hour program concluded.
Some of the original studio recordings by the Former Ladies of the Supremes hold their own against any era of the Supremes. My favorites include the very 60s-ish "Too Many Memories" and "Crazy Bout the Guy," and the three-lead-vocal remake of "Stoned Love" featuring Scherrie Payne, Lynda Lawrence and Jean Terrell.
I should be ashamed to admit that I didn't even know who Gloria Loring, the opening act, was. I was fully prepared to hate her. To my surprise, she delivered a powerful half-hour warm-up that was thoroughly enjoyable. I soon learned that she was on Days of Our Lives for six and a half years, but is perhaps better known today as a singer/songwriter. She went on to tell us she wrote the theme song for the long-running Diff'rent Strokes TV sitcom.
Loring also sang her original theme song from The Facts of Life. "Yep, that's my voice you've been listening to all these years," she said as she launched into the catchy tune. She struggled to force a comparison between herself and the headliners that evening, but she really had no more connection to the Supremes than anyone else who grew up in the 1960s and 70s. She loved the Motown sound, of which the Supremes were the most successful proponents.