"Ross held a much-heralded concert in Central Park, the proceeds of which were to go towards building a playground in the singer's name. Fifteen minutes into the show, which was being filmed for Showtime cable television, it began to rain, and as she urged the crowd of 300,000 to safely exit the venue, Ross announced that she would continue the performance the next day. Ross' actions drew praise within the mainstream press. That next day, over 500,000 people came back for one of the largest free concerts in the park's history. However, the second show generated controversy. New York mayor Ed Koch objected to the expenses of a second show. To settle the matter, Ross personally wrote a check for an estimated $250,000 to cover the remaining costs. Although Koch's objections slowed the progress, the Diana Ross Playground was finally built three years later".




-What a magical concert. This is Diana at her absolute best. No one does it like the boss!



Diana performing her classic duet w/Lionel Richie "Endless Love". I wish Lionel has been there, but Diana still manages to put on a great performance.
http://www.youtube.com/wa...ed&search=

Diana performing "Beat It" & "Muscles". Brilliant Performance.
http://www.youtube.com/wa...zTJQkHDkt4

Day Two Opening-Diana singing "Aint No Mountain High Enough", "I'm Coming Out" & "Home".
http://www.youtube.com/wa...ed&search=

Is this performance on DVD? I remember seeing it on TV and all the chaos it brought.

purplecam said:

Yea, the concert at central park was defenitly a big deal but as far as I know it's not out on DVD, which is too bad because I would defenitly buy it if it was.

I remember seeing it on tv as a kid
/peace Manki

What year was that.? I remember Diana Ross looking soaking wet and being given a piggy bank on stage.

whatsgoingon said:

It was July 1983.I remember seeing it on HBO back then.It was a major event.

fucking koch. how does nyc end up with such crappy mayors?

This concert is not on DVD... I remember my mother taking my sister and I to the first day.... you had to be there to understand what happened that first day... I remember being really scared (It got dark so fast and the lightning was a mutha) I remember being in the train station and you literally felt the people running above ground trying to get out of that rain... needless to say she didn't take us with her the second day ( that became a day with dad )