Ross shamed in new biography

Singing legend Diana Ross is a difficult and demanding boss who fires staff on a whim, according to a new biography.

Author J. Randy Taraborelli claims Ross sacked her entire staff when unflattering stories appeared in the press and also blacklisted a number of former assistants she had fired.

"Diana Ross" - due for release in September - Ross is also accused of using her daughter Tracee to spy on staff and report back if they misbehaved, reports the New York Daily News.

In one incident Taraborelli claims Ross' former assistant Michael Browne was chastised for failing to hide $100,000 worth of presents on a private jet carrying her and her daughters to Las Vegas.

She is also accused of upstaging former Supremes bandmate Florence Ballard during her own funeral, by announcing to the congregation over a microphone that she and fellow Supreme Mary Wilson wanted to have a silent prayer.

Taraborelli claims it was obvious "the last thing (Wilson) wanted to do was go up to the altar and be the centre of attention."

SOURCE: Ireland On-Line

Sounds intersting,,,I'm intrested in J. Randy Taraborelli's round 2, although seems like this book put flags everywhere for the next book to be covering new grounds. Still, I'm willing to give it a nod



Hot damn lol it seems kinda 'personal' with Taraborelli doing it AGAIN there was SUCH an effort to dig old stories in the 1st one, like the Diane's encounter with Berry Gordy's wife in Hollywood Palace's backstage.
[Edited 7/4/07 21:43pm]

Harlepolis said:

Huh? Tell me what happened during THAT encounter. I'm sure BG's wife and Diane probably got into a fight backstage.

Timmy84 said:

Nah not really,,,it was an OFF moment. I'm not sure what Gordy's wife job exactly at the time(either make dresses or do make-up, I 4got). Long story short, she slipped and called her "Diane" Diane starred @ her dead in the eye and said "I'd like to be addressed as Ms.Ross. MISS ROSS,you understand?" something to that effect.

Mary Wilson was instrumental in the making of the "dirt flood" for that book, so you know ol' gal didn't hold back from the juicy details she had stacked somewhere

There's a copy in AmazonUK if you want, its out of stock everywhere else:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/D...815&sr=1-1

Harlepolis said:

Jesus Christ, lol... I wonder if any of her ex-associates went around mouthing "Diane, Diane, Diane" right in front of her.

Ya know what?

Thats NOT a copy of the old book(I ment the link). Its the NEW book your article was talking about, Timothy

Appearently, J.Randy had rewritten the book and emerged it with new/updated details:

From Publishers Weekly
Starred Review. Taraborrelli has totally rewritten, expanded and updated his 1989 bio Call Her Miss Ross to create what is now truly a definitive biography. The new book boasts epic research, including extensive interviews with Ross and virtually all the major people in her life (his enviable first-hand access began in the 1970s when he started an international fan club for the Supremes and later worked for Mary Wilson). This time out, there is more background about the early Supremes years that yields a complex and fascinating tale of ambition, ego, insecurities and harsh showbiz realities. Taraborrelli delves more deeply into Ross's psyche, allowing readers to fully appreciate her drive to escape Detroit and conquer the music world. The book also benefits greatly from Taraborrelli's thoughtful analysis of conflicting viewpoints represented in published memoirs by Ross, Wilson, Berry Gordy, and a slew of Motown performers. It's to Taraborrelli's credit that he refuses to cast people as one-dimensional heroes, victims or villains. This riveting page-turner is actually a tribute to a woman who has survived and thrived for more than four decades in a profession littered with one-hit wonders. 16-pages of photos. (Sept.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Book Description
There is only one Diana Ross. And this is her story.
Drawn from hundreds of interviews conducted over four decades and featuring rare, never-before-published photos, Diana Ross paints an unforgettable picture of an extraordinary and often controversial legend, a woman who has distinguished herself as a Civil Rights trailblazer, a temperamental celebrity (yes, you should call her "Miss Ross"), a loving and very present mother, and a consummate entertainer. Beautiful and fascinating, she is her own invention--the definition of a superstar.

Illuminated by unparalleled access, J. Randy Taraborrelli's insightful portrait surpasses previous biographies of Miss Ross. First-time revelations abound, from the tough decisions Diana made while having Barry Gordy's baby to her run-in with the police at Heathrow Airport to her triumphant recovery after a surprising drunk driving arrest. Taraborrelli also explains in vivid detail the real reasons behind the break up of the Supremes and relates the exclusive facts behind her complex romance with the founder of Motown. Delving deep into her personal history, Taraborrelli boldly explores Diana's troubled relationship with her family and the heartbreak she feels compelled to hide, bringing into focus a celebrated personality too often obscured by the bright lights of fame.

Despite years in the limelight, Diana Ross remains an enigmatic figure--a compelling paradox of vulnerability and iron will, fragility and strength. J. Randy Taraborrelli examines her private world to reveal a complex, inspiring, triumphant survivor in unprecedented clarity. Ladies and gentlemen, the incomparable, the one and only Diana Ross.

I wonder when they're gonna make a movie based on Diana's life Beyonce would be perfect for that role!

SoulAlive said:

[quote:274a654e06]I wonder when they're gonna make a movie based on Diana's life Beyonce would be perfect for that role![/quote:274a654e06]

Although I don't see it happening anytime soon,,,,her daughter Rhonda would make a helluva portrait....


Plus, she's professional actress which is a plus
[Edited 7/5/07 2:37am]

I thought he was going to avoid the dirt this time

Anyway, i`m glad we get to hear the fun stuff

Harlepolis said:

She has another daughter that looks even more like her.I can't recall her name,but she is on that TV show 'Girlfriends'.

.
[Edited 7/5/07 6:21am]

Timmy84 said:

That is not a new bio at all. It first came out about 15 years ago or so. This may be an updated edition but the basis of the book is very old..

SoulAlive said:

Tracee Ellis

whatsgoingon said:

Yeah, my article talks about a new book simply titled "Diana Ross", I think that's the title and yes Mr. Taraborelli is the writer of that book, I don't know if it's the same as "The Unauthorized Biography of Diana Ross", which was supposed to present a more complex picture of Diane.

Harlepolis said:

Rhonda looks more like a Gordy than a Ross. Her name should've been Rhonda Suzanne Gordy but Diane Dearest named her after her "other" father, lol. Actually there's a woman DirtyChris keeps mentioning that should play her and I have to agree with him because this woman (the "Baby Boy" actress) looks JUST LIKE Miss Ross. I think you know who I'm talking about tho.

Oh yes, Taraji P. Henson could nail that role with her teeth and nails



And it was ME chile, not Jinx

@ 'Diane Dearest',,,you's a goddamn fool

Diana ross is a bitch? What? This is madness. How dare you

Tell us something we didn't know

Timmy84 said:

I agree. Rhonda resembles Barry a lot more than she does Diana. And I think Tracee would be a better choice to play Diana if they ever did a movie about her.

Harlepolis said:

DUH... how did I forget.

I can imagine Diane coming to one of her kids and going "NO WIRE HANGERS EVER!!!! "

Timmy84 said:

I can imagine her doing it to someone who works for her, but not her kids.
I believe she`s been a wonderful mother, despite her bad reputation.

SunnySkies said:

Yeah, thats why its a far-fitched subject,,,,I still think Rhonda would've done a fabulous job.

Harlepolis said:

Rhonda can play her during her YOUNGER years and Tracee can come in just when she's about to go cuckoo.

Timmy84 said:

Rhonda definetly looks more like her dad than her mum. But there was a time Diana was meant to have made a comment that mixed race children are the best looking children inspite of the flaws of their parents. Now this is what I have heard, so I am not saying it's 100% true, but if she did say that I wonder how her daughter Rhonda felt knowing she wasn't mixed race.

whatsgoingon said:

The shit sounds fabricated and twisted,,,media can put the most outlandish shit in somebody else's mouth when they never said it(like Lauryn Hill's comment about white kids buying her records - which is another lie!).

Diane ain't one of my fave persons,,,,but in her defence, the woman is extremely smart. I doubt she will jeprodise a section of her audience over an air-headed comment like that.

She's an entertainer after all, she needs every one of her audience.

Harlepolis said:

Well, that's why I said it was an allegation. I am not sure whether she said it or not.
[Edited 7/6/07 2:10am]

whatsgoingon said:

As much as I can't stand her, I don't think she said this either. But she did say in 1979 that with her having two biracial children and the fact that she married a Jewish man, she said that she sees no reason to view anyone by color and said she sees everything as "one color".

omg speakin of a diana movie me and my mom was talkin bout this wednesday while we was watchin the bet awards - erykah badu would be perfect, but can she act?

Timmy84 said:

But don't forget she didn't tell Rhonda immediately her husband wasn't her biological father. So for the first few years Rhonda probably grew up thinking that Mr Ellis was her father, but she must have notice stark differences between herself and her sisters.

whatsgoingon said:

Well Rhonda did say she noticed a lot of differences between her sisters and her and I'm sure by ten she must've saw Berry's relatives and began asking Diane questions so finally when she was 12 or 13, she might've scolded "I'm Berry's child, right, mom?!" And she'd probably look at her and go "uh...yes But I..." "I know, I know, but I knew something was up!" That sort of thing.

Timmy84 said:

That reminds me of a line in the "Golden girls"

"Ever since Diana Ross married a white man, everyone wants one"

SoulAlive said:

You mean Barry Gordy's with her, right.