Today's birthday, March 26
Today's birthday, March 26: American singer Diana Ross (1944-)
Diana Ross is the original diva who began her career in one of the world's biggest girl groups, The Supremes.
Ross was born in Detroit in the US on March 26, 1944.
As a teenager she had aspirations of becoming a fashion designer and enrolled in the Cass Technical High School.
But music was always her ultimate love and she began singing with friends, forming a vocal group called The Primettes.
They had no early success gaining a record deal until, after one of their members dropped out, the girls reformed to become The Supremes.
The group signed to Motown Records in 1961 after auditioning with the popular label, and producers put Ross centre stage as lead singer.
The Supremes had their first number one hit with Where Did Our Love Go in 1964, before achieving world-wide fame and 12 chart toppers, including Stop In the Name of Love.
Ross parted ways with The Supremes in 1969 and embarked on a solo career, which included two hit tracks, Ain't No Mountain High Enough and Reach Out and Touch Somebody's Hand.
She went on to try her hand at acting, with her first role in Lady Sings the Blues (1972) gaining her an Academy Award nomination.
Ross went on to star in several other films, including Mahogany (1975) and The Wiz (1978) alongside Michael Jackson.
The nineties saw Ross return to the top of the pop charts with hits Upside Down and I'm Coming Out, while continuing acting in several TV movie roles.
Ross has won a Golden Globe, a Tony Award and her group the Supremes have a star on the Hollywood Walk of fame.
