Singer, actress and pop diva Diana Ross returns to the Bay Area for four concerts, including her return to the Orpheum Theatre on July 12.
A music sensation since her early days in the 1960s as the lead singer for The Supremes, Miss Ross continued to perform for decades with a series of chart-topping solo hits. Ross' publicist shared some previously published excerpts from rare recent interviews with the star.
Q: When you're at home are you able to go out in public and do "regular people things" like taking your grandchildren to the park, or does going out in public generally involve drivers and bodyguards?
Diana Ross: I love being Mom and Grandma and doing all the grandma things. Yes, I go to the park and read books to my grandchildren. When I'm traveling and I actually love to text them or 'FaceTime' which keeps us very close as a family. I love my iPhone! Now that all my children have their own lives, careers and professions I look forward to the special family moments together including holidays and birthdays.
You have five adult children who all have successful careers take up a lot of time. Small children take up a lot of time. How do you all stay in touch? Do you schedule time for smart phone calls or video chats, or does it just happen?
DR: We are a very close family and that all seems to happen naturally. My son will call me when he's got a good news and wants to talk about something or needs advice. We just stay in touch. We really love each other.
When you were doing that mega-concert in Central Park in 1983, when that torrential rainstorm happened, were you ever concerned that you might be electrocuted?
I've had many incredible wonderful moments in my life and my career. Central Park was one of those very special memorable moments.
Do you think a lot of the young entertainers of the current twenty-something generation would benefit from the type of social skills lessons that Motown gave its artists in the 60s.
Maybe, but I'm not sure, it's a different time and different energy is needed for performances today. I always say, just have fun with your performance and that happiness will always connect. I think it is important to practice. Focus is important. But always have fun with it.
What makes a song a "Diana Ross song" - that is, a song that catches your interest?
I like songs about love. I have a lot of love songs in my repertoire. I love songs with a nice catchy melody that stays with you. The songs from the Motown era were all written with an almost spiritual vibe. They have very catchy lyrics. I think that through music the harmony and joy connects with the hearts of the listeners.
Can you mention the recent work of your talented children?
My son Evan Ross has a song that is on iTunes titled, "How To live Alone." My daughter Tracee is starring in an incredible television series, Blackish. My daughter Rhonda Ross is doing live jazz performances all around the U.S., and she is also on YouTube. My son Ross has opened up an beautiful club/ lounge in Los Angeles called, Warwick. My daughter Chudney has a children's book store in Santa Monica, California called Books and Cookies. They're all pursuing their dreams and desires and we support each other 100%.
You've performed with the greatest musicians of your generation, from Marvin Gaye to Michael Jackson. You're one of the few still going strong. Where have you found the strength over the years to avoid pitfalls? What personal qualities do you attribute your longevity to?
I really do love what I do. I love music. I love the interaction with the audience. I love the energy that I feel on stage.
Do you have a philosophy that guides your life?
Love and Joy.
In an interview with Oprah Winfrey, you mentioned you might retire only when you feel your voice isn't holding up well. Is it fair to say you have no plans on retiring any time soon?
I'm sure I'll know when it's time to taper off. But now is maybe even more exciting than it ever was, because I'm older and I appreciate everything so very much.
What are some words of wisdom/advice for the younger generations rising up right now in the music industry? Or is the music scene these days just too much of a different animal?
Write songs from your heart. Perform with joy. Appreciate your life and this gift. Stay true to yourself. Be a good and generous person. Love your Mom and Dad.
Your concerts get a lot of advance excitement from fans. Do you still like touring?
I am hoping that every one of my performances feels like a celebration. The reason why touring is because, it's exciting. Touring to me is like, each place, even though I might be returning, it feels brand new. And it's like a new adventure. I tour because I enjoy it and I am having fun.
I love to sing. I love performing before an audience and entertaining, it makes me feel good, and I do hope that the audience shares in that feel good feeling. I have a wonderful backing band, rhythm section, horns and singers and we just have a good time on stage we really have fun.
My band and I have been together for a very long time. We're like family. We enjoy each others company and it really is like play, we have fun! We have a joyful time performing.
I'm told you do a lot of work to develop each concert program.
When I am performing, I wear many different hats. What I mean by that is, I am the producer, the organizer, I am also the parent or mother on the road because I care about everyone. I want to make sure they are all well. I try to take care of them. The mothering part of me becomes very much a part of the actual touring.
I also have made really good friends that everyone that I travel with. My keyboard player has been with me the longest and my drummer and bass player are really the backbone of the entire band. They are like the heartbeat, they keep us filled with love and enjoying the whole process.
I am involved in the selection of music, of course my costumes, the lighting and setting and really the interaction between me and the audience, my unit, my band and the audience.
I have always been interested in the precision of the work, the 'harmony' of what we do, it has to all work together. It's like a piece of music in a sense, it's harmonious. We are all very professional. Everyone is always on time, always, doing their best to present the best to the audience, which I feel we always do.
Do you prefer the more intimate settings, like your upcoming Napa concert, or the bigger venues?
It doesn't matter to me if I am in a stadium with thousands of people or in a much smaller venue. My interaction is with the audience on a one to one. I always try to see their faces and their eyes! I perform and sing to them.
It's that harmonious vibration, good energy, that flows back and forth between the audience and myself and the band and the music. It's a wonderful thing about music. Music is like love. It feels good. It's about sharing. It's very special. Music is like the heartbeat of our world. Every time I do music from the early days or now, it's the song itself or the music itself has melody and it resonates with the all audiences. And when I am performing it, they become like a brand new song.
What inspires you to keep performing?
I do what I do, number one, because I love it. Ever since I was a girl I always loved to sing and perform. To me fame is not a career. You do the work you do, by the way I can almost not call it work, you do what you do because you love it. Most musicians are all the same as this, they are not doing what they do to become "famous." Fame is not a career. Your career is to share your God-given gift. And that is the thing that makes you happy. We get a chance to perform our passion, to do the thing that we love.
Do you have some favorite songs?
I like the song, "I Will Survive." I like the song, "Ain't No Mountain High Enough." I like songs that give positive images, that are positive totally in nature about the thoughts and thinking behind the song. That's where I really like to stay for myself personally in my thoughts. Songs are positive thoughts. With these songs, the energy that happens between the audience and myself is just phenomenal. It's very positive, it's exciting, I like watching them enjoy what we are offering and its really very special.
Diana Ross Northern California concerts:
July 8 at Wente Vineyards, $99-$300. 8:15pm. 5050 Aroyo Road, Livermore.
July 9 at Thunder Valley Casino Resort, $45-$190. 8pm. 1200 Athens Ave., Lincoln.
July 10 at Mountain Winery, $162-$354. 7:30pm. 14831 Pierce Road, Saratoga.
July 12 at The Orpheum Theatre, 1182 Market St., San Francisco. $148-$600. 8pm. 1182 Market St. (888) 746-1799.
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