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There's a reason why 'The Oprah Winfrey Show' has remained the #1 talk show for 24 consecutive seasons; she knows how to get the "gets."
Rounding out a month full of first-run exclusives, the media maven's candid chat with music legend Diana Ross will air Feb. 25.
Winfrey, who counts Ross as one of her childhood inspirations, said the show was a "full circle moment," for her -- recalling the time when Diana Ross & The Supremes became international superstars during the 1960s. "I have to keep myself from going into the ugly cry because of how much this woman, this legend, mean to me in my life and to the life of every little girl who dared to dream."
On the one-hour show, which revolves around the Motown Records legend, her children ; Rhonda Ross Kendrick, Tracee Ellis Ross, Chudney Ross, Ross Arne Naess, Evan Ross and her first grandson Raif Henok Emmanuel Kendrick make appearances.
In what could be considered her most candid, recent interview, the 'Aint No Mountain High Enough' chanteuse opens up about her family life (she was there when her first grandchild was born); embracing modern technology (going to the Apple store to take lessons on how to use a computer); and doing what regular people do (shopping at the supermarket for her own produce).
Where Are They Now: Motown Stars
Since its official launch in 1960 Motown records has been responsible for developing some of the most iconic music figures known to grace the face of the earth. Catapulting the careers of legendary acts such as Lionel Richie, Smokey Robinson, Diana Ross, and the late Teena Marie has not only given fans timeless discography of hit but also, set the musical landscape for generations to come. In honor of Black History Month BlackVoices.com takes an introspective look at some of Motown's brightest stars past and present.
Where Are They Now: Motown Stars
Gladys Knight & The Pips -- Then
Gladys Knight and the Pips, composed of Knight on lead vocals and her brother Merald 'Bubba' Knight and their cousins Edward Patten and William Guest, had a moderate hit with the single 'Every Beat of My Heart,' in 1961. But, it wasn't until they signed with Motown in 1966 that they reached crossover success. Their career high came when 'I Heard It Through the Grapevine' hit Number Two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and after selling 2.5 million copies, the record became Motown's best-selling single. Other notable hits include 'If I Were Your Woman' and 'Neither One of Us (Wants to Be the First to Say Goodbye),' the latter of which was one of their last Motown hits before leaving for Buddah Records in 1973. Knight said in her autobiography 'Between Each Line of Pain and Glory: My Life Story,' one of the reasons the group left Motown was because of being a second-string act behind The Supremes, The Temptations and Marvin Gaye.
Where Are They Now: Motown Stars
Gladys Knight & The Pips -Now
After they left Motown, Gladys Knight and the Pips recorded the Grammy Award-winning song 'Midnight Train to Georgia' on Buddah Records. The Atlanta-reared quartet also recorded the soundtrack to the movie 'Claudine,' crafted by Curtis Mayfield. After disbanding, both the Pips and Knight recorded separate albums in the '80s, but in 1987 they released their final album 'All Our Love,' which included the Grammy Award-winning R&B hit 'Love Overboard.' Some of Knight's notable solo collaborations include 'That's What Friends Are For' with Stevie Wonder, Dionne Warwick and Elton John and 'Superwoman' with Warwick and Patti LaBelle. Knight, who recently released jazz and gospel sets, also co-owns a chain of chicken-and-waffles restaurants in Atlanta and Maryland. Meanwhile, the remaining members of the Pips appeared in a Geico commercial in 2007, and Bubba (Knight's baby brother) still performes with her sporadically.
Where Are They Now: Motown Stars
Debarge -- Then
The Jackson 5 singer Jermaine Jackson discovered and signed Tommy and Bobby DeBarge to Motown's Gordy label as part of the group Switch. Through them, he met their sister, Bunny, and brothers Randy, Marty and Eldra, who formed The DeBarges. They too were signed to the Gordy imprint in 1979. The family quartet became five when James DeBarge joined the foil on the 1982 album 'All This Love,' with the single of the same name becoming their biggest hit. Thanks to their first live appearance on 'Motown 25,' a successful opening spot on tour with Luther Vandross, and recording the title track 'Rhythm of the Night' for 'The Last Dragon' film, they became Motown's most popular group in the '80s. El became the breakout star and Berry Gordy changed the group's name to DeBarge featuring El DeBarge, and like Diana Ross with the Supremes, he left to pursue a solo career.
Where Are They Now: Motown Stars
Debarge –Now
The DeBarge family's story post-'80s fame has been a sad one. Following El and Bunny's exit, DeBarge had trouble finding a hit. Despite notable appearances on Quincy Jones' 'Secret Garden' and Fourplay's 'After the Dance,' El (recently pictured with Chico on the left) didn't become the solo star Motown had hoped but instead has been in and out of legal trouble. After a battery of arrests for vandalism, drug possession, alleged domestic abuse, El was sentenced to two years in state prison for possession of crack cocaine on Oct. 28, 2008. Bobby and younger brother Chico served five years in prison for drug trafficking. James, who married Janet Jackson, suffered drug and alcohol abuse, as did Randy, Marty and Tommy all of whom reportedly have long-term health problems. Bobby tragically died in 1995, at age 39, from AIDS. Bunny, who also had problems with drugs, failed to sell records as a solo artist but now is a born-again Christian and records gospel music. She released a autobiography 'The Kept Ones,' chronicling the rise and fall of the family group and even detailing other family demons. Not to mention El DeBarge's resurgence with his 2010 Grammy Award-nominated album, 'Second Chance.'
Where Are They Now: Motown Stars
Zhane -- Then
Zhané was composed of Jean Baylor and Renee Neufville, who met while studying music at Temple University. Their single 'Hey Mr. DJ' earned them a contract with Motown in 1994 during the dawn of the neo-soul movement. The duo's gold-certified debut 'Pronounced Jah-Nay' also included 'Groove Thang' and 'Sending My Love.' They continued making appearances on movie soundtracks and projects with Busta Rhymes, The Notorious B.I.G. and De La Soul. Their final album together, only their second, was 1997's 'Saturday Night,' which featured a hip hop-tinged cover of Billy Joel's 'For The Longest Time.'
Where Are They Now: Motown Stars
Zhane --Now
Though the duo has disbanded, both members remain very active performers. Nuefville has toured with jazz legend Roy Hargrove in the past. While Norris' debut solo album 'Testimony: My Life Story' was released in 2007 and is available for download on her website, www.JeanBaylor.com.
Where Are They Now: Motown Stars
Diana Ross --Then
Forming a singing group with Mary Wilson and Florence Ballard, while living in Detroit's Brewster-Douglass housing projects, proved the smartest decision that Diane 'Diana' Ross could have made. The girl group, The Supremes, was one of the top groups on Motown and introduced the world to the label's signature sound. Ross was the lead singer of the trio before leaving to embark on a solo career in 1969, and becoming one of the most successful singers of all time. In her heyday, she crossed over into film, television and Broadway, earning numerous accolades including a Best Actress Academy Award nomination for her 1972 portrayal of jazz icon Billie Holiday in 'Lady Sings the Blues.'
Where Are They Now: Motown Stars
Diana Ross -- Now
Ross continues to headline performances around the world. Some of her noteworthy ones in 2008 include a headline-grabbing appearance at the Air Jamaica Jazz & Blues Music Festival, the Divas with Heart charity event at Radio City Music Hall in New York, the Liverpool Pops Festival in England and the Nobel Peace Prize concert in Norway. In 2006, she released a new studio album of classic rock and soul standards called, 'I Love You.' Though it debuted at Number 32 on the pop charts, it went on to sell 100,000 copies. In 2007, the mother of five was presented with a BET Lifetime Achievement Award and also was a Kennedy Center Honors recipient. Having sold over 100 million records over her career, Ross continues to re-release some of her most popular material in expanded editions featuring bonus tracks and alternative versions of the songs. In a Motown poll, her 'Ain't No Mountain High Enough' was voted the Number Two greatest Motown song of all time second only to Marvin Gaye's 'I Heard It Through the Grapevine.'
Where Are They Now: Motown Stars
Stevie Wonder -Then
The Miracles' Ronnie White can be credited with bringing Stevland Hardaway Morris in to Motown Records to meet its president Berry Gordy, who was so impressed that he signed the 11-year-old on the spot. But not before he changed Morris' name to Little Stevie Wonder. One year later, Wonder, who has been blind since infancy, had his first Number One single with 'Fingertips (Pt. 2)' in 1963. Not only did the Saginaw, Michigan native wow audiences with his ability to play the harmonica, bongos and sing vocals, but he stayed busy behind-the-scenes composing songs both for himself and his labelmates. Stevie independently recorded two albums before re-negotiating his Motown contract and was able to demand full creative control and the rights to his own songs before re-signing in 1972. His classic opus, 'Music of My Mind' followed and shortly thereafter 1976's 'Songs In The Key of Life,' two offerings that sealed his fate as a Motown legend. By the end of the '70s, he had garnered 15 Grammy Awards, among other accolades, and would forever be known as a musical genius.
Comments: (45)
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By: rasfanta on 2/26/2011 6:22PM
Phony Oprah Winfrey. I did not see the show because I do not watch OW. Did she try to quiz Diana about Michael Jackson? Diana looks fabulous in the picture as well as her family. Was this the first time Miss Ross has been on her show? Not surprised if it is. Oprah Winfrey disturbs me greatly the way she has abandoned her own people in favor of caucasians who she promotes unendingly, except for Gail King. Sorry, ain't feeling oprah.
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By: stare k on 2/24/2011 11:35PM
To rasfanta You are so right . Opra lives in a white world . I wonder have she ever sat down & thought to her self .IF SHE WASN'T RICH THE WHITE PEOPEL WOULD NOT GIVE HER THE TIME OF DAY .YOU can bank on that. Did any one see Kathryn Jackson on her OWN . The show was 45 min. showing her staff ,& guess what ? I SAW ONE BLACK EMPLOYE .I know there are blacks that are qualified to work for her . She got in a position th give black jobs , she gave the jobs to the white peopel . What a joke .
I don't watch MONIQUE show mabe twice a month for mabe 10 or 15 min . One thing I can say ,she might be GETTO . She don't look over her peopel the way OPRA DOES. Opra should be ashame of her self .Down through the years how blacks have struggle , worked hard . When she got in a position to help her race she gave the jobs to the white peopel . What a joke.SHAME ON YOU OPRA THAT IS WHY BLACK WOMEN IN CHICAGO CANT STAND HER .
AND THROUGHT out the states most blacks don't watch her show because she abandon her race . Mabe she think she is white .If she ever turn the white peopel against her , they will do her the same way they did
OJ.
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By: wisdom on 2/25/2011 8:53AM
Oprah has given millions of dollars to black colleges and have built a big time school for black girls in africa. She has helped coretta king,nelson mandela,bishop tutu and so many others.Diana Ross gave a great deal of money to unity house in new york,which helps 99% of black youth.Oprah is only one person and has done a great job,she put obama in the white house
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By: M. Alexander on 2/25/2011 8:56AM
So true ! Many people who may not be old enough to remember Oprah's beginning do not realize she had a cheesy talk show and then she somehow transformed into this caterer of White middle class women who wouldn't know a life struggle if it bit them on the cheek !
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By: debra on 2/25/2011 12:56PM
hey, I think oprah has done great for herself, I thank God for someone like her. She have earned respect of most people. I know some black people think she cateres to the white middle,upper class but remember they are the ones who don't have to work and can attend the show or can watch the show on tv. I don't envy any of them because when I can I watch the show. I think she's great. Every now and again a special black woman, man overcome some hardship. If you remeber where oprah come from I know she didn't forget but she does not want to go back neither. You and all other black folks should be very proud of her. The only thing is: if oprah was and evangelist, serving God she could help save a lot of people from going to hell, even herself. Do you think just being nice and helping will get her into heaven well you are wrong. I have seen her and if you talk about God she is really clueless. that's why I pray for her because she could really win people for chirst if she would serve him.
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By: girlking on 2/25/2011 12:57PM
rasfanta since you don't watch her show, you don't know that she employs both Black men and women who work behind the scenes on her show. I guess you don't know that the employees that do work behind the scenes are senior producers. I guess you don't know that she has a young brotha hosting his own radio show on Oprah Radio. But then again, you don't watch Oprah. Why is it that we expect her to rescue Black people. Black people need to rescue themselves and stop expecting someone else to do it. We criticize any and every Black person who is successful wanting them to acknowledge our existence by "giving" us something.
rasfanta and the rest of the haters stop justifying you "crabs in a barrel" mentality by pointing out what you think is someone elses flaw. Ask yourself of the number of people who you don't know, what have you done for them.
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By: Mrs. Mercedes Benz on 2/25/2011 1:16PM
No, Oprah matured and realized she didn't have to make a living by airing the bufoonery and ignorance of americans. Unlike Jerry Springer and Maury Povich, who continues to exploit poor, loud mouth, ghetto blacks, crazy hispanics and white trailer park trash. Talk Shows like theirs are a pathetic disgrace to us all. They will continue to flourish because most people find this nonsense entertaining. I'm no fan of Oprah Winfrey, but I applaud her for not following the norm. She has made billions and genuinely helps others, so it's well deserved.
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By: youngblacked on 2/25/2011 3:14PM
Oprah is just awesome hands down in my book...I had plans for 4 but I think I'll be watching this. Check this interview out:
www.youngblackeducated.com
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By: V.Smith on 2/26/2011 7:09AM
Did you forget she is educating a nation.....South Africa...the school for girls....These are the same girls who will grow into women and have children. The education torch will be passed for generations to come.
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By: Starr on 2/26/2011 9:12PM
I can understand how you feel about O.W. promoting Caucasians, but it seems every time she tries to help her own, she gets burned. Iyanla (who went to another station and Mo'nique who refused to promote the movie Precious, 'cause she wasn't getting paid! Just an observation.
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