Diana Ross (with Mary Wilson and Florence Ballard)

Object Details

Artist: Steve Schapiro, born 1934
Sitter: Mary Wilson, 6 Mar 1944 - 8 Feb 2021; Diana Ross, born 26 Mar 1944; Florence Ballard, 30 Jun 1943 - 22 Feb 1976

Exhibition Label: Diana Ross achieved international stardom as the lead singer of the Supremes. With songs such as "Where Did Our Love Go" and "Stop in the Name of Love," the Supremes became the most successful female group in pop music history; during the 1960s, only the Beatles sold more records. Steve Schapiro's photograph pictures Ross (center) in 1965 performing on the NBC musical variety show Hullabaloo with the other two members of the famous singing trio-Mary Wilson (left) and Florence Ballard (right). Described as a "total entertainer," Ross electrified audiences with a voice that could put "swerves into the most unsupple lyrics." In 1970 she left the group to pursue a solo career as a singer and an actress. Ross's portrayal of singer Billie Holiday in the 1972 film Lady Sings the Blues received a Best Actress Oscar nomination.

Credit Line: National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; gift of Steve Schapiro

1965 (printed 2006)

Medium: Gelatin silver print
Dimensions: Image: 22.6 x 33.7cm (8 7/8 x 13 1/4"); Sheet: 27.7 x 35.5cm (10 7/8 x 14"); Mat: 40.6 x 55.9cm (16 x 22")

National Portrait Gallery

Topic: Interior; Interior\Performing Arts\Theatrical\Stage; Mary Wilson: Female; Mary Wilson: Performing Arts\Performer\Musician\Singer\Popular; Diana Ross: Female; Diana Ross: Visual Arts\Designer\Fashion Designer; Diana Ross: Performing Arts\Performer\Actor\Movie; Diana Ross: Performing Arts\Performer\Musician\Singer\Pop; Florence Ballard: Female; Florence Ballard: Performing Arts\Performer\Musician\Singer\Popular; Portrait

GUID (Link to Original Record): http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/sm414d097bb-dbb3-4fbc-a42f-ba444a4b55cd