A Lifetime to Get Here: Diana Ross - the American Dreamgirl [Paperback]

Not since J. Randy Taraborelli's first Diana Ross book (the glowing "Diana: A Celebration of Her Life and Career", circa 1985) have I been so excited to read about Diana Ross. The cover, the facts, and the insider tidbits make this an enjoyable read for this ardent Supremes fan. I especially like the behind the scenes of the Supremes aborted - Return to Love tour as well as the stolen moments at certain venues that I was in attendance -- makes it all the more enjoyable to read. Overall, the book succeeds in making Ross look like the super human being that she is as well as a great super star that she became. I think the Billboard charting information is a real added plus to this book.

As a Diana Ross fan for over four decades, I read this book with trepidation: would it just be a rehash of the same information all over again? It was not! Chock full of new details told with the right mix of journalistic integrity and gossipy dish - I couldn't put it down. The author names names, dates and corrects prior published untruths about The Supreme Supreme - supported by facts. An excellent read. Lots of unpublished pics from throughout her career make this the most sumptuous book on Diana Ross EVER!

When I first became aware of Tom Adrahtas' book, "Diana Ross...A Lifetime to get Here: The American Dreamgirl," I was intrigued by the controversy it had stirred up. After obtaining a copy to make my own judgment, I have to say that it is a throughly enjoyable read. One of the most interesting elements of the book are the "reflections" if you will, of fans, woven into the fabric of this biography, that underscore how important Diana Ross was in context of the social landscape of the time.

These flashbacks stirred some memories of my own, transporting me back to a simplier, more carefree time in my own life. If was a hot August evening in Montreal at Expo '67. A friend of mine, Eric Pressman, the President of the Supremes Fan Club in Canada, and I attended the first of six concerts over a three day period. I was 16 years old and was excited to be covering the show as a "teen reporter" for the "Ottawa Citizen." It was my first adventure away from home on my own, which in retrospect would not be allowed to happen in today's world.

The girls' hit record at the time was "Reflections," and their billing had just recently been altered to "Diana Ross and the Supremes." When I attended the press conference at the Hotel Bonadventure, I was stunned to discover that Florence Ballard had been replaced by Cindy Birdsong, and that only Diana Ross would be in attendance to speak to the press. Being largely ignored because of my youth, but emboldened by it as well, I knelt down between Diana and a radio DJ who was taping her on a portable tape recorder. The DJ asked Diana to describe the "Motown Sound" and while she thought of a reply, I nonchalantly whistled out a beat while moving my hands as if drumming. The hapless DJ shot me a look that could kill, but Diana looked at me, batted those long eyelashes, snapped her fingers and cooed, "That it, that's it!" In that single moment of connection, I knew I loved her!

Two days later, Eric and I hung around the hotel lobby where the Supremes were staying hoping to see them. We were rewarded by spotting Diana and her entourage waiting for an elevator. We slipped in unnoticed and rode up to her floor. I was party to a less than pleasant encounter. A reviewer had mentioned that Cindy Birdsong, formally a member of Patti LaBelle & The Bluebelles had joined the group, and Diana was incensed that Patti's name was mentioned. I remember shuddering when Diana hissed to an aide, "How dare they mention that [...] name in my review!" This was my moment of innocence lost, and I was shaken by this candid exchange. However I remained a loyal fan of both Diana Ross and of the Supremes as they morphed over the years.

I was pretty sure that I knew all there was about Diana Ross, but I have to say I was pleasantly surprised about some new facts that Tom Adrahtas has uncovered. This book made me question some of the negative conceptions that I harbored. I want to reread mary Wilson's account and reexamine what I previously had thought of as being the truth. If Florence Ballard had lived to tell her story, perhaps yet another aspect of the truth would have emerged.

Of particular interest is the chapter dealing with the Return To Love Tour. Diana took a beating on that and the author's sleuthing opens up some room for discussion. With a new recording, television appearances and an upcoming tour being planned, Diana Ross is experiencing a renaissance at this time. Tom Adrahtas' evenhanded examination of her life sheds light on the accomplishments of a truly gifted performer who has provided the soundtrack for so many lives. For whatever sins perceived or otherwise Diana Ross has committed to offend her detractors, she has surely spent enough time in purgatory, and deserves the opportunity to do what she does best, reach out to her fans. I enthusiastically recommend this book to anyone who is interested in a well researched assessment of Diana Ross and her impact on popular culture.