Diana Ross to perform legends slot at Glastonbury 2022
She's performing in the UK for the first time since 2008
Music legend Diana Ross has recently made her return to music with the release of her new album 'Thank You', the first new music she has brought out in 15 years. The album came out on 5th November along with the music video for her new song 'All Is Well', and it has now been announced that she will perform at Glastonbury in 2022.
Next year's Glastonbury Festival will take place from 22nd to 26th June, and will be the first since 2019 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Diana was due to perform at the 2020 event, and instead will be performing in 2022. The festival organisers said that the singer would 'bring her timeless music, sparkle and glamour to Worthy Farm.'
The 2022 lineup so far also includes Billie Eilish, with Diana Ross confirmed for the legends slot. The coveted legends slot has previously been filled by artists such as Kylie Minogue, Barry Gibb, Dolly Parton, Shirley Bassey, Kenny Rogers and Lionel Richie.
Diana will appear at Glastonbury on 26th June as part of her UK 'Thank You' tour, which will be the first time she has performed in the UK since 2008. On her tour she will visit Manchester, Leeds, Glasgow, Liverpool, Birmingham, London and Durham.
The singer Tweeted: 'I'm so excited and grateful to finally know that I'll be seeing you at #Glastonbury while on my UK Thank U Tour celebrating my new album of songs! See you at @glastonbury on Sunday, June 26, 2022 ✨ #dianarossthankyou'. (sic)
Diana will also appear as the headliner act at the The Cambridge Club Festival on Sunday 12th June 2022. Lionel Richie, Nile Rodgers & Chic are also set to headline at the event. Tickets for the festival go on sale from 12th November.
Check out Motown Records' biggest artists, including Diana Ross:
Marvin Gaye
Before becoming a successful solo artist, Marvin Gaye worked behind the scenes with some of the biggest artists already signed to Motown Records and was a session drummer for the likes of The Supremes, Little Stevie Wonder and Martha and the Vandellas.
He scored solo recognition with his first Top 40 solo single in 1962 called 'Hitch Hike' before enjoying success with singles like 'I Heard It Through The Grapevine', 'Can I Get A Witness?' and landmark record 'What's Going On' in 1970. In the same year, his singing partner Tammi Terrell, who he sang with on hit 'Ain't No Mountain High Enough' tragically passed away with a brain tumour. He swore he would never duet with a female vocalist again and even threatened to abandon his career on stage for good.
Tammi Terrell
Tammi Terrell was a hugely talented singer and star of Motown during the 1960s. She is most famous for her fantastic duets with Marvin Gaye, with whom she achieved seven Top 40 singles in the US, including 'Ain't No Mountain High Enough'. Tragically, her blossoming career was cut short, when she fell into the arms of Marvin Gaye as they performed a concert in October 1967 and was later diagnosed with a brain tumour. After eight unsuccessful surgeries, she sadly died in March 1970, aged 24.
The Supremes
Diana Ross, Mary Wilson and Florence Ballard helped pave the way for other black and female artists to strive for mainstream success. In the mid 60s, the trio's popularity rivalled that of The Beatles, with huge hits including 'Baby Love', 'You Can't Hurry Love' and 'Stop! In the Name of Love' storming the charts backed by legendary songwriting team Holland-Dozier-Holland. In 1967, Cindy Birdsong replaced Florence Ballard and in 1970, with the group now known as Diana Ross & the Supremes, Diana herself left to pursue a solo career!
The Four Tops
The Four Tops seemed a rarity in the world of Motown. Levi Stubbs, Renaldo 'Obie' Benson, Abdul 'Duke' Fakir and Lawrence Payton remained together for four decades. The quartet from Detroit also worked with songwriters and production trio Holland-Dozier-Holland and scored hugely popular singles including 'I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)' and 'Reach Out I'll Be There'. As Motown Records moved from Detroit to Los Angeles and started to focus more on their younger acts rather than established groups like The Four Tops, the quartet remained in the motor city and continued to make music with other labels.
The Jackson 5
The Jackson 5 originated in Gary, Indiana made up of members of the Jackson family. Father and talent manager Joe Jackson founded the pop group, consisting of brothers Jackie, Tito, Jermaine with younger brothers Marlon and Michael Jackson joining soon after. They signed to Motown after leaving Steeltown Records in 1968 and success soon followed. They enjoyed four consecutive US Number 1 hits on their debut, with songs 'I Want You Back', 'ABC', 'The Love You Save' and 'I'll Be There'.
Stevie Wonder
Motown boss Berry Gordy signed Stevie Wonder at the age of 11, describing the blind singer, songwriter and producer as a child prodigy. When Stevie Wonder released his single 'Fingertips' in 1963, he became the youngest artist ever to top the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the US, at the age of 13. He went on to produce incredible hits like 'Superstition', 'Sir Duke' and 'I Just Called To Say I Love You', which have all solidified him as one of the best-selling artists of all time. He has won 25 Grammy Awards and has been nominated 74 times.
Martha Reeves and the Vandellas
Martha Reeves and the Vandellas was a pop girl group founded by friends Annette Beard, Rosalind Ashford and Gloria Williams in Detroit in 1957. Gloria Williams left the group in 1962 and was replaced by lead vocalist Martha Reeves. Their hits included 'Heat Wave', 'Nowhere to Run' and 'Dancing in the Street, which was later covered by David Bowie and Mick Jagger in 1985.
The Temptations
Like Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, The Temptations hailed from Detroit, Michigan. They were famous for their harmonies and dance moves, helping to bring psychedelic soul music to the mainstream. Their classic songs like 'My Girl' and 'Papa Was A Rollin' Stone' made them one of Motown's biggest selling groups of the 60s and 70s. They were also the first group to bag Motown a Grammy Award with their song 'Cloud Nine' in 1969.
Smokey Robinson and The Miracles
Smokey Robinson founded group the Miracles in 1955 and became one of the first acts signed to Motown. Their 1960 hit 'Shop Around' was the label's first million-selling record and they went on to dominate the charts with songs like 'Tears of a Clown' and 'You've Really Got a Hold on Me'.
The Commodores
In the 1970s, funk and soul group The Commodores were the opening act for Motown heavyweights The Jackson 5. With Lionel Richie as their lead vocalist, the group caught the attention of Motown and reached their peak in the late 70s and early 80s, scoring hits like 'Easy' and 'Three Times A Lady'. Lionel Richie went on to enjoy a hugely successful solo career.
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