![]() Masterfully led by bassist and Music Director, Cecil Thomas Jr., Miss Ross’ twelve-piece band initially appeared in silhouette and stoked the crowd’s anticipation. A sheer scrim bathed in purple light hung floor-to-ceiling across the stage. Like her Central Park concert, or any Diana Ross concert for that matter, the singer’s entrance at the Kings was worthy of a Queen. ![]() It’s also the city where Miss Ross promised “No wind no rain … can stop me babe” while actually conquering a deluge of wind and rain during her ’83 concert in Central Park that helped fund the Diana Ross Playground off W. It’s the city where Miss Ross recorded two career-defining albums, The Boss (1979) and diana (1980), with two of the city’s greatest production teams, Ashford & Simpson and the CHIC Organization, respectively. This is the city where “The Boss” spun at Studio 54 and “Love Hangover” powered Paradise Garage and Harlem drag balls. In a sense, Miss Ross and the city of New York belong to each other. Singing “Ease on Down the Road”, Miss Ross led a sold-out audience of 3,250 Gothamites to a whole new Oz, one that stands majestically along Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn.ĭiana Ross was the perfect artist to unveil a refurbished jewel in New York’s glimmering crown of cultural landmarks. Diana Ross inaugurated the Kings’ grand reopening after a $95 million restoration rescued it from the wrecking ball. However, the historic venue has now made up for lost time. Kings Theatre never screened Miss Ross’ turn as Dorothy in the Hollywood adaptation of Charlie Smalls’ hit Broadway musical. Within two months, Diana Ross would relocate to New York from Los Angeles and begin filming The Wiz (1978). August 1977 marked the last time Kings Theatre ran its projector.
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