Track #1 (of 5): Diana Ross @Encore Theater, Wynn Las Vegas
This is 81: Ms. Ross in all her splendor at the Wynn. (Image: Jerry Adler)
“I’m 47,” kidded Diana Ross onstage at the Wynn’s Encore Theater before quickly noting that “I have a birthday coming up in March—I’ll be 82.”
It was a beautiful moment to see the legendary singer fully owning her age and celebrating her life and role as a pioneering Black artist who forever changed pop culture starting with her Motown Records days leading the mighty Supremes.
But Ms. Ross was not here to rest on her many achievements at this Valentine's Day show, the second of a three-night run at the acoustically sterling venue. It was a tour de force career retrospective performance by the still-glamorous performer who deftly curled her gorgeous voice—which remains sweet, intricate, and focused—around her Supremes hits including “Stop! In The Name of Love” and “Baby Love”; solo disco-era smashes like “Love Hangover,” “I’m Coming Out,” and “Upside Down”; and an awe-inspiring “Don’t Explain” from her portrayal of Billie Holiday in the 1972 film “Lady Sings The Blues.”
Diana Ross showers the audience with “endless love.” (Image: Jerry Adler)
Ross’ six-piece band and two backing singers were tight and muscular but never overpowering—they gave her the room to vocally shine on the uptempo songs and ballads like “Endless Love.” For the 90 minutes she was onstage—delivering nothing less than her absolute best—you just wanted to cheer her on. Walking out of the venue, everyone had the same look on their faces—that we all witnessed a historic performance by an artist who gives everyone hope that living a long, healthy, and vital life is possible.
