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Gladys Knight did a prior interview with The Insider, where she revealed that for 37 long years, Diana Ross didn’t like her. Apparently this feud stemmed from when Gladys Knight & The Pips were signed to Motown Records…and it didn’t end until 2005! Wow! They sure did a great job at keeping this beef on the hush. It wasn’t until Gladys made it public knowledge in her memoir, that folks really started finding out about it.

Knight pretty much revealed that Diana was apparently hatin’ on her voice when they went on tour together during their Motown Days. Though, Gladys also admitted that she was confused as to why Diana was hatin’ on her, being that Diana “had all the attention in the world from Mr. Gordy and everyone else.”

According to the “Midnight Train To Georgia” songstress, Motown’s founder, Berry Gordy (who was also dating Diana at the time), along with Diana, invited Gladys Knight & The Pips to open up for the Supremes on tour. However, Gladys soon realized that she, herself, was the ‘problem’…at least according to what Gordy told her about Diana at that time:

“We got a call from Mr. Gordy saying ‘Well, I hear you’re spoiling my act [The Supremes].” Gladys replied,”Well Mr. Gordy, that’s not what we’r about, you now. We’re just doing our show.”

Then Gladys says Berry gave her and The Pips the boot from the tour, without warning:

“He said ‘Well…I think you guys should just come on back home tomorrow.’ So, we went back home and that was the name of that game,” recalled Gladys Knight.

When asked if Diana Ross was ever mean to her, Gladys replied:

“Well I’m not a liar, I know that she wasn’t the happiest with me, let me put it like that.”

That response was very cordial of Gladys, wasn’t it? But find out what the real deal is, as she explained it further in her interview clip below:

This isn’t the first time we’ve heard about ‘the boss Ms. Ross’ doing another singer dirty. However, let’s give a lil’ bit of the benefit of a doubt here. Sometimes, Diana may have gotten a bad wrap for being a ‘difficult’ diva, when it could have simply been a reflection of her extremely competitive nature…which could be a gift AND a curse for Diana. It’s a gift because without Diana’s competitiveness, her fans probably wouldn’t have gotten the high level of music that her competitiveness pushed her to create throughout the years. It’s a curse because along her diva journey, she made many enemies in the music game.

On the flip side, we can’t blame Gladys Knight for not wanting to put up with Diana’s alleged rudeness towards her. Most of us would have responded to it the same way. This just goes to show that Old School beef existed too. But it’s a beautiful thing to see Gladys and Diana eventually put their differences to rest.

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ILOSM fam, R&B legend, Al B. Sure (55), dropped a bombshell revelation on all of his fans. His reveal may make you think you’re either reading a typo or incorrect info, but then you’ll realize you’re not and will likely say, ‘Come again now?!! You say what Al B.?’ At least that’s how we, here at ILOSM, responded when we first read what he wrote about the woman he says he was “in love” and maybe still is.

For decades, Al B.’s choice in women has made it clear that he has always had a thing for older women. He was in a serious relationship with former TV journalist, Rolonda Watts, when he was 20-something and she was 9 years his senior. He then went on to allegedly be romantically involved with a few other celebrity women who were older than he. But the one celeb’ Al B. has revealed this go ’round, shares the largest age gap with him. However, it’s not surprising because just as Al B. likes his women a little older, she has been known to like some of her love interests a lil’ younger.

Al B. Sure’s Confession Of Love?

So, enough with the suspense…Al B. was (and/or is) in love with the iconic 80-year-old Diana Ross!!! Don’t take our word for it though, check out what he confessed a while back bout her, as well as their 1990 love song, “No Matter What,” which Al B. has now also revealed was directly about Diana and their “love”…

officialalbsure- “#TBT Confession: When you’re a younger man in L💞ve with an Iconic Woman with all of your being & she’s also Spiritually Iconic. Everything in my Heart, Mind, Body & Soul craves her in every way from the moment i awaken until i slumber. I keep a protective aura & #TuffGuy face because even being young, protecting her is a must! In these unknown tropical 🌴 waters, I do know from the depths of my being that this is the ocean 🌊 ive seen in an immortal dream sequence again and again, over and over in my mind as we sing together…. #NoMatterWhatYouDo (I’ll ❤️You All the Same…& Will always & forever be in my ❤️) The Iconic Duet w/ #DianaRoss & #AlBSure Listen Closely & You figure it out!”

After seeing what Al B. wrote in the above Instagram ‘confessional,’ we realized that he’s been droppin’ clues, about being in love with Diana, all along on his timeline. It’s just that this was the first time he actually directly admitted it. Ain’t that a blip?!!

Although Al B. is nearly 25 years younger than ‘the boss’ Ms. Ross, he’s not letting anything stop him from shootin’ his shot. I guess it’s better late than never, she’s not married and neither is he, so there’s nothing but space and opportunity between them. Wonder if Ms. Ross feels the same way about him though. Only time will tell.

The post Al B Sure Confessed He Was ‘In Love’ With Much Older Music Icon…We Were Not Ready appeared first on I Love Old School Music.

When talking about a masterpiece like Lady Sings The Blues, it’s easy to get caught up in the actual story of the life of iconic jazz great, Billie Holiday. But oftentimes, the stories of what happened behind the scenes of the film are usually just as intriguing.

In researching this film, we found out that one of those stories, in particular, came directly from the horse’s mouth, so to speak. Billy Dee Williams revealed an interesting tidbit of info about a few tense, awkward moments between himself, Diana, and Berry Gordy during filming. Maybe you can already tell where we’re going with this, but let’s continue.

Remember how Billy Dee’s character, “Louis McKay,” was deeply in love with Diana’s character, “Billie Holiday?” Well of course capturing their love for each other also entailed them getting lovey-dovey on camera. The only problem, according to what Billy Dee revealed in the book, Diana Ross: A Biography, was that our man, Berry Gordy, wasn’t cool with the love scenes at all. Although Berry and Diana were supposedly not seeing each other at the time of the filming (although 6 months prior to filming ‘Lady Sings,’ Diana had just given birth to she and Berry’s daughter, Rhonda Ross…that’s a whole ‘notha story), Billy Dee said that didn’t stop Berry from getting jealous, understandably so.

Billy Dee Tells What Happened Between Him, Gordy, & Ross On Set

As a result of his reported jealousy, Berry -who funded the entire movie- did everything he could to cut those kissing scenes short. Those interruptions eventually took a toll on Billy and Diana’s groove. Here’s what Billy Dee had to say about that:

“Well, it was clear to me from the beginning that they [Berry and Diana] had this psychodramatic, complex love affair going on, even though she was married to someone else. I don’t mean they were having sex; everyone knew that was over. But, just because you’re not having sex with a woman doesn’t mean you don’t still feel territorial where she’s concerned, and Berry did.”

Billy Dee continued:

“I think there was only one scene in the whole film where Diana and I really kissed, and Berry made it very tough on us. It sounds silly in retrospect, but he really did not want the kiss to take place. We’d get to that place in rehearsal and he’d stop it. He was saying he wanted the real kiss to take place on camera, but we knew that he just didn’t want the real kiss to make out more than once. Diana was beyond frustrated. “Jesus Christ, Berry,” she said, “it’s only a kiss.” I have to tell you, I truly believed that he had never seen her kiss another man before in his life, and he did not want to see it. So I thought that was kind of sweet.

And kind of weird, too. In the end, we did the kiss, obviously. Diana has the best mouth in show business, and kissing her was…well, magical. An I was only acting. So, after that kiss, i was like, okay- I get it- if this was my woman, no way would I want her kissing another man.” -Quote from Billy Dee Williams in the book, ‘Diana Ross: A Biography by J. Randy Taraborelli’

Diana Ross seemingly had Berry Gordy hooked, and from the sounds of it, Billy Dee got a hit of her sensual spell too (although it was just acting). There’s nothing like a woman who knows how to truly own her sensuality…Berry was obviously worried about his ex-woman sharing that sensuality with anyone else- acting, or no acting.

To Berry’s credit, his worry was justifiable because after Billy Dee said that classic line to Diana, “Do you want my hand to fall off?” women all across America were trying to get a piece of the brotha!  Pretty sure Berry didn’t wanna witness his ex falling into that same spell. However, there’s no denying that the chemistry Billy Dee and Diana had in Lady Sings The Blues allowed them to create on-screen magic, catapulting the film into an Old School cult classic. So glad Berry Gordy didn’t sabotage it.

Nevertheless…we’ll let Club Nouveau’s ’80s classic, “Jealousy,” take us out on this one. Enjoy the video below, I Love Old School Music fam’…

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Whitney Houston’s performance in the iconic movie “The Bodyguard” is etched in pop culture history. However, few may know that the film almost had a different lead actress. Another legendary singer, alongside her then-Caucasian actor-boyfriend, was initially considered for the role before Whitney came in the picture.

Who Was Supposed To Star In “The Bodyguard” Before Whitney

Back in the ’70s, Lawrence Kasdan and John Boorman envisioned a romantic drama, titled “The Bodyguard.”

In 1978, a rough draft of the script found its way to actor, Ryan O’Neal. He was approached to play the lead and had someone special in mind as his co-star—Diana Ross, with whom he said he was romantically involved at the time. Yep, Diana and Ryan were supposedly a thing like that Billy Paul “Mrs. Jones” song.

However, Ross was hesitant about the project. According to J. Randy Taraborrelli’s book, “Diana Ross: A Biography,” she disliked elements of the movie, including a nude scene and the title. Despite O’Neal’s efforts to persuade her, Ross declined the opportunity in August 1979, ultimately straining their relationship.

Why Whitney Hesitated

Fast forward to years later when “The Bodyguard” was given a second chance. Whitney Houston was initially hesitant to take on the role of “Rachel Marron.” Concerns about the character and her acting abilities made her apprehensive. It took months of persuasion from co-star, Kevin Costner, to convince Whitney that she would not be alone in this endeavor. Finally, Houston agreed, putting her faith in Costner’s promise to support her every step of the way.

The Box Office Triumph

Following its release in 1992, “The Bodyguard” killed it at the box office, amassing around $400 million worldwide. Houston’s powerful vocals captivated audiences, skyrocketing the film’s soundtrack to chart-topping success and solidifying her status as an icon. The movie’s achievements extended beyond the box office, garnering numerous accolades, including Grammy and Billboard awards.

It All Worked Out In The End

“The Bodyguard” took a winding path before becoming the cinematic sensation we know today. Diana Ross’s early rejection opened the door for Whitney Houston to shine, adding another remarkable chapter to her already outstanding career. Reflecting on the film’s success reminds us that sometimes unexpected turns bring forth unforgettable moments. As we cherish Whitney Houston’s legacy, we can only imagine the different story that may have unfolded had Diana Ross taken on the role.

Source

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Many know singer, Akon, but his music executive brother, Abou “Bu” Thiam, is kinda like a big deal too. He was the youngest person to become Vice President of A&R for Def Jam Records at age 28, and worked with artists like Chris Brown, Rihanna, Jay-Z, T-Pain and more. Between 2011 and 2013, Bu was in a serious relationship with Diana Ross’s daughter/actress, Tracee Ellis Ross and they were oftentimes seen out together, showing all kinds of affection.

We all thought they were gonna last, especially since he was the only ‘boyfriend’ Tracee has ever gone public with, which made us know it was real. And also because in recent years, Bu left a flirtatious comment on one of Tracee’s social media posts (years after their break-up), telling her that she was “still fine.” In addition to that, Bu also boldly claimed that he and Tracee would “be lovers forever” and will always be in ‘each other’s lives’ in a 2016 interview. But unfortunately, they didn’t last…and in a prior interview with The Breakfast Club (see video below), Bu explained why he reportedly had to end things with the love of his life.

Bu Thiam Explains Why He & Tracee Broke Up

When asked if he was in love with his ex-girlfriend, Tracee, Abou “Bu” Thiam said he was, and apparently still is, in love with her and that any future girlfriend will have to respect that:

“Yeah I was in love for sho.’… Me and Tracee gon’ be lovers forever man. You know what I’m saying? Like, I really do believe that. Me and her have this genuine, unconditional relationship. … And anybody that comes in my life, like, they have to know that and vice versa with her.”

Embed from Getty Images

Bu on why they aren’t together:

“I believe that being with somebody…it’s like managing…it’s a real job. It’s a real responsibility. … And she’s in a place in her career that if I can’t give her all of me, I don’t wanna waste- not…waste her time- but I don’t wanna put her in that space. … So why not give her opportunity to find somebody else that can.”

He continued:

“By the way, I’mma be honest, out of all the females that I dated- and not to discredit all the other girls, because I’ve been with some good females in my life- but she has to be one of the most unconditional loving spirited, good people.”

Bu Told His Current Women He Might Go Back To Tracee!

Tracee Ellis Ross & Bu Thiam are a Couple – Did you know? pic.twitter.com/PxP6wYbtVD

— T.K.H.D's World (@TKHD_) June 22, 2014

Priceless!

When asked if he tells his current women that he might suddenly them to go back to Tracee, Bu’s reply was priceless:

“They know that (LOL), they BETTER know that. .. I mean, listen, who knows what the future holds…anything can happen at any given moment. So…I just take it for what it is and just allow it to be what it is.”

Not quite sure how far the former lovebirds take that “lovers” title that Bu described these days, but overall, they clearly have deep love for each other. Maybe one day they’ll rekindle that flame.

Trace Ellis Ross Speaks On How She Copes With Being ‘Lonely’

 

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A post shared by Tracee Ellis Ross (@traceeellisross)

Meanwhile, Tracee is out here living the single life. At least that’s what she hinted to after their breakup. In an interview with Glamour Magazine, she revealed how she oftentimes copes with being lonely and she’s learned to become her own one-person-support-team when down:

Tracce E. Ross: “The key is you ask yourself, What do I need right now? I’ve cultivated a relationship with myself where I know I have choices…. I have a toolbox of ways I can find support; journaling is helpful, or meditation. And I have had to really make friends with loneliness. And know the difference between choice-ful solitude and lonely. [I find comfort in] being able to name it, to say I’m feeling lonely, then to have a tribe of people I feel safe enough with to share: This is how I feel.”

Tracee and Bu might as well get back together –if they secretly haven’t already– because they seemingly made a cool couple.

The post Akon’s Brother Detailed Why He Broke Up With Diana’s Daughter Tracee Ellis Ross appeared first on I Love Old School Music.

Diana Ross’ first born, 51-year-old Rhonda Ross-Kendrick, did an interview a while back, where she discussed how she eventually discovered that her Dad was not a tall, Jewish-American man, but rather an African American Motown Records head honcho. For those who don’t know, Rhonda had often been referred to as Diana’s and Berry Gordy’s “love child” throughout the years. She was the product of their undercover relationship that lasted for many years while ‘The boss’ Ms. Ross was with the Supremes and also during her solo career.

The identity of Rhonda’s real father was kept a secret, although we’re not quite sure why. My guess is that it was because the public didn’t know about Berry’s and Diana’s relationship and maybe they thought it would have tainted Diana’s rep, although many people in the music industry knew. Diana and Berry didn’t completely hide their relationship, but they didn’t publicize it to the world either.

Any person on the face of this earth can take one look at Rhonda and clearly see that she is Berry Gordy’s baby, but I guess it’s much harder to notice that just by looking in the mirror, when you’ve been lead to believe that someone else was your dad all of your life.

Anyways, here’s what Rhonda explained about how she learned Berry Gordy was not “Uncle Berry” but he was ‘Daddy’…

Via NYPost:
“The bottom line was, I looked just like [Gordy], and my sisters looked just like their father, a 6-foot-tall Jewish American man,” [Rhonda Ross] says. Even so, she’s still close to the man who raised her as his daughter, “though he knew I wasn’t his when my mother was pregnant.” 

The oldest of the diva’s five children, Rhonda was nearly 13 when she was told the man she knew as Dad — her mother’s husband and manager, Robert Ellis Silberstein — wasn’t.

Discovering who she really was came as a relief, she says. Gordy was already so close to the family that she and her sisters called him “uncle.” And while it took her awhile to learn the truth, others had guessed it long ago. “I’d meet fans on the street who’d say, ‘Oh child, we knew you were Berry Gordy’s daughter — you look just like him!’ ”

Diana was preparing for “Lady Sings the Blues” while pregnant, and Rhonda thinks that experience led to her own lifelong love of Billie Holiday.

She’s amazed at how her mom juggled five kids and a career. “We were not raised by nannies,” she says. “She’d do a gig in Atlantic City and helicopter back and forth to be there in the mornings to get us off to school. My grandmother was around till I was 13, so we had that support, but my mother didn’t work on Christmas, New Year’s or any of our birthdays.” […]

She’s never lacked for advice, and it’s Gordy who gave her the impetus she needed to sing again. “Recently, he’s advised me that direction is more important than speed,” she says. “I’ve been at this for a while, and now I feel I’m finding my voice and my purpose, and the music I really want to share.”

So as you can see ILOSM family, Diana, Rhonda, Berry and the rest of the Ross clan are all one big happy family now…all’s well that ends well.

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