Deanne Whitfield

The lady who sings the blues, 12-time Grammy Award-nominated American singer Diana Ross, is scheduled to perform in Jakarta on Sunday night.

Local concert and event organizer Buena Productions promises "An Evening with Diana Ross", a charity concert to be held March 23 in the Ballroom of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Pacific Place, South Jakarta, will be an elegant night of music by one of the world's legendary performers.

In an effort to support the Indonesian handicrafts industry, Buena Productions will donate part of the proceeds of the event to the National Council of Handicrafts. The event organizer says the concert will also help promote the Visit Indonesia 2008 program, as this is to be the 63-year-old Ross' only Asian performance scheduled for this year.

One of Motown Records' most successful artists, Diana Ross is best known for her role as the lead singer of The Supremes from 1963 to 1968. After pumping out 12 number-one singles and leading The Supremes to become the most successful American vocal group of the 1960s, Ross left in 1969 to pursue a solo career.

The R&B, soul, pop, disco and jazz singer, record producer and Academy Award nominated actress became the most successful female artist of the 1970s and mid-1980s. She was named female entertainer of the century by Billboard magazine in 1976.

During the course of her 45-year career, Ross has sold more than 85 million singles and albums, and has been awarded a Tony Award, seven American Music Awards and a Golden Globe Award for New Star Of The Year -- for her leading role in the Billie Holiday biographical film Lady Sings the Blues (1972).

The Guinness World Records declared Diana Ross the most successful female music artist of the 20th century with a total of 18 American number-one singles: 12 as lead singer of The Supremes and six as a solo artist.

Tickets for the charity concert can be purchased from ticket box outlets, including Ibu Dibyo, on Jl. Cikini Raya 10 in Central Jakarta; Buena Productions' office on Jl. Gunawarman 15 in South Jakarta; Aquarius Mahakam in South Jakarta and Aquarius Dago in Bandung; and Disctara and Dutasuara outlets. Ticket prices start from Rp 3,500,000 (Silver), to Rp 5,000,000 (Gold) and Rp 10,000,000 (Platinum).

Ross is also scheduled to perform in Trinidad and Tobago, Canada, Europe and the U.S. this year.

— JP