Legendary R&B Singer Comes to Kirby Center

Bill Thomas, Staff Writer

September 26, 2011

This Friday, Sept. 30 R&B legend Diana Ross is coming to Wilkes-Barre’s FM Kirby Center. With the venue currently celebrating its 25th anniversary season, Kirby Center Director of Marketing, Will Beekman, said Ross is an ideal performer to help commemorate the event.

“We wanted someone with a rich history,” explained Beekman, “and it doesn’t get much better than Ross. She’s had such a profound impact on pop culture, as an actress, singer and, of course, as leader of perhaps the greatest Motown group ever assembled.”

Ross’ history is extensive. After leaving The Supremes in the late 1960’s, Ross found acclaim with a solo career that has endured for over 40 years. In addition to receiving numerous awards throughout the years (including 12 Grammys), the Guinness Book of World Records has named her the single most successful female performer in the history of the music industry.

“She has just about done it all,” said Beekman. “She’s an Academy Award-nominated actress, a Tony and Golden Globe Award winner, an eight-time American Music Award winner, bestselling author, and has sold more than 100 million records in her lifetime. That’s the stuff legends are made of, and we’re very excited and lucky to have her coming to the Kirby Center.”

The tour which Ross brought to the Kirby Center, dubbed “More Today than Yesterday: The Greatest Hits Tour,” takes advantage of the songstress’ vast library of hits. During the concert, Ross will to regale audiences with renditions of songs like “Stop! In the Name of Love,” “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” and “I’m Coming Out,” amongst others, all the while accompanied by a full band, complete with horn section and back-up singers.

The concert is just one of many events that Beekman believes will capture the spirit of the Kirby Center’s own long and storied history.

“Our biggest aim is to celebrate our past while looking forward to the future,” said Beekman. “We really want to find ways to say ‘Thank you’ to the community for helping us keep our brass doors open for the past 25 years.”

Tickets for Diana Ross at FM Kirby Center on Friday, Sept. 30 are $79.50, $99.50 and $125.00. Doors open at 7:00 PM, performance starts at 8:00 PM. For more information, visit www.kirbycenter.org.

About the Contributor

Bill Thomas, AE Editor

Arts & Entertainment Editor Fall 2012 Office Hours: M-W-F 8am – 11am, 12pm – 2pm Bill Thomas is a senior Communications major at Wilkes University, with a concentration in Journalism. In addition to serving as The Beacon’s Arts & Entertainment Editor, he is also a former member of both the board and staff of Zebra Communications, and is still a regularly contributor to local alternative weekly the Weekender. Bill currently runs an intermittently updated blog about the Pennsylvania underground music scene called 570 Mine Fire. In 2011, he was voted “Best Blogger” by Diamond City for his now-defunct movie review blog, Total Popcorn (a.k.a. Cinema Cyclops). A self-professed pop culture geek and lover of all things A&E-related, Bill is both a die-hard film buff and a passionate supporter of the local music scene. He is currently working on putting together a radio show for Wilkes University’s radio station, 90.7 WCLH, that will focus on independent, underground musical acts throughout Pennsylvania. All in all, he finds it a little weird writing about himself in the third person.