Diana Ross: The Central Park Concert - A Look Back At One Of The Most Iconic Concerts In Music History

Described as one of the greatest moments in music history, the images of Diana Ross live in Central Park in 1983 are some of the most enduring in the zeitgeist of pop music. In July 1983 Diana Ross planned a free concert in New York City’s Central Park. Proceeds from merchandise sold at the show were to go to build a Children’s playground in the park. What started as a beautiful day suddenly turned dark and stormy. Soon wind and rain bared down on the park. Diana Ross stood with her feet planted firmly on the stage at the center of the torrential rains twirling her outstretched arms in the air above her as if in act of defiance. Mother nature may be force to reckoned with, but on this night we had confirmation of what we'd always known, so is Diana Ross.

AIN'T NO MOUNTAIN HIGH ENOUGH

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Even before the lightening there was electricity in the air as Diana stormed the stage with a troupe of African dancers and opened the show with her smash #1 hit, "Ain't No Mountain High Enough."

FAMILY

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As the wind begins to rage this ballad from the musical "Dream Girls" provides a dichotomy with Diana's bell clear tone soaring out over the park. Diana had been planning this concert for over a year, the lyrics to this song expressed Diana's feelings about her dream coming true.

LET'S GO UP

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As the the sky turns an ominous charcoal gray, Diana turns the party up with her Raggae tinged hit, "Let's Go Up."

"I can't free a person from their charms,But I'll tell you this for sure,If nothing is ventured, Then nothing is gained...So Let's Go Up!"

REACH OUT AND TOUCH (SOMEBODY'S HAND)

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As the rain came down and the wind tore through the air Diana sang her anthem “Reach Out and Touch (Somebody’s Hand).” Her hair and vibrant orange cape blew through the wind behind her. Diana wasn't going anywhere and neither were the 500,000 people who'd gathered. "We're gonna get wet, that's ok, It took me a lifetime to get here, I'm not going anywhere," she pronounced to thunderous applause."

SUPREMES MEDLEY

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As the surreal weather pressed on Diana matched the storms power and fury with a Rock & Roll arrangement of some of her biggest Supremes hits.

ENDLESS LOVE

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Diana knew the crowds safety was in her hands. She calmly asked the crowd to begin to exit the park.

The power of her energy permeated the torrential rain and spread out over the people. They listened to her. With only minor exceptions everyone made it out of the park safely that night to the credit of Miss Ross. She spoke calmly, she risked her safety for the good of the crowd and she stated and restated her intention for everyone to leave safely. She calmly sang “Endless Love” as the crowd exited the park. In the clip posted here you’ll notice most of the instruments are no longer playing as their amps have short circuited from the rain. Watch as she speaks to the crowd, the spot lights are going out one by one. Every part of the production was being destroyed but it didn’t stop Diana from promising to come back the next day, before even knowing if she’d get approval from the city.

I'M COMING OUT

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Diana kept her promise to return the next day, and so did the enormous crowd. They would not be disappointed as Diana takes the stage belting her anthem "I'm Coming Out."

MIRROR MIRROR

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Diana performed an electrifying rock version of her hit "Mirror, Mirror."

MUSCLES

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Diana also performed her sexy hit "Muscles," working the crowd into a tizzy. The song was penned for her by her friend, Michael Jackson.

ALL FOR ONE

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The concert in Central Park was officially titled "For One and For All" deriving it's inspiration from this classic anthem from "The Boss."

All the merchandise was destroyed in the storm and remounting the production for a second day cost a fortune. There was no money left for the children’s playground Diana had promised. So Diana funded the playground out of her own pocket. Today the Diana Ross Playground can be found at West 81st Street and Central Park West. The concert has been called one of the greatest moments in rock and roll history. TV Guide named it one of the greatest moments in television history and in 2008 Diana was honored by TV Land for this historic moment.

Here you can see Diana tear up as she closes the concert that was once just a dream, it had now come true. This concert will be the one of the cornerstones of Diana's legacy. It represents all the positive things that she stands for; reaching for your highest dreams, working hard, and never backing down in the midst of a storm, literal or figurative. The message of "All For One" is one that is repeated throughout each era of Diana's career. Reach out....

"I don't know your future plans

But divided I'm sure you will not stand

I said, All that to say there's an easier way

If it's love that we share then there's no debt to pay

'Cause we are all down here under the sky

Won't you try? Won't you try?

We're all down here

You're not alone

You've been pushing and pulling and shoving

Since the day you were born so let's try

All for one and one for all

You live, you give, you have a ball"