Swag Tuesday

Courtesy of the Karpel Group, today's Swag Tuesday prize is the long-awaited DVD release of Diana Ross: Live In Central Park, the famously storm-drenched show that has passed into New York City legend.

On July 21, 1983, the legendary Diana Ross took the stage in New York’s Central Park before an audience of over 800,000. Soon after the entertainer began, pouring rain and heavy wind threatened to put an end to the show, but Diana pushed on for much of the set, urging the drenched crowd to remain calm and stay with her. Eventually the torrential storm put an end to the performance, but not before Diana promised her fans she would return the next day. True to her word, Diana performed the entire concert again on July 22nd for the people of New York. Initially broadcast live around the world, this renowned concert was never again shown on television, and has never been released on DVD until now.

Live In Central Park is available beginning today at retailers and online. We have three copies to give away. Enter to win by commenting on this post. Only enter once and please remember to leave your email address in the text of your comment. Publicists: If you'd like to take part in Swag Tuesday on JMG, please email me.

Zeb Atlas - Love Hangover

Porn star Zeb Atlas covers Diana Ross. SRSLY.

UPDATE: The label has pulled the copy posted earlier. There is a non-embeddable version still available to watch.

Call Her MISS Ross

Diana Ross has just announced a nationwide tour set to begin in May. Miss Ross promises a show heavy on her greatest hits, a live string section, and "breathtaking costumes."

May 15 - Boston, Mass. - Citi Performing Arts Center
May 16 - Mashantucket, Conn. - MGM Grand Theater at Foxwoods
May 18 - Red Bank, New Jersey - Count Basie Theatre
May 19 - New York City - Radio City Music Hall
May 21 - Atlantic City, New Jersey - Caesars Atlantic City
May 25 - Bethesda, Maryland - Music Center at Strathmore
May 27 - Chicago, Ill. - Chicago Theatre
May 28 - Cleveland, Ohio - State Theatre
May 29 - Detroit, Mich. - Fox Theatre
May 31 - Toronto, Ontario - Roy Thomson Hall
June 2 - Knoxville, Tenn. - Tennessee Theatre
June 4 - Atlanta, Ga. - Chastain Park Ampitheatre
June 5 - Memphis, Tenn. - Live At The Garden
June 6 - St. Louis, Missouri - Fox Theatre
June 9 - Los Angeles - Nokia Theatre
June 11 - San Diego, Calif. - Humphrey’s
June 12 - Saratoga, Calif. - The Mountain Winery

Somehow, I've never seen her live. I think I'll hit the Radio City show and hope for lots of Diana dragalikes in the audience.

80's Flashback

Diana Ross, Live In Central Park, 1983. Once of the most famous moments in Diana Ross' career came when a sudden thunderstorm interrupted her free Central Park concert just as it was beginning. Ross shrugged off the downpour and continued singing, despite the request of promoters that she wait. As the storm intensified and the estimated crowd of 800,000 (perhaps the largest in NYC history) began to dash for the exits, Ross had to plead with them to leave safely and promised to return the next day for another free show. At the 7:00 mark of this clip, Barry Diller himself rushes onto the stage to tell Ross to end the show. Over 500,000 did return the next day in good weather, but NYC had to pay millions in settlements to over 100 people who were assaulted that night by groups of rampaging muggers. Souvenirs sales from the first concert were meant to pay for a proposed park playground in Ross' name, but the second unplanned show and the lawsuits destroyed any profits. Ross eventually paid for the playground out of her own pocket.