‘In Case You Didn’t Know’
Having a musically talented mother or father doesn’t automatically ensure that an offspring will be equally as gifted. But when your mother is Diana Ross and your father happens to be Berry Gordy, the legendary producer, songwriter, and founder of the Motown record label, the odds are exponentially greater.
Rhonda Ross, the only child of the Supreme one and her then boss, Mr. Gordy, who will perform in Southampton on Saturday, is expected to delight audiences with a few inherited maternal traits: honeyed vocals, the trademark huge curls, and the famous megawatt smile. The concert, to be held outdoors at the Southampton Arts Center at 6:30 p.m., is free.
The show is part of a promotional tour for the younger Ms. Ross’s latest release, “In Case You Didn’t Know” an album of 14 original tracks showcasing the title song. The digital download version is available on iTunes and Amazon, as well as on the singer’s website: therhondaross.com.
A review of the title song on the music news website The Second Disc, touts, “The fresh sounds of ‘In Case You Didn’t Know,’ blur the lines between jazz, rhythm and blues, soul, and pop in persuasive fashion, proving that one can stretch the boundaries of traditional song forms and styles without sacrificing memorable melodies and universally accessible lyrics.”
Lyrically, Ms. Ross often seems to cross the lines from political to personal, the same way she seamlessly inhabits a multitude of musical genres, even expanding to spoken word, rap, and Latin beats in her new album. She describes her music as “Funky, neo-soul, with a pull towards jazz. But it’s not a genre,” she is quick to add.
It is true that unlike the musical soundscape of her parents’ heyday, when genre grooves seemed to be set in concrete, Ms. Ross belongs to those modern artists who are post-genre, or genre bending. So, yes, Rhonda Ross maybe the daughter of Diana Ross and Berry Gordy but, as she herself points out, she is very much on her own journey, with the freedom to be stylistically promiscuous and cross-pollinate a bit.
As such, she said she is a “social artist who allows the social environment to influence my music.” Given the current tumultuous socio-political environment, Ms. Ross said, “We need art and artists more than ever. We need music right now and we need music to start asking important questions.” Living in Harlem with her jazz pianist husband, Rodney Kendrick, and their young son, she tried to tackle some of today’s biggest questions of acceptance and tolerance through modern-day soulful and silky sounds.
Despite the many stories about her mother as a fearsome diva, backstabbing among the Supremes, tussles with airport security guards, a life of limousines, fur, and Lear jets, and that it was only revealed to her at age 13 that Barry Gordy was not a family uncle but really her father, the younger Ms. Ross insists that her mother always put mothering first and was hands-on in the household. After Ms. Ross discovered that Mr. Gordy was her real father, she said she became very close to him and remains so with both parents today.
“I was around people who loved doing what they did, and still do,” Ms. Ross said of her parents, who remain active in the industry. “What children witness growing up is often what they will do later in life.”
Outdoor events at the Southampton Arts Center, at 25 Job’s Lane, are held rain or shine, though in case of rain concerts are held in the theater. For outdoor concerts, the center suggests that attendees take chairs, blankets, and picnics. More information is available at 631-283-0967 or southamptonartscenter.org.