Tag Archives: Motown

While on Facebook, I see an ad in the border for India.Arie’s new single “Cocoa Butter.”  I listen, love it, buy it on itunes, now I’m like what’s up with the album, or should I say CD… google, searching, what’s this?  Accusations of India.Arie lightening her skin?  This is ridiculous, absurd…

So when I first I heard that there was a Marvin Gaye biopic in the works, Jesse L. Martin was the name that was attached to the starring role. This was years ago. Then I heard that it was not going to happen because of issues getting music rights approvals from Barry Gordy. Then recently I heard that the film was back in production with Lenny Kravitz in the lead role. Then I heard that Marvin’s son had a problem with both the film and Lenny starring in it. Now it appears that this project has come full circle, with Jesse L. Martin back in the lead role.

Tom Hanks is making his Broadway debut this season in Nora Ephron’s final play “Lucky Guy.”  Bette Midler is even returning to the “Great White Way” for a one-woman-show in “I’ll Eat You Last,” where she’ll depict the life of Hollywood agent Sue Mengers.  Although shows with Tom and Bette are exciting, after a 30-year absence, acclaimed actress Cicely Tyson returns to the stage for “The Trip to Bountiful” – that’s entertainment!

Chrysler just released their new commercial featuring Berry Gordy riding in their new Motown 300C. This spot is supposed to air during the Super Bowl. It is nice to see Gordy and Motown get the accolades they deserve. Give them their flowers while they are here…

“The Motown Sound: In Performance at the White House” is a PBS music special that was taped in the East Room of the White House. President and Mrs. Obama hosted the event on Thursday, February 24, 2011 in celebration of Black History Month and the legacy of Motown.

Berry Gordy and some of his most famous musical proteges hit the great white way Thursday night for a star studded preview of the new broadway production based on his life story. A crowd of 1200 people were treated to a 90 minute preview of the show that opens on April 14, 2013 at the Lunt Fontaine Theater. Previews begin March 11, 2013.

UPDATE: Motown: The Musical will hit Broadway on on April 14, 2013 at the Lunt Fontaine Theatre (205 West 46 Street). Preview performances will begin March 11, 2013. The cast has been set. Tickets will go on sale October 1st.

At the Apollo, the Jacksons Pay Homage to Their Roots and Their Brother

It has been a while since we last checked in on the maybe/maybe not biopic about the life of fallen Supreme Florence Ballard, but film blog Shadow and Act spotted something curious on the flick’s IMDB profile.

This is our pictorial tribute, in no particular order, to the life of the late king of pop.

Nick Ashford, one-half of the legendary Motown songwriting duo Ashford & Simpson that penned elegant, soulful classics for Diana Ross and Marvin Gaye, has died at the age of 69 from throat cancer.

 
 
Bootsy Collins is without a doubt one of the greatest bass players to have walked the face of the earth. Among the greatest of all time are James Jamerson and Bob Babbitt of Motown fame; Larry Graham (Graham Central Station/ Sly and the Family Stone); Stanley Clarke; Victor Wooten; Louis Jagger Johnson aka ‘Thunder Thumbs” (The Brothers Johnson); Flea (Red Hot Chili Peppers); Paul McCarrtney (The Beatles); Cliff Burton (Metallica); John Entwhistle (the Who); Geddy Lee (Rush); John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin); Jack Bruce (Cream); Les Claypool (Primus) and Doug Wimbish (Living Color). Bootsy is probably my favorite.

One thing that was really cool about the 70’s was the fact that there were Black cartoons on TV. I love cartoons and every Saturday morning you would find me right in front of the tube watching Fat Albert and The Cosby Kids, The Go Go Globetrotters and my favorite, The Jackson 5ive.

The world of Funk and R&B was taken aback Sunday night, as word got out that one of music’s most beloved daughters took flight. The Motown Alumni Association (MAA) released a statement that singer TEENA MARIE passed on at age 54.

Robert Balser began his career in 1955 as a layout artist at Norman Wright Productions. A year later he was Layout Production Supervisor on the title sequence of Michael Todd’s Around the World in Eighty Days.

At the peak of his career, Willie Hutch, was a songwriter and producer for Motown Records. It’s his version of the Jackson 5 hit “I’ll Be There,” that many a funkateer came to know his sound for. In 1973, Hutch wrote the soundtrack for the FUNKALICIOUS flick “The Mack.” The album included the title track and the hit “Brothers Gonna Work It Out.”

 
Ever since his death, music artists, bands, friends and fans have been paying tribute to Michael Jackson. The same week of his passing, BET changed the program of their entire awards show, to pay tribute to “The King of Pop.” BET began the event by playing a clip from a previous year, when Michael Jackson honored “The Godfather of Soul” James Brown.  Michael draped JB with a cape, after he performed at the BET Awards that paid tribute to him.

 
 
My friend Kweli reminded me that Michael Jackson sang background vocals on Stevie Wonder’s “All I Do” the other day. It wasn’t that I’d forgotten, I just hadn’t thought it about in years. Communicating via Internet, leaving a comment on one of the many social networks we choose to use these days, I said, “I’m listening to it right now.”  In reality I was recounting the vocals of the song in my head, All I doo, is think about you…