50 years of Motown

Motown fever: The party gets a restart with stars coming out to raise funds for the museum, celebrate record label

Susan Whitall / The Detroit News

Motown's 50th anniversary year started with a bang last January, slowed down a bit in the spring, then sputtered to a halt with the sudden death of Michael Jackson in late June. Celebrating while mourning the death of one of Motown's iconic stars didn't seem quite right.

Activity has picked up this month, highlighted by the annual Motown Historical Museum gala on Nov. 21 that Berry Gordy Jr., Stevie Wonder, the Temptations and other Motown bigwigs will attend. There's also a Herb Strather-produced Motor City Hits concert Nov. 14 at the Motor City Casino featuring a bevy of Motown acts, and the furniture store Art Van will throw a Motown party on Nov. 11.

Motown 50 Golden Gala: Live It Again

If hobnobbing with chairman/founder Berry Gordy Jr. and his stars while decked out in your best evening attire for a good cause -- helping support the Motown Historical Museum -- appeals to you, the Nov. 21 gala fundraiser at the Detroit Marriott is a must.

The annual gala isn't just a party of course, but a vital element in keeping the museum afloat. Because the museum is a nonprofit and the ticket price ($350 to $1,000) goes to fund it and promote the Motown legacy, tickets are partially tax-deductible.

Otis Williams and the Temptations will be the headline performers, comedian Sinbad will emcee and Stevie Wonder will perform a set as a tribute to his mentor and manager at Motown, museum founder Esther Gordy Edwards.

There will be a Tribute to Michael Jackson, and it's rumored that Jermaine Jackson will take part, although he's not confirmed yet.

Motown's First Five-- the five people who shared Barry Gordy's dream of starting a record company -- will also be honored. The five are writer/producer Robert Bateman, the former Satintone who wrote and produced many Motown hits; secretary Janie Bradford, who co-wrote "Money"; songwriter/producer Brian Holland, part of the legendary team Holland-Dozier-Holland; singer/company vice president Smokey Robinson; and Raynoma Singleton, Gordy's second wife, who sang backup, wrote arrangements and was a vital force in early Motown.

Anniversary year or not, the gala is always an emotional reunion of Motown staffers and artists, and a way to rub elbows with executives, producers, songwriters, Gordy family members and artists.

"You get that sense of Motown spirit," says museum director Robin Terry. "I haven't experienced that in any other setting the way you feel it at the gala. Everybody's beautiful and glamorous, and yet you're hanging out with family."

Wonder will perform several songs in tribute to Esther Gordy Edwards, the founder of the Motown Historical Museum, who was a longtime vice president of her brother's company.

"Stevie is looking forward to showing his love for her," said Terry, who is Edwards' granddaughter. And Edwards will be there "to soak up all the love."

"She was very much a mother figure to Stevie," Terry says. "She set up a trust fund for him and got him enrolled in the school for the blind. He cherished the fact that she took that kind of interest in him and was willing to make sure that not only was he was educated properly and had a great tutor, Ted Hull, but his future was also secured."

Whenever Gordy attends, the gala is always capped by surprise guests in a star-studded finale. Two years ago, attendees got to witness the founder himself barking out good-natured orders to his stars during a special finale performance.

Fans can try for a chance to win tickets to the gala if they buy an admission to the Motown museum, and put their tour receipt in a box for a drawing at the gift shop. Eight winners will be announced on Nov. 14.

Bop to Ballroom: The Motown Historical Museum always has a Motown alumni gathering within days of its annual gala, but this year it's open to the public. The Motown alumni party, Bop to Ballroom, takes place from 7 p.m. to midnight Nov. 20 at the Roostertail. John Mason of WGPR-FM's "Mason in the Morning" will emcee from 8-10 p.m. Tickets are $50, available at the Motown Historical Museum, 2648 W. Grand Boulevard, Detroit. Call (313) 875-2264. The Contours, Miracles and Dennis Coffey are among the Motown alumni who will attend. Memorabilia will be signed by the Motown stars from 7-8 p.m.

Also: A special exhibit of Annie Leibowitz's photos of Gordy, Smokey Robinson and other Motown stars, donated to the museum, went on display Oct. 30.

Motor City Hits

Businessman and Motown uber-fan Herb Strather is promoting a Nov. 14 concert at the Motor City Casino, "Motor City Hits," emceed by Mary Wilson of the Supremes and featuring the Four Tops, the Miracles, the Original Vandellas, the Contours with Joe Billingslea, Freda Payne, and special guests, the Dramatics.

"This is commemorating the individual artists, like the Four Tops, who received a Lifetime Achievement Award this year from the Grammys," said Wilson by phone from Las Vegas. "Motown is not just a name or a symbol; it represents all of the artists. And individually, the artists represent Motown."

Wilson plans to invite Barbara Martin, the fourth member of the Primettes and the Supremes, and she also is seeking any news of another early Supreme, Betty McGlowan.

Freda Payne is just back from England where she took part in a show by and about David Gest, a longtime friend of the Jackson 5 and other Motown acts.

"I saw Tito (Jackson), he came to see our show, he was over there performing with Gladys Knight and Dionne Warwick," Payne reports. "It's amazing how the planet, the world has responded to Michael's passing."

Payne will sing her hits "Band of Gold" and "Bring the Boys Back Home," which were on Invictus, Holland-Dozier-Holland's breakaway label.

A CD "Motor City Hits," featuring the classic artists, will be on sale in the casino merchandise stores, and Strather says Michigan Lottery tickets featuring some classic Motown acts will be on sale next April.

Michigan Legends Concert

Because Art Van Furniture is celebrating its 50th anniversary as well, the company will sponsor a Motown party at 7 p.m. Nov. 11 at the Art Van tech center, 6500 E. 14 Mile in Warren, which will be transformed for the evening into a nightclub. The original Vandellas, Miracles and Contours will perform. There will be a drawing for a 50-year-old Corvette, and Dick Purtan of WOMC-FM (104.3) will emcee. Tickets are $10, available at all Art Van stores. Proceeds go to benefit the Gleaners' Food Bank, and attendees are asked to bring a can of food as well.

swhitall@detnews.com (313) 222-2156