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Legends come together to celebrate 50th anniversary

When Motown people get together, there's just magic," said company founder Berry Gordy Jr., "because we all love each other, and we all know the work is the main thing.

"We can enjoy it more now, looking back, but we enjoyed it so much then, just doing it."

There will be plenty of joy and love this weekend as Gordy and the rest of the Motown family return to the Motown empire's birthplace of Detroit for two nights of parties celebrating the legendary record company's 50th anniversary to benefit the Motown Historical Museum. Tonight the troupe hits the Roostertail nightclub on the Detroit River — the scene of many a Motown performance and party during the 1960s and early '70s — for a private alumni reception. That's followed by a "Bop to the Ballroom" bash at which the artists meet and greet fans and possibly sing some of their hits.

On Saturday, the museum hosts a Motown 50 Golden Gala fundraiser, a $350-per-person black tie annual event. (The party was skipped in 2008 to prepare for this year's golden anniversary.) The Temptations, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin and Kid Rock are slated to perform for an expected crowd of 500 at the ballroom in the GM Renaissance Center's Marriott hotel. Comedian Sinbad hosts, with special honors given to early Motowners Smokey Robinson, Brian Holland, Robert Bateman, Janie Bradford and Raynoma Singleton.

The evening also includes memorial tributes to Michael Jackson, the Four Tops' Levi Stubbs and producer/songwriter Norman Whitfield, all of whom passed away since the 2007 gala.

Motown Historical Museum COO Audley Smith calls the weekend — dubbed "Live It Again!" — "the culminating event of a series of year-long events commemorating Motown's 50th anniversary." The celebration started last December with the release of the 10-CD box set "Motown: The Complete No. 1's."

Some artists — such as Robinson, Diana Ross and the Four Tops — can't attend due to out-of-town commitments, but Smith expects a thorough gathering of Motown figures.

Smith said the gala brings in 10 to 15 percent of the museum's annual operating budget.

Motown's 50th anniversary observation doesn't end with this weekend's parties, however. Gordy and former Motown staffer Suzanne DePasse, who won an Emmy Award for the Motown 25th anniversary TV special, are still in the midst of producing a film documentary, as well as a series of DVDs chronicling the company's history. A Broadway musical built around Motown songs also is on track for a 2010 debut, and director Cameron Crowe is working on a Marvin Gaye biopic.

The museum, meanwhile, plans to celebrate its 25th anniversary with two special exhibits for 2010 — one spotlighting Gaye in April, the other dedicated to Michael Jackson in July. The museum also is in discussions with the Smithsonian Institution and the Los Angeles-based Grammy Museum about creating a traveling Motown exhibit, and Smith said the shrine is still working toward an expansion around its current location in Motown's original Hitsville USA headquarters on Grand River.

Motown's "Live It Again!" 50th anniversary celebration begins with "Bop to the Ballroom" at 7 p.m. today at the Roostertail, 100 Marquette Drive, Detroit. Tickets are $50. The Motown 50 Golden Gala takes place at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Renaissance Ballroom in the GM Renaissance Center in downtown Detroit. Tickets begin at $350. A VIP reception and afterglow also are available. Tickets can be purchased by calling (313) 875-2264 or visiting www.motownmuseum

I hope and wish that Dave Ritz will contribute to this project.

KoolEaze said:

Me too. I have a feeling he will...

Mmhmm

Timmy84 said:

I am guessing that Jesse Martin,(from rent and Law & Order), is out from the role of Marvin. I remember reading that him and John Legend were to star in a pic about Marvin. But, it has been stalled for awhile, because of Motown's tight grip on his music.

Timmy84 said:

Who do you think should play Marvin?

ViintageJunkiie said:

A non-famous actor who can sing.

Harlepolis said:

Yeah I know. Wishful thinking but I had heard about Cameron doing a MG bio in a while. I also heard a MG bio was also on Will Smith's film company's schedule.

Timmy84 said:

Lol. Yeah I don't think they should use a well known actor. Interesting

Jermaine was working on a Marvin Gaye bio-pic sometime in he late 80s'.

Timmy84 said:

I'm just sick of these press kits, Tim

So far, we heard about ALL this hype about a documentary(score composed by Roberta Flack) accompanied by this film(starring Jesse Martin).

I don't wanna get my hopes up and end up being told that the script fell between the cracks.

I mean, so far we hear alot of crap about EPIC biopics for James Brown, Nina Simone and Marvin,,,,,but then I read the cursed sentence "the filming is scheduled to..." I don't wanna be a party pooper but I won't get my hopes up untill I'm sure that these projects are actually in the process of filming

Harlepolis said:

I know. All these projects might not come to past but I'm a hopeful MG fan.

If done right,I can see this being good. Crowe has made some good films.