Celebrating Motown Records:  50 Years and going strong

Queen of Soul serenades music label founder at 50th celebration

Berry Gordy Jr. hugs Aretha Franklin on Saturday at the Motown 50 Golden Gala Live it Again Weekend at the Detroit Marriott in the Renaissance Center. Kid Rock and the Rev. Jesse Jackson also attended the event. (Kimberly P. Mitchell/Detroit Free Press)

• MORE: 50 videos from Motown's 50 years

By Talitha Johnson/Tell Us USA News Network

HollyHoodUSA / DETROIT (Tell Us USA) -  The Motorcity celebrated another historical moment this weekend, Motown Records 50th anniversary. To help celebrate the ritzy, high-profile event was Detroit Mayor Dave Bing, Rev. Jessie Jackson, the Temptations and a special video message from President Barack Obama, all   paying tribute to founder Barry Gordy and the company he created.


The performance part of the evening started after 8 p.m. with the Temptations, led by sole original member Otis Williams performing most of their hits, from "My Girl" through "Papa Was a Rolling Stone." (Photo by HB Meeks/Tell Us USA News Network)

Black ties and gowns filled the main ballroom at the Marriott Hotel downtown Detroit Saturday night in a salute to Detroit's home grown record company where a $2,000 ticket got event goers up-front and personal with the likes of Stevie Wonder, the Queen of Soul and the Kid of Rock.

Comedian and Benton Harbor, MI native, Sinbad hosted the dinner. It was a night filled with champagne toasts and celebrations, including Motown Founder Barry Gordy’s 80th birthday celebration. In a surprise birthday appearance, Aretha Franklin sang a song personally suited for Gordy.  

“Motown could’ve never happened anywhere else, but Detroit,” Gordy said.
Sinbad, the celebrity host, commented and agreed that this could only happen in Detroit and that he had no idea that it was going to be such a big deal. Judge Strong drew his attention with the usual glittering flair that he struts at most events. This was Detroit being shown Hollywood style for the night. President Obama took time out to send a congratulatory greeting to Barry Gordy for having the dream to discover and nurture the Motown sound.


(Photo by HB Meeks/Tell Us USA News Network)

To make the evening even more special was the celebration of Barry’s eightieth birthday, though he claims there was a mistake of adding 20 years to his ‘age of 60’. I have to admit, he could easily make a case for being sixty. In his remarks, it was stated that during the thriving musical growth ‘a kid comes in the door and a star leaves through another door’ at Motown. There are many who could agree with that statement including our beloved Michael Jackson.

During the celebration, Motown awarded and recognized several past alumni members songwriters, producers an musicians to the likes of Robert Bateman, Janie Bradford, Raynoma Singleton, Brian Holland and William “Smokey” Robinson. The Motown Museum is the original home of the record company, which Gordy started with an $800 loan.


At the VIP reception, former Miracle singer Claudette Robinson, flanked by museum CEO Audley Smith and museum chairman Robin Terry display plaque presented by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce declaring the placement of the "Miracles Star" on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. (Photo by HB Meeks/Tell Us USA News Network)

Museum CEO Audley Smith said the museum wants to expand to hold thousands more artifacts and memorabilia that can't be displayed because of limited space at the current location. However he stated the museum will maintain the integrity of the well-known Hitsville USA house on West Grand Boulevard.

The evening's festivity also paid special tributes to Motown alumni who have died, including Levi Stubbs from the Four Tops, Producer/Writer Norman Whitfield and Michael Jackson. Gordy, talked about the 10-year-old prodigy he signed, calling him "the greatest entertainer that ever lived."


Kid Rock and Stevie Wonder sing a duet during Motown Records 50th anniversary gala on Saturday, Nov. 21, 2009 in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jerry S. Mendoza)

As the evening came to a close, Stevie Wonder took the stage. Commenting on the state of the world he said, "For those who still don’t get it; God put all the various cultures together for a reason, God’s purpose is bigger than your hate."

“Let’s give life the very best, so that we can be blessed,” said Wonder.

The annual gala is critical to the health of the Motown Museum, generating hundreds of thousands of dollars and valuable PR for the nonprofit institution. The event  took a higher profile this year to mark the 50th anniversary of the label's founding.
 

• MORE: 50 videos from Motown's 50 years