berry gordy

"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 M  

Interspersed between the songs are excerpts from interviews with Motown artists. These include Mike Douglas speaking with Smokey Robinson, Motown-founder Berry Gordy on a local Detroit show called Teen Town , and some thoroughly cringe-worthy shtick featuring Lloyd Thaxton with the Temptations. Bonus features include previously unseen footage from the Motown Picnic, circa 1970.  

Motown alumni will gather at 6 p.m. at the Roostertail for a program hosted by Carmen Harlan of WDIV-TV (Channel 4), including a fan autograph session with groups such as the Contours and Miracles. The Bop to Ballroom party, emceed by radio host John Mason, follows at 8 p.m. 100 Marquette, Detroit. $50. Saturday: The black-tie Motown 50 Golden Gala , hosted by comedian Sinbad, will start at 7 p.m. at the Detroit Marriott in the Renaissance Center.  

No one has ever succeeded in fully and concisely explaining the reason for the massive appeal of the music created by Motown Record Corp., a popularity that is worldwide in scope and is beyond time and generations. That is because Motown is a phenomenon, and phenomenons are not easily defined, if they can be defined at all. One has to be careful in using a word such as "forever," but it seems safe to say that Motown actually is forever.  

Seems hard to pin it down exactly but the term 'jailbait' seems to begin sometime in the 30's. The earliest song I know of that references jailbait is Jail Bait by Andre Williams. I'd be curious to know if there is an earlier recording that does so.  

Fifty years ago, Berry Gordy, a songwriter for local Detroit acts like The Matadors and Jackie Wilson, borrowed $800 from his family and founded two record labels that became incorporated a year later as Motown Record Corporation. In its half-century of existence Motown forged an unmistakable sound in popular music, turned a number of artists into superstars and legends (from 1961 to 1971 alone, the label churned out 110 top 10 hits), and helped bridge the racial divide with songs that everyone, regardless  

Today is Saturday, Nov. 28, the 332nd day of 2009.  

Berry Gordy Jr. says that as a little girl Terry was one of many "cute, clever, bright" grandkids, nieces and nephews who used to run around his house.  

Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, the Temptations, and other headliners will perform at Motown's 50th anniversary in Detroit on November 20-21.