A Celebration of Motown at the White House

Smokey Robinson, Sheryl Crow, Jamie Foxx, Ledisi, John Legend, Seal and other musicians performed at the White House last night for a special evening titled "The Motown Sound: In Performance at the White House". The event was given in celebration of Black History Month and the legacy of Motown, the distinctive soul-infused pop music sound, style and presentation that was born in Detroit and embodied by the Motown Records label. 

John Legend performed Stevie Wonder's "Love's in Need of Love". During his set, he shared some of his Motown childhood memories, and how his father and uncle inspired his love for music.

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Smokey Robinson took the stage with Sheryl Crow for a duet on his hit, "You Really Got a Hold on Me,' and then Stevie Wonder followed with his classic, "You Are the Sunshine of My Life."

Stevie Wonder also thanked Motown's very own Berry Gordy: "Berry, thank you for this incredible Motown ride". 

"The Motown Sound: In Performance at the White House" will air on PBS Tuesday, March 1st. Check for local listings here.

Watch the full episode. See more In Performance at The White House.

Smokey Robinson Releases "The Solo Albums Volume 4: Love Breeze/Where There's Smoke..."

In the history of Motown there is only one person more important in its evolution and everlasting success than Berry Gordy, and that’s Smokey Robinson – the only artist at the label to also become a world-class songwriter, producer and company vice-president. Smokey Robinson, who had reluctantly started a solo career after a brief intermission following his departure from his beloved Miracles, was, by the late 1970s, in full stride. And this volume in the Smokey Robinson Solo Albums series features one of his biggest solo hits.

Love Breeze, a top 20 R&B chart LP, featured the top 10 hit single “Daylight & Darkness” as well as numerous album favorites. Where There’s Smoke… was a step towards another new future for Smokey. While the disco-fied remake of “Get Ready,” a song Smokey had originally written for the Temptations, was the lead single, it was “Cruisin’,” a track tucked away at the end of the album, that became his new signature tune. It was everywhere in late summer 1979, hitting the R&B and Pop top five – and seems to still be everywhere today.

As with the three previous volumes, this new set includes reproductions of the LPs’ original artwork, and newly commissioned liner notes by U.K. author Peter Doggett, who interviewed Smokey specifically for this reissue series. Also included are the original lyrics as seen on the original albums’ inner sleeves. There's also a bonus cut: the 12-inch instrumental version of “Get Ready,” previously available only on limited vinyl.

Get your copy of "The Solo Albums Volume 4: Love Breeze/Where There's Smoke..." on Hip-OSelect.com

Motown's Greatest Hits for Free + More!

This year, Walmart is celebrating Black History Month with style! Throughout the whole month of February, Walmart.com Music is hosting a Motown 50 Catalog Sale of bestselling selling albums from legendary artists for low prices! Plus, every week a different featured track will be available as a free download. Visit Walmart.com Music to stock up on Motown's finest!

The Motown Sound: A Look Back at 50 Years of Musical Magic!

In honor of Motown's 50th Anniversary, Mark Anthony Neal, Duke University professor of African-American studies and R&B music maven, examines through this enlightening editorial why a half century later, the Motown sound is still the soundtrack of American life. Click on the link below or scroll down to read the full feature!

'Happy Birthday! Motown Turns 50', check it out here!

**Did you know? Neal’s previous essay “The Otherside” is featured in the Motown Box Set, The Complete Motown Singles, Vol. 10: 1970!

Motown 50 Launches Online Podcast Series

The legendary Motown Records celebrates its 50th anniversary this year with a series of promotions and releases from Berry Gordy’s groundbreaking company and Universal Music Enterprises.

A special series of online podcasts featuring rare and intimate conversations with the label’s legends, producers, songwriters and singers, are now available at www.classic.motown.com. The podcasts are also available on iTunes.

These exclusive podcasts are just part of a year-long celebration of Motown's 50th and its lasting legacy, which included the Dec. 9 release of Motown: The Complete No. 1’s, a 10-CD box set in the shape of the label’s famed “Hitsville U.S.A.” birthplace in Detroit, featuring more than 200 classic songs from 50 Motown artists that topped charts around the world, plus a 100-page photo booklet with rare images and an introduction by Smokey Robinson.

In addition, NOW That’s What I Call Motown!, the latest compilation in the hugely successful NOW That’s What I Call Music! Series—featuring 25 of the label’s most beloved, timeless classic pop and R&B tracks—was released on CD and digitally January 13, as a joint venture from EMI Music, the Universal Music Group and its Motown Records division, and Sony Music Entertainment.

Fresh podcasts will debut bi-weekly, including those with founder Berry Gordy; Nick Cannon; the late Levi Stubbs of the Four Tops; The New York Times columnist Frank Rich; Smokey Robinson detailing the genesis of “Shop Around,” the label’s first million-seller; the Temptations’ Otis Williams and the late Melvin Franklin; Stevie Wonder; Levi Stubbs and Lamont Dozier (of H-D-H fame) discussing “Reach Out I’ll Be There”; KCRW’s Garth Trinidad; Diana Ross; songwriters Pam Sawyer and Marilyn McLeod on the creation of Ross’s hit “Love Hangover”; hip-hop pioneer and Universal Motown artist Q-Tip; Smokey Robinson and more of the Miracles; and songwriter/producer Dozier.

Upcoming segments will feature Marvin Gaye, the Jackson 5, the Commodores, film director Lawrence Kasdan (The Big Chill), and songwriter Diane Warren, among others.

Check out the full list of the first 15 Motown 50 podcasts below. Hear these podcasts at www.classic.motown.com!

Berry Gordy: A Tour of Hitsville U.S.A., May 1963 (1/27): In this rare interview, the Motown founder and a Detroit radio host walk through Hitsville on the cusp of the company’s runaway success.

Nick Cannon: Impressions of Motown (2/10): The actor/musician/producer and husband of Mariah Carey shares his earliest impressions of Motown.

Levi Stubbs: The Four Tops (2/24): The late lead singer, in a rare interview from the Motown Archives, talks about what made the group tick.

Frank Rich: The Nation’s Capitol, The Motortown Review and President Obama (3/10): The New York Times’ political columnist links Motown to the upheaval of the ’60s through personal recollections of the Motortown Review in his native Washington, D.C., while adding perspective on the election of President Barack Obama.

Smokey Robinson, The Anatomy of a Hit: “Shop Around” (3/24): The singer/songwriter and Motown veteran tells the amazing story about the label’s—and his group the Miracles’—first million-selling single.

The Temptations (4/14): Otis Williams, Melvin Franklin and fellow Tempts discuss their beginnings and illustrious musical career in a rare archival interview from the ’80s.

Stevie Wonder (4/28): In another rare archival interview, the superstar talks of his early days at Motown and the evolution of his music through the brilliant, then-new album Talking Book.

Levi Stubbs, Lamont Dozier and Paul Riser, The Anatomy of a Hit: “Reach Out I’ll Be There” (5/12): The threesome break down one of Motown’s biggest hits, a world-wide smash for the Four Tops.

Listening with Garth Trinidad (5/26): The KCRW tastemaker and renowned DJ gets put to the test listening to a batch of Motown songs, unlike any he has heard.

Diana Ross (6/09): In a rare ’70s interview, Motown’s No. 1 diva tells her story in her own words.

Pam Sawyer and Marilyn McLeod, The Anatomy of a Hit: “Love Hangover” Part 1 (6/23): The songwriters of Diana Ross’ #1 dance smash discuss the birth of the tune, including rare session elements.

Q-Tip, The Anatomy of a Hit: “Love Hangover” Part 2 (7/7): The hip-hop pioneer and Universal Motown artist breaks down one of his favorite Motown songs, with more previously unheard elements from the master tapes.

Smokey Robinson and the Miracles (7/21): Smokey, Ronnie White and fellow members of the band discuss their long career and amazing body of work.

Lamont Dozier (8/4): The songwriter and producer, part of the famed Holland-Dozier-Holland team, reflects on the songs and artists that made Motown one of the greatest musical forces of the 20th century— and beyond.

Motown Celebrates 50 Years of Music-Making Magic!

Motown, the sound that changed America, is celebrating its 50th Anniversary!

"Motown became a model of black capitalism, pride and self-expression and a repository for some of the greatest talent ever assembled at one company… Motown’s stable of singers, songwriters, producers and musicians took the concept of simple, catchy pop songs to a whole new level of sophistication."

From October 2008 through the end of 2009, Universal Music Group and EMI Music Publishing will mark the historic Detroit label’s musical achievements with a series of initiatives. Notably, Universal Music Enterprises will issue monthly music releases in both physical and digital formats, with bonus tracks enhancing these packages. Details will be announced as each new package approaches. Also upcoming throughout the celebration are releases of classic Motown Television specials in a series of DVD collections and 'Inside Motown', a multi-part documentary on how the company was built.

Stay tuned for more Motown 50 news!