It's the 60th anniversary of Motown Records and the iconic music label is celebrating their continuous foothold in the entertainment industry as well as their historical influence on music. Earlier this year, the Grammys honored the record label with a musical number during the Grammy award show, executed by Jennifer Lopez, a performance that was wrought with controversy. Some believed that because the label was known as a black label that helped shape some of the greatest black artists in history, that a black person should have been chosen for the tribute. However, Lopez killed it on stage and defended her performance.
"The thing about music is that it inspires all. Any type of music can inspire any type of artist," Lopez told Entertainment Tonight. "You can’t tell people what to love. You can't tell people what they can and can’t do, what they should sing or not sing. You gotta do what’s in your heart." Yet, for those that are still salty about the Grammy ceremony, the Recording Academy will be airing the Motown 60: A Grammy Celebration concert this Sunday, April 21, on CBS.
Filmed at the Microsoft Theater earlier this year, the concert was hosted by Smokey Robinson and Cedric the Entertainer. It features performances by Ciara, Ne-Yo, Stevie Wonder, John Legend, Diana Ross, Meghan Trainor, Tori Kelly, and more. “My dream came true,” said Gordy, who founded Motown Records in Detroit in 1959. “I want to thank all of you fans, and your parents, and their grandparents. All around the world. I could say their great grandparents, but that would make me older than I want to be.”
Motown would go on to launch the careers of music legends including greats like Stevie Wonder, The Miracles, The Surpemes, The Temptations, Mary Wells, The Marvelettes, Marvin Gaye, The Contours, Martha and the Vandellas, The Spinners, Four Tops, and Tammi Terrell. “We didn’t even realize the impact of Motown,” said Gordy, who started the label with an $800 loan from his family. “In those early days, the unsung heroes had the courage to follow me down a road that didn’t even exist.”
What's your favorite Motown hit?