City Motown Showbiz Latest News and Updates

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The story of the Four Tops, the famous Motown harmony group, began at a high school graduation party in Detroit, when four young men were hoping to impress the girls with an impromptu performance.That night in 1954, when Abdul “Duke” Fakir, Levi Stubbs, Renaldo “Obie” Benton and Lawrence Payton sung together for the first time, was the start of a lifelong brotherhood.

“Radio Waves,” Joan Osborne (Womanly Hips Records)Homebound during the pandemic, Joan Osborne began combing through dusty shoeboxes in her closets, and what she found was still fashionable, because good music never goes out of style.The boxes contained recordings of at least 100 in-studio radio performances by Osborne dating back as far as the 1990s, and she chose some of the best for “Radio Waves,” a stellar collection of 13 tunes notable for its variety.Osborne has always been an astute interpreter, and her soulful, smoky alto is a compelling instrument whether she’s singing the blues (“Shake Your Hips”), R&B (“Everybody Is a Star”), Dylan (“Make You Feel My Love”) or the Great American Songbook (“Dream a Little Dream”).With instrumental accompaniment ranging from an acoustic guitar to a full rock band, Osborne is creative in reimagining familiar tunes. On the Motown standard “How Sweet It Is,” she extracts the sugar by recasting both the rhythm and melody, and the result is something more sensual.

Gordon Cox Theater EditorBrittney Johnson is currently making history as the first Black actor to play Glinda in “Wicked,” but she’s also had a lot of Broadway experience in jobs that are in many ways even more challenging than a starring role: filling the save-the-day shoes of an understudy, a swing or a standby.Listen to this week’s “Stagecraft” podcast below:“I’m so grateful that my first Broadway show was as a swing,” Johnson said on the new episode of Stagecraft, Variety‘s theater podcast. The actor made her debut in 2014 in “Motown,” in which she had to be prepared, at a moment’s notice, to play one of nine roles, including Diana Ross.

Over his illustrious career, Motown legend Smokey Robinson has been responsible for classics like “The Tears of a Clown,” “You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me,” and “Shop Around.” But his most enduring creations? His three kids, Berry, Tamla, and Trey. Smokey’s three adult children each have their own unique relationship with their famous father, though some are closer than others.

Vince Staples has shared his new single ‘MAGIC’, which was co-produced by Mustard – you can hear the track below.The song is the first preview of the Long Beach rapper’s forthcoming new album ‘Ramona Park Broke My Heart’, which is set for release in April (date to be determined) via Blacksmith Recordings and Motown Records UK.The first single from the upcoming LP sees Staples team up with the LA producer and DJ Mustard for the collaborative ‘MAGIC’.The track, which you can hear below, was co-produced by Lewis Hughes, Mustard, Nick “Unknown Nick” Audino and My Best Friend Jacob, while Kenny Beats also contributed to the song as a recording engineer.Speaking about ‘Ramona Park Broke My Heart’ in a press release, Staples said of the title: “It’s symbolic of home. And everyone has a home.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorMotown founder Berry Gordy had a galaxy of star executives helping him build the company into the powerhouse it became, but not many of them shone as brightly as Suzanne de Passe.Joining the company relatively late in its heyday, de Passe moved from her native Harlem to Detroit in 1968 and soon convinced a skeptical Berry to sign a group of kids calling themselves the Jackson 5. She quickly took charge of developing the group into the pop-culture juggernaut they immediately became — their first four singles went to No.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorMotown Records and Google have announced a partnership in pursuit of elevating women of color within the music industry.The Motown Records Creator Program Supported by Google will find and fund the next outstanding woman content creator, videographer, or creative producer/director and offer an opportunity to collaborate with Motown Records’ executives and its roster of artists, including TianaMajor9. According to the announcement, the initiative is aligned with Motown’s commitment to shattering barriers for talented creatives and is a continuation of Google’s ongoing mission to amplify underrepresented voices in entertainment and ensure diverse, equitable representation in our media landscape.

A video of this alleged libido-boosting performance is currently blowing up on Instagram ahead of Valentine’s Day. “The monkeys were treated to a LIVE PERFORMANCE from love song legend ‘Marvin Gaye,’ ” reads the caption to the Instagram post, which was posted Monday morning by the Trentham Monkey Forest, a primate sanctuary in Tittensor that houses troops of critically endangered Barbary Macaques from Morocco and Algeria, per their site.Per the post, the ape haven had enlisted Dave Largie — a popular Motown and Barry White tribute artist — to help “boost the monkey love at the forest this mating season.”In the accompanying clip, the vocalist can be seen belting out Gaye’s iconic 1973 love ballad “Let’s Get It On” while decked out in a flamboyant white suit.

Has any Broadway production in recent (or even not so recent) memory arrived with as much emotional baggage – or carried it as lightly – as the visually and sonically ravishing MJ? The Michael Jackson musical, as unlikely as such a prospect might have seemed a year ago, now appears poised to take Manhattan with the same hurricane force that the real Jackson funneled when he moonwalked into television history on Motown 25.

Like most people you probably have a favourite song and a favourite artist or band.

Jazz Tangcay Artisans EditorFilm editors Lillian E. Benson and Richard Chew will receive Career Achievement Awards for their outstanding contributions to film editing at the 72nd Annual ACE Eddie Awards, taking place on March 5 at the Ace Hotel in Downtown Los Angeles.“Lillian and Richard are rock star editors and represent the very best of our craft and profession,” said ACE president Kevin Tent.

A.D. Amorosi When powerhouse vocalist-actor Meat Loaf eulogized composer-producer Jim Steinman last April in Rolling Stone, the singer – who died Thursday at age 74 – said of his “Bat Out of Hell” partner, “We belonged heart and soul to each other.

Meaf Loaf has died, aged 74. No cause of death has been announced, although he is known to have been in ill health in recent years.In a statement posted on Facebook, his family said: “Our hearts are broken to announce that the incomparable Meat Loaf passed away tonight surrounded by his wife Deborah, daughters Pearl and Amanda, and close friends”.“We know how much he meant to so many of you and we truly appreciate all of the love and support as we move through this time of grief in losing such an inspiring artist and beautiful man”, they concluded.

The US singer and actor Meat Loaf has died.

told The New York Times Saturday.Young replaced another singer in the Michigan group when Motown head Berry Gordy signed the band in 1961. A month later, The Marvelettes’ “Please Mr.

Wanda Young has passed away.

DETROIT -- Wanda Young, a member of Motown's chart-topping The Marvelettes, has died in suburban Detroit. She was 78.Meta Ventress told The New York Times in a story published Saturday that her mother died Dec.

The lifetime achievement awards for artistic excellence were presented to Motown Records creator Berry Gordy, “Saturday Night Live” mastermind Lorne Michaels, actress-singer Bette Midler, opera singer Justino Diaz and folk music legend Joni Mitchell.This year’s event at the Kennedy Center’s main opera house represented a return to political normalcy, with President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden attending.President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump skipped the show the first three

A post shared by Claudette Robinson (@firstladyofmotown)No cause of death has been made public at the time of writing.In a statement posted on Twitter, the Classic Motown label wrote: “We are so saddened by the news of Wanda Young of the Marvelettes passing. What an impact she has had on the world of Classic Motown and the lives of so many.

Wanda Young was a singer with the Motown group the Marvelettes, who sang lead vocals on hit singles including “Don’t Mess with Bill.”Young joined the Marvelettes just after they signed with Motown Records, as they were working on the song that would make them stars, “Please Mr. Postman.” Young sang backing vocals on the track, the first No.

APPOINTMENTSUniversal Music’s Republic Records in the US has named Sam Taylor as the new head of its hip hop and R&B A&R team. He joined the label as EVP A&R last year.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorMotown Records has named Courtney Lowery as executive vice president of media strategy and lifestyle. In this new role, Lowery will oversee media strategy and execution for the label and its roster of artists, and also play an integral role in a wide range of the label’s cultural and lifestyle initiatives.

Paul Harris To the delight of a standing-room-only audience that included the First Family, the Kennedy Center Honors paid hearty tribute on Sunday night to actress/singer Bette Midler, opera bass-baritone Justino Diaz, Motown founder Berry Gordy, “Saturday Night Live” honcho Lorne Michaels and singer/songwriter Joni Mitchell.The event, last staged before a live audience in pre-COVID 2020, had been conspicuously ignored by former President Donald Trump following criticism from two honorees in

Canada’s Joni Mitchell, Bette Midler and Toronto-born “Saturday Night Live” creator Lorne Michaels were among those being honoured by U.S. President Joe Biden at Sunday’s Kennedy Center Honors.

her death Wednesday morning. Avant, the wife of former Motown head Clarence Avant, died of a gunshot wound after her home in Beverly Hills was invaded.“My heart breaks for Clarence and Nicole and all the Avant family,” said the filmmaker in a statement posted to Twitter and Instagram.

fatal shooting of Jackie Avant was a “random attack.” The shooting was reported at 2:23 a.m. in the 1100 block of Maytor Place, according to police.

Variety has reported.It’s not known at this stage if Clarence – dubbed the ‘Godfather of Black Music’ – was injured in the incident (via TMZ).The Avants’ daughter Nicole is married to Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos and produced a 2019 documentary for the platform about her father titled The Black Godfather.The Beverly Hills Police Department told Variety that a shooting at the 1100 block of Maytor Place in the Trousdale Estates area resulted in a death early on Wednesday, without reporting the name of

Beverly Hills Police Department, the Beverly Hills Police Communications Center received a phone call shortly before 2:30 a.m. PT regarding a shooting that had just occurred on the 1100 block of Maytor Place.

It’s been a year since singer Smokey Robinson had a fatal brush with COVID-19.

Smokey Robinson is opening about overcoming COVID. While speaking to ET's Matt Cohen about his upcoming Lifetime movie, , the legendary Motown singer expounded on his hospitalization last year after contracting the coronavirus and his fears that he would never sing again.

Celebrity birthdays for the week of Nov. 28-Dec. 4:Nov.

been the ultimate destination for black artists. Early on, the iconic Harlem theater launched the careers of Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald on its famous Amateur Night, while later becoming the home away from Detroit for Motown greats such as the Supremes and the Jackson 5.So it’s fitting that another culture-moving institution celebrating black music — the Soul Train Awards — are being held at the Apollo Theater for the first time on Saturday, before airing Nov.

The Rolling Stones treated audiences in Detroit to a cover of the 1966 Temptations classic ‘Ain’t Too Proud to Beg’ this week (November 15) – their first time playing the song since 2007.Despite having played the song live over 100 times since 1975, it hadn’t been a part of their setlist since a 2007 gig at London’s O2 Arena.

Glastonbury Festival has announced that Diana Ross will play the legends slot next year.

Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos is still supportive of comedian Dave Chappelle, as he proved at last night’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Cleveland. Sarandos, joined by his wife, Nicole Avant, was there to support his father-in-law, former Motown Chairman Clarence Avant, who was getting inducted

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorThe American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers has announced that a special “Homecoming” Edition” of its annual ASCAP Women Behind the Music event will take place virtually on Wednesday, October 27 at 3 p.m. ET/ 12 p.m.