BERRY GORDY

Barrett Strong, one of Motown’s founding artists and most gifted songwriters who sang lead on the company’s breakthrough single “Money (That’s What I Want)” and later collaborated with Norman Whitfield on such classics as “I Heard It Through the Grapevine,” “War” and “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone,” has died.

Barrett Strong was one of Motown's most gifted songwriters who collaborated with Norman Whitfield on such classics as "I Heard It Through the Grapevine," "War" and "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone."

Barrett Strong, one of Motown’s founding artists and most gifted songwriters who sang lead on the company’s breakthrough single “Money (That’s What I Want)” and later collaborated on such classics as “I Heard It Through the Grapevine" and “War,” has died.

Barrett Strong, one of Motown’s founding artists and most gifted songwriters who sang lead on the company’s breakthrough single “Money (That’s What I Want)” and later collaborated with Norman Whitfield on such classics as “I Heard It Through the Grapevine,” “War” and “Papa Was a Rollin' Stone,” has died. "Barrett was not only a great singer and piano player, but he, along with his writing partner Norman Whitfield, created an incredible body of work," Motown founder Berry Gordy said in a statement.

It’s been nearly a decade since Smokey Robinson’s last album, but new music from the King of Motown is on the horizon.

Canadian singer-songwriter Allison Russell tearfully accepted the album of the year award for her debut solo record “Outside Child” at the Americana Honors and Awards.

Mable John, the first woman signed to Berry Gordy’s Tamla Records label and a former Raelett with Ray Charles, passed away on August 25, 2022, at her home in the Los Angeles area. In the late 1960s, John also recorded southern soul classics such as her 1966 million-seller, “Your Good Thing (Is About to End)” for Stax Records. The oldest of 10 children, John was born November 3, 1930, in Bastrop, Louisiana, but was raised in Detroit. By 1966, John had moved on to Stax Records where Isaac Hayes and David Porter penned her biggest hit around her rocky first marriage, “Your Good Thing (Is About to End)”. In 1970, John began a six-year stint as the leader of Ray Charles’ back-up group, The Raeletts.

Motown songwriter-producer Lamont Dozier has died at age 81.

Music, entertainment, sports, and the business world lost heroes and icons in 2021. From the stunning death of Supremes co-founder and Black Press friend Mary Wilson to the loss of DMX, Colin Powell, and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, 2021 featured some of the saddest and most unexpected farewells. Mary Wilson died suddenly late Monday, Feb. 8, at her home just outside of Las Vegas. “I was extremely shocked and saddened to hear of the passing of a major member of the Motown family, Mary Wilson of the Supremes,” Berry Gordy, Motown Records’ founder, remarked. She was a trailblazer, a diva, and will be deeply missed.”Two months after Wilson’s death, hip-hop icon DMX died in New York at 50.

This week’s new entertainment releases include fresh music from U2 as part of the soundtrack for the animated “Sing 2,” a marathon of holiday films on TCM and the end-of-the-world comedy “Don’t Look Up.”.

Singer and actress Bette Midler, Motown founder Berry Gordy, folk singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell, "Saturday Night Live" creator Lorne Michaels, and opera singer Justino Diaz are honored.

Motown founder Berry Gordy, opera star Justino Díaz, singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell, entertainer Bette Midler and television impresario Lorne Michaels were among those celebrated this weekend.

The Kennedy Center Honors has returned to tradition this year with a real-life gala and the presence of the president for the first time since 2016.

The Kennedy Center Honors is returning to tradition this year. The lifetime achievement awards for artistic excellence will be presented Sunday night in a gala at the Kennedy Center's main opera house after the coronavirus pandemic forced delays and major changes to last year's plans. Honorees include 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.

President Joe Biden will be in the house for the Kennedy Center Honors on Sunday.

WASHINGTON — The founder of Motown Records and the producer of “Saturday Night Live” are among the five artists who will be honored with lifetime achievement awards at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., later this year. The 44th annual Kennedy Center Honors will recognize singer/actress Bette Midler, singer/songwriter Joni Mitchell and opera star Justino Díaz, in addition to.Berry Gordy, founder of Motown Records, and Lorne Michaels, producer of NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” TV show. “In the 1960s, Gordy moved his artists into television, being among the first black artists on shows like ‘American Bandstand’ and ‘The Ed Sullivan Show,’” a Kennedy Center press release states. In 2016, Michaels was awarded a Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor,” the Kennedy Center said in a press release. “She is an icon of modern music and one of the most influential creators of our age,” the Kennedy Center stated.

The Kennedy Center Honors is returning in December.

Mary Wilson died suddenly late Monday, Feb. 8, at her home just outside of Las Vegas. “The Supremes were always known as the ‘sweethearts of Motown.’ Mary, along with Diana Ross and Florence Ballard, came to Motown in the early 1960s. Mary Wilson was a friend to the Black Press of America, a neighbor to the world, and the radiance she exuded never seem to fade. Mary Wilson was extremely special to me. Cultural Ambassador, mother, and grandmother, the legendary Mary Wilson made great strides on her inevitable journey to greatness.

“We’re going to be talking about the Supremes, yeah, 60th anniversary, and I’m going to be talking a lot about that mainly because I’ve finally decided how to work with Universal and they’re going to release new recordings, Mary Wilson recordings,” she said.

FILE - Mary Wilson, founding member of The Supremes, appears during a portrait session at Capitol Records in Los Angeles on June 12, 2014. Wilson, the longest-reigning original Supreme, has died at 76 years old. Publicist Jay Schwartz says Wilson died Monday night, Feb. 8, 2021, at her home in Las Vegas and that the cause was not immediately clear. Wilson died Monday night at her home in Nevada and the cause was not immediately clear, said publicist Jay Schwartz. Following the Supremes’ disbandment, Wilson released the solo albums “Mary Wilson” and “Walk the Line” and wrote a handful of books, including the best-selling “Dreamgirl: My Life as a Supreme” and “Supreme Faith: Someday We’ll Be Together."

Studio A is seen at the Motown Museum, Wednesday, July 15, 2020, in Detroit. The Detroit building where Berry Gordy Jr. built his music empire reopened its doors to the public on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)DETROIT Get ready, because the Motown Museum is back in business. The Detroit building where Berry Gordy Jr. built his music empire reopened its doors to the public on Wednesday. That's probably the most celebrated change at Motown Museum, Terry said.

Known as The Chairman, Gordy is the founder and original architect of Motown Records an American original that arguably featured the most exceptional assembly of talent in music history has retired. Motown records is one of the most successful Black-owned record labels of all time, said Aaron Douglas of R.E.A.L. Its history is in concrete because of the mega artists and because Berry Gordy had an eye for up-and-coming talent. Berry Gordy paved the way for minorities in a way that had never been seen before. As an African American leader, businessman, entrepreneur, and important and historical agent of change, Berry Gordy is an inspiration and role model especially for African-Americans like myself, Harrigan stated.