Just imagine how much poorer the music scene would have been over the last 60 years without Motown.
No Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson... to name but a few.
If the Motown record label had never existed would we ever have heard all those classic hits such as Baby Love, Ain’t No Mountain High Enough, My Girl and Stop! In the Name of Love?
Fortunately, along came Berry Gordy. And now, to put it all in context, along to Milton Keynes Theatre comes Motown the Musical.
Gordy founded the Motown label in 1959 and the production tells the story of how, with just $800 borrowed from his family, he went from a featherweight boxer to heavyweight music mogul discovering and launching the careers of all those legendary artists who changed music history and created the soundtrack of a generation.
Still going strong at the age of 89,this is Berry Gordy’s own take on the Motown Records storywith music and lyrics from the Motown back catalogue.
The production is directed by Charles Randolph-Wright: "What I never wanted to do was find people who would just impersonate those performers” says Charles. “I wanted them to make me feel the way Diana Ross made me feel, an actress that would actually make me put my hands up and sing ‘Reach Out and Touch’.
It’s an instinctive thing – they’re Motown. When Motown started in 1959, many cities had solo singers, a girl group, a guy group, and a kids group, but as Smokey Robinson often says, ‘The difference is that Detroit had Berry Gordy’”.
And even 60 years on, audiences still love this music.
“Motown appeals to every age," added Charles. "I love that each audience member finds some aspect of this show that resonates with them. The show is infectious, and the UK truly knows and loves this music. It’s in the UK DNA. It’s not just a record label, it’s not just a show, it’s a movement.”
The cast for the UK and Ireland tour includes Edward Baruwa who plays the leading role of ‘Berry Gordy’, Karis Anderson as ‘Diana Ross’, Nathan Lewis as ‘Smokey Robinson’ and Shak Gabbidon-Williams as ‘Marvin Gaye’.
Motown the Musical will be at Milton Keynes Theatre, Tuesday, 23 July to Saturday, 3 August. To book seats click here
Never miss news or leisure info in Milton Keynes - Follow us on www.twitter.com/thisistotalmk
And on Facebook: www.facebook.com/thisistotalmk
