Berry Gordy: Last News

Smokey Robinson still has things he wants to accomplish. ET's Kevin Frazier spoke to the 83-year-old singer, and Robinson revealed the last item on his bucket list.«If there's anything left on my bucket list, it would be that I would like to make a movie, a good movie,» he told ET. "… I'd like to be in a really good movie and be a character.«While Robinson hopes to play a character in a flick, lots of people want a Broadway show or a movie to be made about life, both of which „some people have approached me to do it.“Any potential project about his life, Robinson said, is „gonna be very candid.“»I might as well be candid.

Thania Garcia Motown Records has weathered major changes in the last year, not the least of which include the exit of chairwoman and CEO Ethiopia Habtemariam in March 2021, and is now is planning a restructuring that will bring it back into the fold of Capitol Music Group. With that, layoffs have been initiated, Variety has confirmed, with at least three high-ranking executives being impacted. In a statement, first published by Billboard and obtained by Variety, a Motown spokesperson said: “As Motown returns to the Capitol family, certain positions that had been created when we became a stand-alone label have since become duplicative. These employees are leaving the company and our People, Inclusion and Culture department is helping them find new opportunities — either within or outside of UMG.”

Sheryl Crow stunned alongside the dazzling duo Halle and Chloe Bailey on Friday night when all three stars attended the MusiCares Person of the Year gala in Los Angeles.The Real Gone singer, 60 – who recently performed at the American Heart Association's starry charity concert – rocked black leather pants and a plunging gray top with a cascading train, while Halle and Chloe brought some glamorous shimmer to the red carpet in their gowns.Halle, 22, rocked a fireworks dress of yellow and blue bursts, and Chloe, 24, caught every eye in her chic and sleek gold gown.The stunning sisters – who recently brought their fashion A game to the Earthshot Prize – glowed with flawless glam, while Crow's eyes popped with a shade of blush.The three beauties led the stars at the A-list event, which honored living legends Smokey Robinson, 82, and Berry Gordy, 93.

Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson looked fantastic at the MusiCares Person of the Year party on Friday night in Los Angeles.The Saving Private Ryan actor, 66, and the Songbird singer, 66, were styled in complimenting outfits for the event, which will honor Berry Gordy and his first Motown signee, Smokey Robinson.The pair were extra loved up on the carpet as they posed together for photos, sporting bright smiles, and participated in solo shots as well.Rita is set to be one of the many artists of the night performing for the honorees.Tom donned a black suit jacket and pants, with an undershirt and tie. Power couple: Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson attended the annual MusiCares Person Of The Year event  Looking good: The pair were the epitome of class as they wore complimenting outfitsNext to him, Rita wore a black gown with a sheer slip over it that was decorated with different flowers and pants, all in different shades of pink.The dress underneath featured a scooped neckline and spaghetti straps, and the sheer top part of the piece went up to her neck and had short sleeves.Her hair was curled to perfection and left down around her shoulders.For makeup, she went for a natural visage with a smokey eye.

Barrett Strong, artist and songwriter credited with having given Motown its first hit with “Money (That’s What I Want),” has died. He was 81.

Jerry Blavat, a fast-talking DJ in Philadelphia who was a staunch backer of R&B in an era where “race records” weren’t mainstream, died Friday at Jefferson-Methodist Hospital in Philadelphia. His death was confirmed by his close friend A.J. Mattia and Keely Stahl, the latter his companion of more than 30 years.

Bertha Barbee McNeal, whose Motown group The Velvelettes had hits with“Needle in a Haystack” and “(He Was) Really Saying Something,” died Thursday in hospice in Kalamazoo, Michigan. She was 82 and had colon cancer.

EXCLUSIVE: Gladys Knight, the Empress of Soul who recorded hits such as Midnight Train to Georgia and I Heard It Through The Grapevine, is gearing up for a scripted mini-series about her life.

CBS has set a date for Byron Allen presents theGrio Awards special where African-American excellence is honored. Co-hosted by Sheryl Underwood from The Talk and Taye Diggs, the two-hour award show will air on Saturday, Nov. 26 starting at 8 p.m. ET.

A star studded lineup is set for the Critics Choice Association’s 5th Annual Celebration Of Black Cinema and Television taking place in Los Angeles on Monday December 5, 2022 at the Fairmont Century Plaza Hotel.

The inaugural gala for The Grio Awards are set to honor icons, leaders and legends like Tyler Perry, Patti LaBelle, Dave Chappelle and Normal Lear.

EJ Panaligan editor Allen Media Group’s African American-focused news, lifestyle, sports and entertainment platform theGrio has announced the inaugural The Grio Awards. The black-tie event will take place at the Beverly Hilton on Saturday, October 22th with co-hosts comedian Sheryl Underwood and Taye Diggs. The award show’s inaugural honorees are slated to attend in-person, including: The event will also feature special musical performances by Yolanda Adams, Tyrese, Fantasia and LaBelle. Greg Phillinganes will serve as musical director, and DJ Kiss will serve as both DJ and announcer. Additional guests slated to attend include Sheryl Lee Ralph, Judge Christine Perez, Dave Winfield, Judge Lauren Lake, Judge Mabelean Efphram, April Ryan, Natasha Alford, Michael Harriot, Panama Jackson, Nikole Hannah Jones, Ben Chavis and Marla Gibbs.

Mable John who was the first female solo artist signed by Motown Records founder Berry Gordy has died at age 91 in Los Angeles.The eldest of Detroit's musical John family died on Thursday, according to her nephew Kevin John.'We loved her and she was a kind person,' Kevin told The Detroit News. Pioneering singer: Mable John, shown in August 2019 in Los Angeles, who was the first female solo artist signed by Berry Gordy has died at age 91 in Los AngelesMable in 1959 was signed to Gordy's Tamla Records that he founded in June 1958 and incorporated as Motown Record Corportaion in April 1960.She was the first female under Gordy's brand to get her own record deal without an attached group.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorLamont Dozier, one-third of the legenday “Holland-Dozier-Holland” songwriting and production trio who wrote many of Motown Records’ biggest hits for the Supremes, the Four Tops, Marvin Gaye, Martha and the Vandellas and others, has died at the age of 81. The news was confirmed by his son Lamont Dozier Jr on social media; no cause of death has been released as yet.Hits written and produced by Dozier with siblings Brian and Eddie Holland read like a greatest-hits of Motown’s early years: “Where Did Our Love Go,” “Baby I Need Your Loving,” “Stop! in the Name of Love,” “How Sweet It Is (to Be Loved by You),” “Baby Love,” “Reach Out I’ll Be There,” “You Keep Me Hanging On” and many others.

Tracee Ellis Ross has a very famous mother, singer Diana Ross, and she delighted fans when she shared a rare snapshot with the singer for a heartfelt reason.MORE: Tracee Ellis Ross stuns fans with glamorous high school photoIn a dreamy snap from last year, the Black-ish star was standing alongside the I'm Coming Out singer as the sun acted as the perfect filter.Both of the glamorous women were wearing elegant tops and glitzy drop earrings as they celebrated Diana's birthday. Tracee opted for some hoops, while her mom rocked a large, straight pair.WATCH: Tracee Ellis Ross films in stunning blue living room"OH HOW I LOVE YOU MAMA ~ happy birthday," the star wrote as her caption at the time. The post drove many fans wild, as it received over 150,000 likes within three hours.

Tracee Ellis Ross, 49, was practically born to be a star. With her mom being Diana Ross, 77, and her dad being record executive Robert Ellis Silberstein, 76, Tracee grew up around show business. She’s carved out her own career path, rising to fame through her many acting appearances. She became a star in her own rite as one of the leading actresses in the sitcom Girlfriends, and most recently as one of the stars of Black-ish. Still, she’s not the only super talented one in her family! While some of her siblings haven’t pursued a career in the entertainment industry, it’s clear that she’s super close with her brothers and sisters. Find out more about all of her siblings here!

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.

Smokey Robinson, 82, is known as the King of Motown, but who is his queen? The Miracles band member has been married twice. One marriage resulted in divorce and the other is happily intact. Smokey Joe shot up to celebrity status after he formed the group The Miracles, which is best known for its hits “The Tracks of My Tears,” “Shop Around,” “I Second That Emotion,” “Baby Baby Don’t Cry,” and “Tears of a Clown.”

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.

Editor’s note: Colman Domingo (Zola, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom) is one of many Black actors whose careers were inspired by Sidney Poitier who broke racial barriers to become Hollywood’s first Black movie star and the first Black man to win Best Actor Oscar. In an essay for Deadline following Poitier’s death at age 94, Domingo writes about his meeting with Poitier and about the profound impact that encounter — as well as Poitier’s life and career — have had on him.

"I'm just concentrating on getting my health back," she had explained."I haven’t been writing recently, I haven’t been playing my guitar or the piano or anything."I’m showing slow improvement but moving forward."I couldn’t walk - I had to learn how again.