A Celebration of Motown at the White House

Smokey Robinson, Sheryl Crow, Jamie Foxx, Ledisi, John Legend, Seal and other musicians performed at the White House last night for a special evening titled "The Motown Sound: In Performance at the White House". The event was given in celebration of Black History Month and the legacy of Motown, the distinctive soul-infused pop music sound, style and presentation that was born in Detroit and embodied by the Motown Records label. 

John Legend performed Stevie Wonder's "Love's in Need of Love". During his set, he shared some of his Motown childhood memories, and how his father and uncle inspired his love for music.

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Smokey Robinson took the stage with Sheryl Crow for a duet on his hit, "You Really Got a Hold on Me,' and then Stevie Wonder followed with his classic, "You Are the Sunshine of My Life."

Stevie Wonder also thanked Motown's very own Berry Gordy: "Berry, thank you for this incredible Motown ride". 

"The Motown Sound: In Performance at the White House" will air on PBS Tuesday, March 1st. Check for local listings here.

Watch the full episode. See more In Performance at The White House.

Smokey Robinson Releases "The Solo Albums Volume 4: Love Breeze/Where There's Smoke..."

In the history of Motown there is only one person more important in its evolution and everlasting success than Berry Gordy, and that’s Smokey Robinson – the only artist at the label to also become a world-class songwriter, producer and company vice-president. Smokey Robinson, who had reluctantly started a solo career after a brief intermission following his departure from his beloved Miracles, was, by the late 1970s, in full stride. And this volume in the Smokey Robinson Solo Albums series features one of his biggest solo hits.

Love Breeze, a top 20 R&B chart LP, featured the top 10 hit single “Daylight & Darkness” as well as numerous album favorites. Where There’s Smoke… was a step towards another new future for Smokey. While the disco-fied remake of “Get Ready,” a song Smokey had originally written for the Temptations, was the lead single, it was “Cruisin’,” a track tucked away at the end of the album, that became his new signature tune. It was everywhere in late summer 1979, hitting the R&B and Pop top five – and seems to still be everywhere today.

As with the three previous volumes, this new set includes reproductions of the LPs’ original artwork, and newly commissioned liner notes by U.K. author Peter Doggett, who interviewed Smokey specifically for this reissue series. Also included are the original lyrics as seen on the original albums’ inner sleeves. There's also a bonus cut: the 12-inch instrumental version of “Get Ready,” previously available only on limited vinyl.

Get your copy of "The Solo Albums Volume 4: Love Breeze/Where There's Smoke..." on Hip-OSelect.com