Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye. What do all of these musical legends have in common? They were all, and continue to be, recognized as legendary superstars in the music industry, whether they are alive or not. But without label-founder Berry Gordy, their stardom would not exist and their unknown reputations would die with them. Motown: The Musical, based on Berry Gordy’s book To Be Loved: The Music, the Magic, the Memories of Motown, incorporates music we all know and love with a story new to many of us. The musical, directed by Charles Randolph-Wright, follows Berry Gordy, considered to be the founder of the Motown sound, as he establishes his record label and creates countless world-renowned superstars. …show more content…
For Motown: The Musical not only was it meant to be entertaining, it was also a type of history lesson. For starters, throughout the performance, I at least recognized almost every song, many being able to sing along to. However, there were few songs I could tell you when they were written or by who. With the overwhelming presence of remakes and covers by younger, more “current” celebrities, the history of each song is lost and the lyrics, and occasionally the melodies, are all that remain. This musical brought that history to life, bringing back the original versions of each of these iconic songs. Not only is this musical a history lesson to many of us, it brought us into the story, making us feel as though we were part of this performance, and in turn the making of history. The fourth wall, a term used to describe the imagery boundary between the actors on stage and the audience, is broken on multiple occasions. Most predominately, when Diana Ross performs “Reach Out and Touch” at the Frontier Hotel, performing as if the current audience was the audience for her Las Vegas show. We were immediately drawn in, becoming a part of her first performance in Vegas and her debut solo single. The Princess of Wales Theatre was quickly transformed into the Frontier Hotel seamlessly. Following along the non-traditional atmosphere, …show more content…
There is a reason why awards such as the Oscars and Tony’s have designated categories for supporting actors. This production of this musical perfectly exemplifies this. Leon Outlaw Jr., who played young Berry Gordy, Michael Jackson, and Stevie Wonder, Elijah Ahmad Lewis, who played Stevie Wonder, and Jesse Nager, who played Smokey Robinson, outshone Josh Tower, who played Berry Gordy. Their performances were incredible and true to the famous and well-known celebrities they were on stage. Their mannerisms, voices, and overall presence could easily convince anyone that they were the people they
Christopher Jefferson R. Woodson Music Appreciation 11 December 2015 Final Dwayne “Lil Wayne” Michael Carter, Jr. was born September 27, 1982 in New Orleans, LA. He was born in a city known for its jazz, swing, and blues music. He began rapping at 8. Dwayne was signed to a record label Cash Money.
Three artists in particular changed the world by their music, Sonny & Cher, and Ben. E King. However, these three singers belonged to two different genres of music, the music of Ben E. King was rhythm and blues with hints of pop, where as Sonny & Cher were pop and pop rock music. Another difference is between the three is the audience they pertained to. Ben E.King became popular among African Americans during the hardships
In this Broadway show, there are over 40 classic songs featured. You'll hear songs like Dancing In the Street, ABC and Ain't No Mountain High Enough. (-- removed HTML --) Motown's Background (-- removed HTML --)
Stevie Wonder’s most successful album is “Songs in the Key of Life” which features songs like “Sir Duke” and “Isn’t She Lovely” and song about his newborn daughter. Along with this album, “Hotter Than July” is also one of my favorite albums. Stevie Wonder also has 22 grammys which show his mainstream popularity. Despite that fact that Motown has been bought by Universal, Stevie Wonder has been signed to Motown Records for his entire career which is very rare in the music industry especially when considering how hot of a commodity he was and still
Motown records was instrumental to creating the vibe of the 60’s. It would produce many hit songs and create powerhouse music groups. It would also go on to shape the rock and roll genre as we know it today. In January of 1959 Berry Gordy would establish Motown Records with an $800 loan from his family and within a few years, would be producing some of the greatest hits of the time.
Motown is a well-known record corporation that was founded in the mid 1900’s. Motown has helped shape America due to its contributions since its founding. The corporation reshaped the music industry, signed and produced artist that would go on to become huge stars. Motown still has its fair share of action in today’s music industry. Motown is a living piece of history that has still remained relevant today.
Tyler Perry Opportunity Recognition On September 13, 1969, Emmitt Perry Jr. (Tyler Perry) was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, to Maxine and Emmitt Perry. As a child, he suffered years of abuse by his father. The abuse situation became so bad that Emmitt Perry Jr. once tried to attempt suicide because he was fed up with what his father was doing to him. At the age 16, Emmitt changed his name to Perry because he no longer wanted the same name as his abusive father.
In the Heights a play full enthusiasm and full of energy, it won many awards including a Tony award it was produced and directed by Lin Manuel Miranda. It was performed in Irvington Town hall Theatre on August 15 ,2014. It is a musical that carries a lot of messages, that brings connection to many people about wanting to experience something new and wanting to find home. Usnavi a man who live and own a Bodega in Washington Heights want to connect to his root in the Dominican Republic by going back since he hasn 't gone in a long time.
Elvis Presley Elvis inspired and influenced rock musicians like Bob Dylan, John Lennon, and Bruce Springsteen. Elvis’ early life was mostly in Memphis, Tennessee with his cousins. His middle life was full of music. Presley’s late life had a downfall, but, he kept on going forward. To truly understand Elvis Presley, one must understand his early, middle, and late life.
Elvis Aaron Presley, a Rock-N- Roll icon, was born on January 8, 1935. His parents are Vernon and Gladys Presley. Presley was born a twin, but his identical brother was stillborn. Elvis’s original middle name was Aron to resemble his stillborn twin’s middle name, but he legally changed it to Aaron as a biblical and traditional spelling. In 1953, Elvis cut his first demo at Sun Studio; he also began touring all over America.
Motown was a transformative sound that arrived just at the height of the civil rights movement. Such success coming from a black business and black artists forced the rest of America to reexamine their racial prejudices that they still clung to. It seemed that it’s founder, Berry Gordy, knew from the start that Motown was something special when he hung a sign that read “Hitsville USA” above the recording studio’s headquarters. The success was almost instant for most Motown artists with song after song becoming number one hits on major music charts. However, the success was not easy, as it took strenuous amounts of work to mold the artist’s looks and sounds into something that would popularize them among the white population.
Motown Motown didn’t just make great music, they made an impact in the civil right movement. Though you can’t see the impact as much as you see the impact of Martin Luther King Jr. or Malcolm X, they did play a role in the movement. Motown was started by Berry Gordy in 1959. He didn’t only care about making money through his music, he wanted to help out in the movement of civil rights.
They show the pros and cons of independence and the issue of slavery. They also show the ideas and personalities of the men involved in the Second Continental Congress and how they were flawed or imperfect. The musical shows that they were ordinary men with different beliefs trying to come to a solution in difficult times. The musical and actual
Stevie Wonder’s True Story “There’s so much music in the air. You hear this music in your mind first; that 's the way it is for me. Then I go after getting it the exact way I imagined it” said Stevie Wonder (“Stevie Wonder”) To begin, blindness is the inability to tell light from dark, or the total inability to see (“Visual Impairment and Blindness”).
Freestyle rap is spontaneous, created on the spur of the moment with nothing scripted in advance. Literary devices, such as rhymes, metaphors and similes will be included in the best freestyle rap, as well as smooth delivery and allusions to the present surroundings and circumstances. Great rappers have great freestyling skills. In freestyling, a rapper must think on his or her feet and impress the audience with his/her verbal ability. Step 1: Master the Basics There are three areas in a rap that you must deal with: The delivery, rhyme scheme and world play.