One-Tank Trip
for May 18/19
By Jim Fox
The hits just keep
on coming as this year marks several milestones in music history.
They’ll really be dancing
in the streets as Martha Reeves and the Vandellas sang at Motown’s 60th
anniversary weekend from Sept. 21 to 23 in Detroit.
The Motown sound
changed America as it emanated from songwriter Berry Gordy’s home studio started
with an $800 loan from his family.
 |
| Motown Museum dubbed Hitsville U.S.A. (Barbara Fox) |
At 2648 W. Grand
Blvd., the house now is the home of the Motown Museum, nicknamed Hitsville
U.S.A.
That’s where the
Four Tops, David Ruffin and the Temptations, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, Diana
Ross and the Supremes, and Stevie Wonder became famous.
And, don’t forget Michael
Jackson & the Jackson 5, the Marvelettes, Gladys Knight & the Pips and
Lionel Richie & the Commodores.
 |
| Visitors check out the legendary Studio A at the Motown Museum. (Jim Fox photo) |
The museum
is preserved in time with its legendary Studio A with holes in the building’s
ceiling to serve as homemade echo chambers.
With more
than 180 No. 1 hit songs worldwide and counting, that influence is still being
felt today from pop to hip-hop.
The
anniversary weekend includes a musical tribute, awards celebration, gospel concert
and the “Soul in One” celebrity golf classic.
On now is
an exhibition called “Reflections: My Motown Story” that highlights the
profound way Motown “shaped our culture and reflected our shared humanity.”
There’s a free founders’
day celebration on Sunday (May 19) from noon to 5 p.m. with tours, music, dancing,
food trucks and community vendors.
Big things are
happening as underway is $50-million museum expansion expected to be completed
late this year.
 |
| An artist rendering of the Motown Museum expansion. |
Current hours are
Tuesday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; closed
Mondays. motownmuseum.org; (313)
875-2264
All that jazz
The 32nd edition of the TD Toronto Jazz
Festival, from June 21 to 30, has headliners including Diana Ross, Norah Jones,
Cecile McLorin Salvant, Tower of Power for its 50th anniversary tour and “Cuba’s
grand dame” Omara Portuondo.
Fresh from her 75th birthday celebrations at the Grammy’s last month, the legendary Diana Ross performs on June 24 followed by Norah Jones on June 26 at the Sony Centre, said publicist Anna Tom.
Fresh from her 75th birthday celebrations at the Grammy’s last month, the legendary Diana Ross performs on June 24 followed by Norah Jones on June 26 at the Sony Centre, said publicist Anna Tom.
From concert halls to the streets
of Yorkville, there are 10 jazz-packed days with 1,500 musicians performing at ticketed
events and 175 free
performances. torontojazz.com
A “stunner”
It will be a “stunner
of a summer for our 40th birthday,” publicist Ann Braithwaite says of the Montreal
International Jazz Festival.
“It
marks the return of music to the streets, massive festive gatherings and fun in
the downtown core and magical musical discoveries,” she added.
The fest has announced150
indoor concerts from June 27 to July 6 and the outdoor program will be unveiled
on May 29.
Rock, jazz, country
and blues headliners at Place des Arts include George Benson, Norah Jones, Blue
Rodeo, Melody Gardot, Alan Parsons, Peter Frampton and Buddy Guy. montrealjazzfest.com
- Boots and Hearts
Music Festival has announced that Jason Aldean will join country music
superstars Miranda Lambert, Maren Morris and Cole Swindell as headliners.
Also on the list at
Canada’s largest country music festival are Kane Brown and Kip Moore.
It happens from
Aug. 8 to 11 at Burl’s Creek in Oro-Medonte, north of Barrie. bootsandhearts.com
Also at Burl’s, it was announced that the
Rolling Stones, who have been touring for 55 years, will still play there on
June 29.
They’re keeping to
the original Canada Day weekend date that had been postponed when Mick Jagger
underwent heart surgery.
 |
| An archival photo and gold records from the original bed-in hotel room in Montreal. (Jim Fox photo) |
- It was 50 years
ago from May 26 to June 2 that Beatle John Lennon and wife Yoko Ono staged a
“Bed-in for Peace” at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal after one in
Amsterdam.
In their Montreal hotel
room, the famous anthem Give Peace a Chance was created.
-30-
Jim Fox can be reached at onetanktrips@hotmail.com
For more One-Tank Trips: http://1tanktrips.blogspot.ca
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