Singer trying to put the Motown back in Motown
107 views · Published 24 October 2018 · 2:47 · Indexed 30 September 2026
Channel: AP Archive · 2018 · Entertainment
(19 Oct 2018) SINGER TRYING TO PUT THE MOTOWN BACK IN MOTOWN From the auditorium of Detroit's main library on a weeknight emerges the sound of Motown: Spirited takes on tunes that sprung from a studio just a few miles away that made their way around the world. Some of Detroit's best singers and musicians breathed new life into beloved songs more than a half-century old: "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours." "Dancing in the Street." "Stop! In the Name of Love." "Papa Was a Rolling Stone." They still beguile audiences across the globe, but the music of Stevie, Martha, the Supremes and Temptations doesn't get heard much in the city of its birth. Joan Belgrave, one of the voices belting out Motown classics on the library stage, is out to change that. The wife of the late jazz trumpeting legend and Motown player Marcus Belgrave says people are shocked when they find out that Detroit doesn't have any spaces dedicated to regularly hosting live Motown music. Now, you can catch a whiff of Hitsville U.S.A. here and there in Detroit. Classic Motown singers and groups, some of which still boast an original member or two, certainly "can't forget the Motor City" on a tour. Other artists might throw a Motown song or two into their set lists. To top it off, the Motown Museum plans a major expansion and upgrade that includes a performance space. Still, Belgrave says it's not enough for a city with a sonic lineage and legacy like Detroit's. Among those joining Belgrave's crusade is Mark Scott, who joined the legendary Motown group The Miracles about 15 years ago and sings the leads made famous by Smokey Robinson. Belgrave isn't giving up. She's grateful for places like the library, which long has supported local music and artists, including those with connections to or a love for Motown. She's looking for a new venue or two to take up the cause. Abdul "Duke" Fakir, the lone surviving original member of the Four Tops, says he's excited by what Belgrave is doing and can't wait for the expansion of the museum. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_Archive Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APArchives Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/APNews/ You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/de80912ff33ef97343f72c94489ff2ff
