By janebse (68.63.6.8) on Wednesday, March 17, 2004 - 12:00 am:

Cedric the Entertainer will replace Justin TImberlake as a co-host. And the Temptations and Four TOps will also be on the program. Mary Wilson and Cindy Birdsong were mentioned by several sources.

By Michael/Cleoharvey (205.184.185.83) on Wednesday, March 17, 2004 - 12:02 am:

Janebse:

This is covered in a current thread entitled: FOFMER SUPREMES MARY WILSON CINDY BIRDSONG WITH KELLY ROWLAND OF DESTINY CHILD ON MOTOWN 45?

By Dinelle (66.157.79.253) on Wednesday, March 17, 2004 - 12:05 am:

Get out of here! The Cedric the Entertainer? I've got to see this.

By Vandelron (64.12.96.238) on Wednesday, March 17, 2004 - 12:52 am:

when is Motown 45?

By P.J. (24.3.123.111) on Wednesday, March 17, 2004 - 09:35 am:

It will be taped on April 4 at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles and will be televised on May 3.

By Weldon A. Mc Dougal III (68.80.162.3) on Wednesday, March 17, 2004 - 09:38 am:

I here the Funk Brother will also be there
WELDON

By Vandelron (68.198.48.201) on Wednesday, March 17, 2004 - 09:39 pm:

thanks PJ----is that the same month and day as Motown 25?!

By Shawn1b (65.26.96.65) on Wednesday, March 17, 2004 - 10:13 pm:

Of Course The Fabulous Martha Reeves and The Vandellas will also be there along with Gladys Knight .Shawn

By Michael/Cleoharvey (206.216.55.197) on Thursday, March 18, 2004 - 01:57 am:

Shawn:

Where did you read that Gladys Knight would be there? Since she did not come to Motown 25 and has made no secret of her dislike of Motown, I think her appearance would be a surprise. I of course, would love to see her anywhere.

By John (195.92.168.166) on Thursday, March 18, 2004 - 03:37 am:

MOTOWN'S 45TH ANNIVERSARY"

Hosts: Lionel Richie and Cedric the Entertainer
FEATURING:

INDIA.ARIE, BACKSTREET BOYS, ERYKAH BADU, BOYZ II MEN, WAYNE BRADY, THE FUNK BROTHERS, THE FOUR TOPS, MACY GRAY, GLADYS KNIGHT, NICK LACHEY, GERALD LEVERT, MICHAEL MCDONALD, BRIAN MCKNIGHT, RAVEN-SYMONE, MARTHA REEVES AND THE VANDELLAS, SMOKEY ROBINSON, KELLY ROWLAND, JOSS STONE, VANESSA WILLIAMS + MORE

COME BE A PART OF HISTORY THIS EVENT WILL BE TAPED FOR A SPECIAL TV SHOW!
SUNDAY, APRIL 4, 2004
SHRINE AUDITORIUM
665 West Jefferson Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90007

A PORTION OF THE PROCEEDS WILL BENEFIT THE UNITED NEGRO COLLEGE FUND

PRODUCED BY JEFF MARGOLIS PRODUCTIONS

TICKETS ON SALE FROM SUNDAY, MARCH 14th at 1:00pm.

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By Reese (12.15.168.95) on Thursday, March 18, 2004 - 10:31 am:

Michael/Cleoharvey:

I think Gladys might have softened her stance on Motown somewhat. She did appear on MOTOWN 30, doing a killer gospel version of THE WIND BENEATH MY WINGS.

By Michael/Cleoharvey (205.184.185.2) on Thursday, March 18, 2004 - 10:35 am:

Reese:

I am so glad. She will only enrich Motown 45. She along with Martha Reeves were the two greatest female singers that Motown produced. I cannot to wait to hear the heart-stopping Miss Knight. By the way, does anyone know if Gladys presently has a recording contract?

By Reese (12.15.168.95) on Thursday, March 18, 2004 - 10:44 am:

Michael/Cleoharvey:

On the recent SHIRLEY CAESAR AND FRIENDS cd, Gladys sings a song with Shirley and Patti LaBelle entitled I KNOW IT WAS THE BLOOD. In the liner notes, if I'm not mistaken, it says that Gladys appears courtesy of Geffen Records. This surprised me, since I never heard of Gladys signing with that label. Plus I thought Geffen Records didn't exist anymore. I'm sure someone else on board knows more about that.

What I do know that MCA really dropped the ball on both Gladys' and Patti's last albums. Patti has since moved on to the Def Soul Classics label or something like that.

By Michael/Cleoharvey (205.184.185.2) on Thursday, March 18, 2004 - 11:07 am:

Reese:

If I am not mistaken Gladys won a Grammy for that last secular album for MCA, so it is weird that they dropped her... or maybe not. No record company is interested in you these days unless you have Gerber's baby food on your breath.

By DavidS91 (198.81.26.103) on Thursday, March 18, 2004 - 02:04 pm:

Does it strike anyone as strange (and possibly a bit sad), that out of the 19 named acts, only 6 of them ever had records out on Motown records?

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Thursday, March 18, 2004 - 02:22 pm:

Reese:
Universal Music Group closed down MCA Records over a year ago whereas Geffen Records still exists as a part of the IGA Group of Labels (Interscope-Geffen-A&M) under Universal.

Many of MCA's pop/soul acts (Gladys Knight, Mary J. Blige) were transferred to Geffen after MCA's demise.

Kevin Goins - KevGo

By Reese (12.15.168.95) on Thursday, March 18, 2004 - 02:45 pm:

Thanks KevGo.

Its good to know that Gladys does still have a recording contract.

By R&B (138.238.41.215) on Thursday, March 18, 2004 - 04:07 pm:

EXCUSE ME FOR BEING PICKY BUT[WHO GIVES A RAT'A##%%!S ABOUT THE BACKSTREET BOYS]WHERE ARE THE SPINNERS,JIMMY RUFFIN,BRENDA HOLLIWAY,DENNIS EDWARDS,BOBBY TAYLOR AND THE VANCOUVERS[I MEAN THESE FOLKS ARE STILL ALIVE ARE THEY NOT,WERE THEY INVITED TO PERFORM,HELL I'D RATHER SEE DEBARGE THAN THE BACKSTREET BOYS[GIMME A BREAK!],OH AND WHILE WE'RE AT IT WHERE IS RICK JAMES?

By Vandelron (68.198.48.201) on Thursday, March 18, 2004 - 10:53 pm:

I agree. Brenda Holloway brought the house down last year at BG tribute and got a rave in Rolling Stone. What about at least having the real Marvelettes come on stage?????????It would give Wanda a lift and help Gladys'career etc etc etc. It's BS not to include these people--will Motown ever learn?They can still have big contemporary names as well as honoring Motown legends and give them a boost. Wheres this family thing BG is always talking about????????I'm sure he and Miss DePasse(is she doing this again?) could get anyone on they wanted.

By b.soul (152.163.253.70) on Thursday, March 18, 2004 - 11:22 pm:

It would be nice to include the Real Motown Acts who are still with us-
The Miracles
The Four Tops
Temptations
Supremes
Marvelettes
Martha and Vandellas
The Spinners
The Originals
The Jacksons
The Commodores
Debarge
Rick James
Mary Jane Girls
Teena Marie
Jimmy Ruffin
Gladys Knight and The Pips
Smokey
Stevie Wonder
Chuck Jackson
Rare Earth
Undisputed Truth
Willie Hutch
Funk Brothers
and many others who created the hits for Motown
There is no way Motown should celebrate 45 Years without having all these artist participate in the celebration. Let's face it, without these artist there probaly would not be Motown at 45 today.
Let's also include the producers,writers and musicians too.

By John Lester aka the boy from xtown (81.132.34.78) on Friday, March 19, 2004 - 12:18 am:

Can I just say that there are very few of the Motown groups who are still with us and even less that are still able to perform in their original form. One such group is the VELVELETTES and I was really disappointed that they were overlooked in the list above. Whilst I am sure that there was no bad feeling intended by b.soul, it brings it home to me that if Soulful Detroit fans have certain other acts at the top of their lists in preference to the Velvelettes, what chance do these ladies have with the TV people that put on these shows.

I shall continue to fight their case and I am sorry if I have to be outspoken about it.

I just see it as yet another slap in the face to the Velvelettes. I am already really disappointed and that last post makes me feel worse.

By b.soul (152.163.253.70) on Friday, March 19, 2004 - 07:54 pm:

Sorry I forgot The Velvelette. I also forgot some other artist I also enjoyed, including,

HIGH INERGY
BOBBY NUNN
SWITCH
ROCKWELL
LETTA
BOBBY TAYLOR AND THE VANCOUVERS
THELMA HOUSTON
DYNAMIC SUPERIORS
and I'm sure there are others.

By GOAT (64.228.128.217) on Friday, March 19, 2004 - 08:33 pm:

I understand that Motown is in L.A now but couldn't they bring that anniversary back to the City of Detroit? Motown and Detroit are synonymous with each other.

b.Soul. Right on! At least get a few of those acts on that bill! I mean Nick Lachey? Justin Timberlake? Come on!

By Rhythm and Bues Showcase (68.134.66.113) on Saturday, March 20, 2004 - 12:17 am:

Nick Lashay is a Motown artist. He is the lead singer of 98 Degrees. They recorded a track with Stevie Wonder on thier album. Also I'd rather see Backstreet Boys then some of those other neo soul acts on the show.

By John Lester (81.129.162.137) on Saturday, March 20, 2004 - 06:49 am:

GOAT.......

Right on. So why doesn't Detroit TV people do it? Is there no TV organisation in Detroit?