Stevie Wonder Says He's Moving to Ghana

Stevie Wonder is planning out his future. The music legend recently revealed to Oprah Winfrey that he is set on heading out to West Africa to spend his remaining years.
"I wanna see this nation smile again, and I want to see it before I leave to travel to move to Ghana," Wonder, 67, told Winfrey in a recent interview. "Because I'm going to do that."
According to the celebrated musician, he plans to move in an effort to protect his grandchildren from the racial injustice and prejudice that he feels is pervasive in American society.
"I don't want to see my children's children's children have to say, 'Oh, please like me. Please respect me. Please know that I am important. Please value me,'" Wonder shared. "What kind of [life would that be]?"
Wonder -- who has won 25 GRAMMY awards and has been nominated 74 times -- has reportedly been considering a move to Ghana for more than 25 years.

Back in 1994, Wonder said at a gathering for the International Association of African American Music that he wanted to relocate to the West African country because he felt there's "more of a sense of community there," according to CNN.

With the passing of Mary Wilson goes the possibility of any type of legitimate Supremes line-up reuniting. Although I *suppose* an argument could be made for Diana, Scherrie, and Lynda, but I was thinking more 60's and 70's groupings. That said.....

Can you think of any other Motown groups that, regardless of health, have all of its members still living and COULD have a possible reunion of a legitimate lineup?

Only a few come to mind:

VANDELLAS:

Martha, Roz, Annette
Martha, Roz, Betty
Martha, Roz, Lois

MARVELETTES:

Wanda, Katherine, Ann

Mickey's Monkey
Twistin' Postman
Come On Do the Jerk
Can You Jerk Like Me?
Shotgun
Hitchhike

All of the above songs were original compositions released on various Motown labels, and all contain the names of dances.

I know there are more. Can you name more songs released by Motown that contain the names of dances that are NOT covers?

This thread is dedicated to forum member Marv2. Rest In Peace friend.






Jan 3, 1971

It's a new year and the music of American radio keeps shifting and shaping and redefining itself. Established acts persevere, but as they drop off an eager pack of newcomers eagerly jump into the fray.
In the thick of it all forges Motown, they themselves diversified with the tried and true and the never befores. Coming off a very successful year in 1970, they have strong Top 40 representation (17%) with seven songs in the countdown as 1971 begins :

Motown has two songs in the Top 10, both of which have now reached their peaks :
TEARS OF A CLOWN by Smokey Robinson & The Miracles ,a former Number One song for two weeks, slides just a bit from number 3 to 4.
STONED LOVE by The Supremes has topped out at a respectable #7 and this week is down one to #8.
Competing against themselves, they are also at #16 , up one , this week along with the Four Tops with a cover of Phil Spector's RIVER DEEP MOUNTAIN HIGH.

Also up one: Gladys Knight & The Pips are at #23 with IF I WERE YOUR WOMAN .

{{{ At #29 is one of Motown's most significant singles in their entire history:
I'LL BE THERE by The Jackson Five has become the label's biggest selling single surpassing the former champ, Marvin Gaye's I HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE, and it will hold that distinction as their biggest single for ten years until it is replaced by the Lionel Richie penned ENDLESS LOVE.
The song was #1 for five weeks and Michael Jackson said I'LL BE THERE established their legitimacy beyond a teen fave.
I'LL BE THERE spent the entirety of its four month run on the Hot 100 in the Top 40, and it won't settle for less. It'll finish its last week on it as well, at #29 before it disappears altogether and won't be there . }}}

That leads us to Motown's debut offerings to the Top 40 in this new year:

Entering as the highest debuting single of the week's chart is Edwin Starr's STOP THE WAR NOW at #32.
A year ago this group was unknown , now they are back into the Top 40 with their third successful Top 40 release in a row : Rare Earth and their first original , non -Motown cover hit: BORN TO WANDER finds its way in at #36.


So that's how the year 1971 starts for Motown , amongst a fabulously diverse assortment of musical styles charting , all competing for chart space, Motown has no trouble staying relevant. Fantastic times.

****
Any projections for 1971 in terms of music ? Will it be , for instance, the year of the woman? There are nine performances on the chart that I count, as best I can, that have official female members singing.
But also "woman" seems to be a trending word in song titles:
#5- BLACK MAGIC WOMAN- Santana
#10- GYPSY WOMAN- Brian Hyland
#23 -IF I WERE YOU'RE WOMAN -Gladys Knight
#32 -WE GOTTA GET YOU A WOMAN - Runt

below the Top 40:

#77 -ARE YOU MY WOMAN The Chi-lites
#99 -NOW I'M A WOMAN - Nancy Wilson

also The Bee Gees are at #21 with LONELY DAYS with the prominent line, "where would I be without my woman ...."


if not the year , certainly a strong week for the "woman" theme


BTW
WE GOTTA GET YOU A WOMAN was Todd Rundgren's first hit , it'll peak at #20:



the Four Tops will cheech and chong it in 1972: