MOTOWN 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever (MY MUSIC)

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The Commodores. From the beginning in Tuskegee, Alabama while attending college at Tuskegee Institute in 1968, the Commodores were known as ‘smart guys’. But they were funky, too. Smart and funky enough to open for the Jackson 5, to be discovered by Berry Gordy in the process, and to sell more than 60 million records for Motown.

Courtesy of TJL My Music

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Diana Ross. It was more than a record-setting chart sweep that began when “Where Did Our Love Go” made Diana Ross And The Supremes into household names in the summer of 1964. It was really a love affair — between three women and the world. Along with the charmed circle of Motown singers, writers, producers and players, they re-wrote the book on pop music in the '60s and '70s.

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Brilliant, enigmatic, and headstrong, Marvin Gaye (pictured) was an innovator. In 2014, he would have been 75 years old, and it has been over 25 years since his tragic death. But today Marvin remains as influential and exciting as ever: Rolling Stone recently named him one of the greatest singers of all time.

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The Jackson 5. Born Aug. 29, 1958 in Gary, Indiana, Michael Jackson spent nearly his entire life as a public per- former. At age four he was singing with the family group; a charismatic bundle of energy who was musically wise beyond his years, he soon became their lead vocalist and front man. Onstage, using every ounce of his old-school training, he modeled his dance moves and singing on James Brown and Jackie Wilson, and portrayed a self-confidence that belied his shy, private personality.

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"MOTOWN 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever" also featured guests who had been influenced by Motown artists including Linda Ronstadt (right), who performed a memorable duet with Smokey Robinson (left).

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Smokey Robinson and the Miracles. Of all the R&B vocal groups formed in Detroit, Michigan, in the mid-50s, the Miracles proved to be the most successful. They were founded at the city’s Northern High School in 1955 by Smokey Robinson, Emerson Rogers, Bobby Rogers, Ronnie White and Warren ‘Pete’ Moore. Emerson Rogers left the following year, and was replaced by his sister Claudette, who married Smokey Robinson in 1959. Known initially as the Matadors, the group became the Miracles in 1958, when they made their initial recordings with producer Berry Gordy.

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The Miracles. Known initially as the Matadors, the group became the Miracles in 1958, when they made their initial recordings with producer Berry Gordy.

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JR Walker (pictured) was inspired to take up the saxophone by the jump blues and R&B bands he heard in the early '50s. In his mid-teens, he formed his first instrumental group, the Jumping Jacks, adopting the stage name Junior Walker after a childhood nickname. By 1961 he had achieved a prominent local reputation, which reached the ear of label owner and former Moonglow, Harvey Fuqua. He signed Walker to his Harvey label, allowing him free rein to record a series of raw saxophone-led instrumentals. In 1964 Walker followed Fuqua to Motown, where he perfected a blend of raunchy R&B and Detroit soul typified by his 1965 hit, “Shotgun.”

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The Temptations with the Four Tops

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Berry Gordy. "MOTOWN 25" celebrates America’s African-American and pop crossover heritage through Berry Gordy’s vision of making music for all people.

Courtesy of TJL MY MUSIC

Courtesy of TJL MY MUSIC

Courtesy of TJL MY MUSIC

Courtesy of TJL My Music

When "MOTOWN 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever" aired on NBC on May 16, 1983, it was an immediate sensation and became one of the most talked about concerts and TV specials ever. In an era before social media, "MOTOWN 25" was a true water-cooler event, marking the first time that music fans saw Michael Jackson do the Moonwalk (aka: the six seconds that changed the world) in addition to many other iconic performances. Six months after the broadcast, the show deservedly won a George Foster Peabody Award and an Emmy® Award for Best Variety Program but has been unseen on television for over 20 years. Now, MY MUSIC presents, in association with TimeLife/StarVista and West Grand Media, the greatest performances from "MOTOWN 25" for broadcast on public television stations.

"MOTOWN 25" was taped before a live audience and showcased virtually every key artist from the company’s inception including Michael Jackson, Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross, The Supremes, The Jackson 5, The Miracles, The Temptations, Four Tops and many others.

The show also featured guests who had been influenced by Motown artists. Linda Ronstadt performed a memorable duet with Smokey Robinson. As an added highlight, the historic evening was hosted by Richard Pryor, who was arguably the hottest comedian in the world at the time. A seminal event in pop culture history, this concert event would establish the gold standard for all future televised concert events and go on to provide the backstory for the Tony®-nominated Broadway play, "Motown The Musical."

"MOTOWN 2"5 viewers who pledge to KPBS will have an opportunity to enjoy additional performances and features devoted to the landmark production. A single DVD issue of "MOTOWN 25" offers the full original concert in newly remastered 5.1 surround sound and over an hour of bonus material including "The Making of Motown 25" and a performers roundtable. An expanded 3-DVD set of "MOTOWN 25" encompasses over six hours of extras, including four featurettes, Marvin Gaye rehearsal footage, performer and production roundtables and outtake songs from the original concert.

Music fans will also celebrate the most extensive audio collection ever assembled of Motown classics in MY MUSIC 7-CD set "Motown Big Hits & More," comprised of Motor City favorites from the 1960s and 1970s. Among the 132 song selections are alternate and extended versions, rare stereo mixes and hard-to-get tracks from the Motown vaults. All the beloved Motown artists are included: Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross & The Supremes, Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell, The Jackson Five, Four Tops, Mary Wells, The Temptations, The Spinners, Jimmy Ruffin, The Marvelettes, Jr. Walker & The All Stars, Martha Reeves & The Vandellas, The Coutours, Gladys Knight & The Pips, The Isley Brothers and Edwin Starr.

Produced by TJL Productions. Producer TJ Lubinsky is on Facebook.