The Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles was the place to be for music fans on Tuesday night. The venue welcomed a mix of popular performers ranging from Diana Ross and Stevie Wonder to John Legend and Ciara to help celebrate 60 years of Motown Records. The filmed event, which served as a tribute to the successful American record label, featured performances and tribute medleys throughout the evening in addition to a speech from Motown founder and groundbreaking recording executive, Berry Gordy III.
The event was hosted by legendary Motown singer/songwriter Smokey Robinson and comedian Cedric the Entertainer. The popular comedian led a “First Four Bars” segment of the event, which saw the house band playing a string of classic Motown hits including “My Girl”, “Super Freak”, “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”, and “I Heard It Through The Grapevine”, while random members of the audience attempted to sing the opening lyrics of each tune through his microphone.
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The actual performances of the night included John Legend singing Marvin Gaye’s “Mercy Me”, Ne-Yo covering The Jackson 5′s “I’ll Be There”, and Ciara sporting an appropriate braided wig with beads to perform her rendition of Rick James‘ “Give It to Me Baby”. Pop singers Meghan Trainor, Fantasia, Chloe x Halle, Thelma Houston, Tori Kelly, and Martha Reeves all took the stage together to participate in a “Women of Motown” medley.
Berry Gordy’s speech to the packed venue included, “My dream was to make music for all people. Well, my dream came true … I want to thank all of you fans, and your parents, and their grandparents. All around the world. I could say their great-grandparents, but that would make me older than I want to be.”
The show-stopper moments of the night began when Diana Ross came out to perform. Her time on stage saw the legendary singer venture out into the aisles to perform “My Man” alongside Gordy. Stevie Wonder would be the man in charge of closing out the event. His performance included a multi-song medley of his career-spanning hits. Fans who couldn’t get a ticket to the Los Angeles event on Tuesday can check out some of the performance videos below.
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The filmed Motown 60 tribute event will arrive on television later this year when it airs on CBS on April 21st.
[H/T Billboard]