Motown founder Berry Gordy: 'I want my musical to unify'

“Thrilled”: Lucy St Louis, Berry Gordy and Supremes star Mary Wilson at opening night. Left, Smokey Robinson
Dave Benett
Alistair Foster9 March 2016
The Weekender

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Motown founder Berry Gordy and singer Smokey Robinson said they still want their songs to unify people as a musical about the Detroit record label opened in London.

Motown The Musical, which premiered at the Shaftesbury Theatre last night, tells the story of Gordy and the formation of the label which launched the careers of African-American musicians including Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross, Michael Jackson and Stevie Wonder.

Robinson, 76, who was also a key executive at Motown, said: “[When we started] we were not just going to make black music, we were going to make music for everybody.

"We’d have some beats, some great stories and quality music, and that’s what we set out to do. It’s obvious that it was accomplished because the music is still here.”

Gordy, 86, added: “We still believe in bringing together and our goal has not changed in that sense, because tonight we have opening night and our goal and our wishes are that those people who see it are going to be unified.

“The memories they had when they first heard the songs, they’re going to think of who they were with, what they were doing, and it’s also great for us because when we see the people react the way they do react, we’re reacting the same way.”

Gordy praised the capital for the role it played in the success of Motown, which he founded in a house in his native Detroit in 1959.

He added: “London has been so much to Motown. It has been successful here for 50 years and it opened the gateway to the world for us. We’re just thrilled to be here.”

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He said some of the show was difficult for him to watch, adding: “If you see the sex scene between me and Diana [Ross], you don’t get much juicier than that! Or more embarrassing than that — I have to put my head down when that scene comes up.”

Until Feb 18, 2017 (020 7379 5399, motownthemusical.co.uk)

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