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Arts & Culture

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

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.
Courtesy of TJL MY MUSIC
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.

Airs Saturday, June 18, 2016 at 10 p.m. on KPBS TV

This program is part of our TV Membership Campaign. Support quality programming you depend on from KPBS. Give Now!

Give $84 during our TV membership campaign (June 4-20) and receive the "MOTOWN 25" DVD. This gift includes a KPBS License Plate Frame (if you're a new member). Also enjoy access to KPBS Passport and myKPBS Film Club.
Courtesy of TJL MY MUSIC
Give $84 during our TV membership campaign (June 4-20) and receive the "MOTOWN 25" DVD. This gift includes a KPBS License Plate Frame (if you're a new member). Also enjoy access to KPBS Passport and myKPBS Film Club.
Give $120 during our TV membership campaign (June 4-20) and receive the "MOTOWN 25" 3-DVD set. This gift includes a KPBS License Plate Frame (if you're a new member). Also enjoy access to KPBS Passport and myKPBS Film Club.
Courtesy of TJL MY MUSIC
Give $120 during our TV membership campaign (June 4-20) and receive the "MOTOWN 25" 3-DVD set. This gift includes a KPBS License Plate Frame (if you're a new member). Also enjoy access to KPBS Passport and myKPBS Film Club.
Give $144 during our TV membership campaign (June 4-20) and receive the "MOTOWN 25" combo including the DVD plus a "Motown Big Hits & More" 7-CD set. This gift includes a KPBS License Plate Frame (if you're a new member). Also enjoy access to KPBS Passport and myKPBS Film Club. The 3-DVD set along with the 7-CD set is also available at the $180 level.
Courtesy of TJL My Music
Give $144 during our TV membership campaign (June 4-20) and receive the "MOTOWN 25" combo including the DVD plus a "Motown Big Hits & More" 7-CD set. This gift includes a KPBS License Plate Frame (if you're a new member). Also enjoy access to KPBS Passport and myKPBS Film Club. The 3-DVD set along with the 7-CD set is also available at the $180 level.

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.

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"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.

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