What Makes Motown So Magical?

The Magic of Motown is a musical ensemble featuring 16 members who share a deep love for Motown and an ambition to share its magic globally. The show, last performed in York in October 2012, features tight harmonies and dynamic choreography that have made it one of the biggest success stories in British theatre history. The cast includes members from The Temptations, The Jackson Five, Diana Ross and The Supremes, The Four Tops, Aretha Franklin, Smokey Robinson, and more.

The Magic of Motown: The Motowners is set to return with its 20th anniversary tour, bringing audiences back to the best of “Hitsville, USA”. The show features a cast of 15 and features 40 back-to-back classic Motown hits, featuring seven singers, a seven-piece band, glittering costume changes, and dazzling dance performances.

The Magic of Motown: The Motowners is a high-energy homage to the legends of Motown, transporting audiences back in time as they visit the very best of “Hitsville, USA”. Tickets for the show can be purchased at the Charline McCombs Empire Theatre in San Antonio on September 15, 2024, at 2pm or 6pm. The show’s pitch perfect harmonies, dynamic choreography, and costuming perfectly capture the sights and sound of Motown.

What was the goal of Motown?

Motown, a popular soul music label, was renowned for its house band, the Funk Brothers, which comprised of top Black Detroit musicians. These musicians played a significant role in the development of the Motown sound, a sophisticated soul music genre that combined rhythm-and-blues, gospel, and pop influences to reach a wide audience, including white teenagers. Motown records were mixed to sound good on car radios and were characterized by a thumping backbeat that made dancing easy for everyone.

Despite its numerous hits, Motown was a small company run with unmatched efficiency. CEO Gordy Gordy, who had learned about producing quality products from a brief stint on an auto plant, had rigorous quality control meetings and only released records that could pass the harsh criticism of his team. This led to Motown enjoying the highest hit ratio for its released singles of any record company in history.

Artist development at Motown was comprehensive, with artists receiving elaborate choreography under the tutelage of Cholly Atkins. Young women raised in public housing projects were also educated in social graces, and chaperones accompanied the package-tour bus cavalcades that brought Motown to other parts of the United States during the company’s early years.

What was special about Motown?

The Motown Sound, originating from Hitsville U. S. A.’s Studio A, was a unique blend of black gospel music and jazz, blending call-and-response patterns with syncopation and improvisation. The Funk Brothers, who supported Motown artists in Studio A’s “snake pit”, cut and blended tracks using equipment still visible in the Control Room. The uniqueness of the Motown Sound can be attributed to the reverb effect created by pumping tracks through the label’s Echo Chamber, before computers and synthesizers.

What made Motown unique?

The Funk Brothers, located in Studio A, supported Motown’s artists 24/7, using equipment still visible in Hitsville U. S. A.’s Control Room. The Motown Sound’s uniqueness is due to the reverb effect created by pumping tracks through the label’s Echo Chamber, before computers and synthesizers. Berry Gordy, Jr., committed to quality, did not label every song his producers offered. Artists and producers competed at company-wide meetings to release their songs.

Even iconic Motown recordings were not considered fit for release the first time they were reviewed. Songs that never made it to the airwaves, as well as blockbuster hits like ‘What’s Goin’ On’ and ‘I Heard It Through the Grapevine’, were often sent back for more work.

What made Motown special?

The Motown Sound is attributed to the reverb effect created by pumping tracks through the label’s Echo Chamber, a process that was not possible before computers and synthesizers. Berry Gordy, Jr., a commitment to quality, did not label every song his producers offered. Artists and producers competed at company-wide meetings to release their songs, and even iconic Motown recordings were not considered fit for release. Songs that never made it to the airwaves, as well as blockbuster hits like ‘What’s Goin’ On’ and ‘I Heard It Through the Grapevine’, were often sent back for more work.

Why is Motown so good?

The Motown Sound, a legendary musical phenomenon that influenced society and the music industry, is considered one of the most significant musical accomplishments of the 20th century. Its catchy melodies and universal messages have made it a significant force of social and cultural change. The Motown Sound, part street corner symphony, merged the saintly and secular elements of black gospel music with the syncopation and improvisation of the bebop movement in jazz, making it a significant musical accomplishment.

What was the downfall of Motown?

The decline of Motown is often attributed to its relocation from Detroit to Los Angeles. However, the loss of talent to more lucrative opportunities in the wake of 1968 proved to be a more significant factor. Berry Gordy was responsible for both the establishment and subsequent decline of one of the world’s most renowned music production companies, resulting in a notable depletion of talent.

What is Motown style?

Gordy Records was responsible for signing numerous artists, including Marvin Gaye, the Jackson 5, the Supremes, the Temptations, Stevie Wonder, and Smokey Robinson and the Miracles. This demonstrated the distinctive combination of soul and popular music that was characteristic of the label.

What defines Motown?

Motown is an upbeat, pop-influenced rhythm and blues style associated with Detroit and Black vocalists since the 1950s. It features compact, danceable arrangements and is shortened from Motor Town, a nickname for Detroit, Michigan. The name comes from Motown Records, a proprietary name for records released by Motown Record Corporation. The artist was deeply rooted in Motown and classic rock due to her father, Ron Daughton,’s involvement in a classic rock band.

Why does Motown sound so good?

The Motown Sound is attributed to the reverb effect created by pumping tracks through the label’s Echo Chamber, a process that was not possible before computers and synthesizers. Berry Gordy, Jr., a commitment to quality, did not label every song his producers offered. Artists and producers competed at company-wide meetings to release their songs, and even iconic Motown recordings were not considered fit for release. Songs that never made it to the airwaves, as well as blockbuster hits like ‘What’s Goin’ On’ and ‘I Heard It Through the Grapevine’, were often sent back for more work.

What is Motown Magic based on?

Motown Magic is a family animated series that tells stories inspired by classic Motown songs, featuring 52 newly recorded versions. The show follows Ben, an eight-year-old boy with an amazing imagination, who uses a magic paintbrush to bring street-art from his city, Motown, to life. He discovers a fantastical world inhabited by magical characters, making friends and learning life lessons. The series features stories inspired by Motown songs, covered by contemporary artists like Ne-Yo, Becky G, BJ The Chicago Kid, Skylar Grey, Calum Scott, and Trombone Shorty. The series is produced by Grace – A Storytelling Company and Beyond Entertainment in association with Polygram Entertainment, Sony/ATV Music Publishing, EMI Music Publishing, and Seven Network.

How long does Magic of Motown last?

The task is to be completed in a period of two hours and 30 minutes, with a 20-minute interval.