With the launch of his Motown label, Berry Gordy inked a big musical note onto Detroit’s map of fame. His journey to success was built not only on the iconic voices of his singers but also because of the talents of many producers, advisors, agents and writers. The invaluable contributions of the Jewish community to this legendary icon of American music are the subject of a lively lecture on Thursday December 6 at the Berman Center for the Performing Arts at 7 p.m. Presented by Jan Durecki, archivist with the Leo M. Franklin Archives at Temple Beth El, Motown Mensches Live! covers the trajectory of Gordy’s success, which he often credited to the brilliance of his earliest record distributor, the Handleman Company and to Al Abrams, Gordy’s first full time employee who became the music firms’ public relations captain, and to his legal and accounting team of Harold and Sidney Noveck.
Motown Mensches is sponsored by the Jewish Historical Society and the Henry & Delia Meyers Library and Media Center. The event is Thursday, December 6 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $8 for JHSM and JCC members and $10 for others and include a Motown Musical afterglow. Tickets are available at www.theBerman.org. For more information, please call the Jewish Historical Society at 248-432-5517.
