Motown 30 (1990) Hosted by Robert Townsend
Taped before an audience at the Pantages Theatre, ‘Motown 30: What’s Goin’ On!’ is a live musical tribute to the recording company from Detroit in its 30th anniversary. The star-studded television special celebrates the achievements of its entertainers from the late 1950s to 1990. Includes commercials.
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“The 1983 special Motown 25 is now remembered primarily for a single segment — the one featuring the remarkable dancing of Michael Jackson before he became an all-pervasive media event. In Motown 30, no one steals the show like that. Instead, this homage to three decades of Motown music contains a whole succession of terrific performances. Tracy Chapman sings the civil rights anthem ”A Change is Gonna Come” with more warmth than anything on her last album had; Terence Trent D’Arby elicits screams of amazement from the audience when he delivers a howling, gospel version of Smokey Robinson’s ”Who’s Lovin’ You.” And there’s a salute to Mary Wells, now suffering from throat cancer, that is sung by Robinson, Stevie Wonder, and Gladys Knight; accompanied only by Wonder on piano, these Motown vets are marvelously relaxed and passionate at the same time. Like most variety shows, the pace is uneven, as are the comedy segments by everyone from Robert Townsend (Hollywood Shuffle) to Sinbad (A Different World). But what matters is the music, and the music is great. A” – Entertainment Weekly
Shared for historical purposes. I do not own the rights.
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@1:26:08 The Greatest Michael Jordan Commercial Of (All-Time)
I always thought Dawnn Lewis had a beautiful voice. This version of "A Ribbon in the Sky" is absolutely beautiful!!!
That dance and choreography was everything…beautifully done…I love the singing but that ballet was beautiful…thanks for this …
Who's still listering "2021" 🎶💕❤💙
I am sorry Miss LaBelle…nothing like Tammi Terrell.
So Motown 30 is 7 years after Motown 25.
Never Heard of Motown 30. Stuff just comes out of the blue.
MG a great actress
Robert T is great !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The actress who played in Guess who is coming to dinner as SP mother is the greatest actress of all time.
Shout out to Mary Wilson
The media builds up the people they choose we know who the real stars are.
Whoopie is another person I adore she has a beautiful heart that makes her beautiful .
I adore Mary Wilson she is the SUPREME she has a beautiful heart after all that was done to her and that makes her beautiful in two ways.Mary you are loved
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I started out with the idea that this show was somehow not as good as Motown 25 or 40. But it is unique in it's own way.
It has more black awareness that both other shows
This band reminds me of the "Saints" at Locke High School when I use to see them in parades in Hollywood or competitions at the Sports Arena or the Forum! in 1975 when I first saw them I was 4.
It's 2021 and Smokey Robinson and Charlie Wilson have a new hit song on the air waves. That's longevity at it's finest
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4:10 – MY FAVORITE OPENING LINE TO ANY SHOW EVER! And a relatable one too. Cuz I' d rather sleep till twelve than wake up around 6AM! I CAN RELATE, WHOOPI! 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
I loved seeing Debbie Allen dance the whole dance history sequence was awesome I miss our awards shows and shows celebrating black culture now the dance sequence would be just twerking lol smh 🤦🏾♀️ my how things have changed and the commercials are trippy lol 😂 glad to be a gen x’r I was 19 then I am grateful my generation had a lot of good info to feed our minds with 💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽💜💜🙏🏽🙏🏽
How comes, that motown 30 was in 1990 but motown 25 was in 1983 😵🤯🤮😂
Nothing like Motown artists. Big influences on my own music.
I wish these days would come back so the kids can put the guns down in our talented neighborhood or who ever bought them in for our fall down but we get up
They couldn’t get a marching band from Detroit to perform?
I'm so glad….I went to JSU, singing Glory Hallelujah….(whoooo)…I'm so glad!
Putting a show of this magnitude together during the transition of Hitsville under B. Gordy to Motown's Hollywood strong arms' is why we see different performances, too.
Just 30 years ago we were young, gifted and Black. Now, we're loud, obnoxious, and lost. LORD, help us!
As love as we (humans) live, we should live to keep our love alive!
18:55 Does Smokey Robinson live in a time capsule? That man still looks exactly the same 30 years later. Whats the secret Smokey!?🧐🤗
Thank You Motown!..
90s we're not the 90s without those Jordan commercials.⛹️
I was born in '86 and remember my parents recording this on VHS ❤ One of my earliest memories of black excellence on display! Still powerful, even in 2021! ✊🏾❤🖤💚💛✊🏾
HEAVY D REMEMBERED IN PERFECTION.
Too talented for a wicked country like America.
Love u Sinbad
Love you Robert
Love you Debbie
Love you Smokey!
Love you GLADYS!!!
That beautiful tribute to Mary Wells is everything!
As great as Gladys' voice is it seemed she reached deep down to give an all time wonderful performance
No one can top Whoopi's openings.