The Magic of Motown

The Magic of Motown is bringing the party to cities across the UK. Seen by more than a million people, the show is one of the successful in British theatre. The talented performers in this show have even performed for Her Majesty the Queen as a Royal Variety Performance special guest.

The all-out production features 40 classic Motown hits, eye-catching choreography, dazzling costume changes and unforgettable music.

Audiences will hear their favorite Motown songs, including “Get Ready,” “Ain’t No Mountain,” “Grapevine,” “Signed Sealed Delivered,” “All Night Long,” “My Girl,” “Dancing In The Streets,” “Blame It On The Boogie,” “Endless Love,” “Heatwave,” “My Cherie Amort,” “Uptight,” and more.

The Magic of Motown tours continuously throughout Britain, with upcoming stops planned for Dorking, Glasgow, Nottingham, Greenwich, Malvern, Worthing, Coventry, Southport, New Brighton and more.

The original Motown record company was founded by Berry Gordy Jr. In 1959. The label was known as Tamla Records until formally incorporating as Motown Record Corporation in 1960.

The Motown label reached the peak of success in the 1960s, when the artists signed to the company helped forged what is known as the Motown Sound. During that decade, the label had 79 Top Ten records on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Motown moved from Detroit to Los Angeles in 1967 after losing songwriter Holland-Dozier-Holland. The company also expanded into film and television production after its move.

Motown was an independent company until 1994 when it was sold to PolyGram and then Universal Music Group.

The first signed act to the label was the Matadors, which changed their name to the Miracles. The group’s first minor hit came in 1959 with the single “Bad Girl.” Lead singer William “Smokey” Robinson would go on to become the vice president of the company.

The Marvelettes were the first to land the record label a number-one hit with the song “Please Mr. Postman.”

Top names on the label during the 1960s included the Jackson 5, the Supremes, Stevie Wonder, the Four Tops, Marvin Gaye, the Four Tops, the Miracles and the Marvelettes. Along with the Motown and Tamla subsidiaries, Motown had a third label called Gordy, which featured Martha and the Vandellas, the Contours and the Temptations.

The fifth label, called Soul, was home to Shorty Long, Jr. Walker & the All Stars, Gladys Knit & the Pips, the Originals and Jimmy Ruffin.

In its later years (late 90s-2000s), Motown had signed artists such as Brian McKnight, Erykah Badu and 702.