From EurWeb

A remake of the 1975 Diana Ross film “Mahogany” is reportedly in the works from former Motown executive and producer Suzanne de Passe, reports BET.

Motown founder Berry Gordy directed the original, which starred Ross as Tracy, a Chicago native who dreams of becoming a fashion designer. Her rising international fame takes her to Rome, where she becomes torn between maintaining her relationship with hometown boyfriend Brian (Billy Dee Williams) or pursuing her burgeoning career.

Read more at EurWeb.com.

CeCe Winans. (Photo by A Turner Archives/PictureGroup) via AP IMAGES

This could be a match made in heaven. Motown Records has been looking to expand its gospel music offering. EMI Gospel has been seeking a great music partner in the gospel arena. Now comes the announcement that Motown has entered into a joint venture partnership with EMI Gospel, creating a new label Motown Gospel.

It is a good time for both companies to boost its presence in Gospel music. While the overall sales of the genre dropped slightly from 2011 to 2012, according to Nielsen and Billboard figures, the digital sales of Gospel  and Christian music rose 11.10 percent.

Barry Weiss, Chairman & CEO, UMG East Coast Label Group and Bill Hearn, President & CEO, Capitol Christian Music Group, made the joint announcement. Gospel music superstar CeCe Winans will be the first new signing to the Motown Gospel label. It will also mark her first new recording in more than five years and is planned for an early 2014 release.

“The new Motown Gospel label will offer broader Urban AC crossover potential and further opportunities and synergy between Motown Gospel artists and the Motown and Island Def Jam urban roster,” said Weiss.

Ken Pennell and the executive leadership of EMI Gospel, will head the new Nashville-based label. On the executive side, the first executive appointment for Motown Gospel is songwriter and producer Aaron Lindsey as VP of A&R. He has won four Grammy awards and multiple Stellar and Dove awards for his work in Gospel music.

With the launch came a mega celebration—a gala press reception and artist showcase at the Arc Theatre in Los Angeles. There were performances by Gospel bestsellers Smokie Norful and Tasha Cobbs as well as artists from the Motown Gospel roster, such as multiple Stellar Award winning artists VaShawn Mitchell, Pastor Charles Jenkins and Fellowship Chicago and Grammy nominee Anita Wilson.

There was a time when Motown Records owned and ran the music scene. You couldn’t turn on a radio without hearing the collaborative harmonies of The Temptations or the fabulosity of Diana Ross. These artists made you shake your hips and groove before it was even acceptable. You’ll also be surprised that some of these artists weren’t even conceived when the famous record company was at its height. Check out the 15 best artists in Motown’s history!

WENN

Marvin Gaye

He had good looks, sex appeal and music that made you think and want to make love all at the same time. With hits like “What’s Going On?” and “Sexual Healing,” Mr. Gaye helped Motown remain at the top.

He was Motown’s beloved songwriter and Miracles frontman, the other was one of Motown’s best and brightest stars and Tammi Terrell’s other half on records. Smokey Robinson and Marvin Gaye were two of Motown’s biggest acts and with their talent and hits, they were the object of so many young womens’ affections around the country. Just ask my mom! She loved her some Smokey Robinson! Maybe it was the light eyes of Smokey, the dashing good looks of Marvin, and the pull both men had at Motown (plus, any man that can sing “Crusin’” make the “Star Spangled Banner” alluring is a man every woman loves), whatever it was, in their day, both men had it going on. Don’t believe me? Take a look through our vintage slideshow celebrating their good looks and great contributions to music to see what we’re talking about.

AP Photo/Dave Allocca, StarPix

This Black History Month, we celebrate some of pop culture’s most influential movers and shakers who have changed the landscape of the world of entertainment. From the first African-American billionaire to the one of the hardest working men in radio, African-Americans have pioneered various media outlets, some even simultaneously.

Here are only a few of pop culture’s African-American innovators in the areas of music, television and film. We threw in a bonus, above: Michael Jackson. Besides his singing career both with the Jackson 5 and as a solo artist, and his investments across the music industry (including The Beatles portfolio), he invented the moonwalk, a move that continues to mystify and inspire dancers good and bad around the world. Check out this slideshow for more on the late, great MJ.

soapnet.go.com

Many of talk about the music and movies of yesterday: how good the talent was back then, how much they seemed to care about their craft and how bad we wish we could have been part of it at some point.  But was anyone taking stock with how fine some of them men were back in the day?  It’s no wonder that their shows would sell and women would throw their underwear at them while they were on stage or at a movie premiere. Check out our short list of old school actors and singers who were pretty easy on the eyes back in the day. Who’s your favorite old school artist or actor?

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Source: Thegrio.com

From The Grio

The Hollywood Reporter is reporting that Sony Entertainment and Berry Gordy confirmed Tuesday that they will be teaming up to bring the legendary Motown story to Broadway in 2013. The show will be based on the life of Berry Gordy and the story of his rise to fame as the head of Motown records. It’s reported the production will feature Motown hits from Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye and Michael Jackson. The show is scheduled to open at a Nederlander theater. The cast will be revealed at a later date.

For more details on this new musical venture, head over to The Grio.

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by Marissa Ellis

While the Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin celebrated her 70th birthday yesterday, another entertainment icon Diana Ross is celebrating her 68th birthday as we speak. Ross is known just as much for her defining style and larger than life hair as she is for her Motown legacy. The leader of the Supremes has definitely influenced countless women through the decades. In honor of the Detroit Diva’s birthday, we take a look at some of our favorite looks from Ms. Ross.

Another week has come to a close and as usual, your fave celebs gave us a little “tea” to sip on.  Check out what you may have missed this week!

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(Rolling Out) — Island Def Jam/Motown record labels appear to be suffering from the economic downturn. Hip-hop’s most legendary record label laid off 20 employees. The most shocking layoffs were of renowned executives Jonathan McHugh and Chris Hicks.  Record labels are going through an adjustment after the industry failed to keep up with technological advances.  File sharing and record leaks have put a dent in record sales for the past 10 years. In turn, the average new artist will not receive a multimillion dollar advance and the executives who help to guide the careers of musicians lack the job security of past decades.

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