The love was flowing strong in the room as Motown founder Berry Gordy Jr. celebrated his 96th birthday.
At a party Saturday, Nov. 29, teeming with famous friends, fellow music executives and family members, Gordy marked the occasion in a bespoke pin-striped suit with a tie to match.
The birthday soiree, held at Hillcrest Country Club in Los Angeles, was a celebrity-packed affair featuring many of Gordy’s Motown peers, including Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson, the Temptations’ Otis Williams, Martha Reeves, Valerie Simpson and Claudette Robinson.
Wonder was among those who stepped up to perform during the five-hour event, serving up a rendition of his 1981 single “Happy Birthday” and a version of “You Are the Sunshine of My Life” with lyrics personalized for Gordy.
Guests in the 300-plus crowd ranged from U.S. Rep. Nancy Pelosi and her husband, Paul Pelosi, to Universal Music Enterprises President Bruce Resnikoff. Motown Museum Chairwoman Robin Terry and musical arranger Paul Riser were also in attendance.
Gordy was in high spirits for the birthday gala, according to those on hand.
“From the moment my uncle walked into the room, folks were just cheering and showing him love,” Terry, granddaughter of Motown Museum founder Esther Gordy Edwards, told the Detroit Free Press, part of the USA TODAY Network.
“You could see how excited he was to be there, celebrating his 96th birthday with his family, musical icons, titans in the business and his friends,” she continued. “It was the perfect crowd, and they showed him so much love.”
Paul Riser Jr., Riser’s song, told the Free Press that Gordy looked like he was celebrating a 56th birthday — not one nearing the century mark.
“He was mobile, interacting with everyone, sharing great recollections and sentiments with people,” Riser said. “There were so many stories [from guests] that were just horizontal threads throughout the night, and a reminder how incredible it is being part of this Motown story and this family.”
Other attendees included Rhonda Ross Kendrick and Tracee Ellis Ross (daughters of Diana Ross), celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck, U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters and Debbie Allen, whose dance academy performed. Friends from Gordy’s longtime Motown circle also stopped by, including executive Suzanne de Passe, along with songwriter-producers Brian Holland, Eddie Holland and Mickey Stevenson.
A 96th birthday cake was decorated with vintage images of Gordy, including one adorned with a gold crown.
Smokey Robinson, a decades-long friend of the executive who helped fuel Motown’s rise, performed his song “Did You Know,” an homage to Gordy he’d premiered at the 2021 Kennedy Center Honors. Valerie Simpson followed with a Gordy tribute she wrote on the spot at a piano.
“It never ceases to amaze me how vibrant he is, taking in the love and giving it back,” Terry said of Gordy. “It was truly a very special night.”
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‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.usatoday.com ’
