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3 items from 2013

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How Good Is The 'Motown' Musical?

15 April 2013 5:06 AM, PDT | Huffington Post | See recent Huffington Post news »

New York -- There are 36 songs in the new Broadway show "Motown: The Musical." Actually, that's just in the first act – 36 songs, not including a reprise of "You're Nobody `til Somebody Loves You." It's like a jukebox went completely haywire.

To be sure, the songs are probably the best America has ever produced: "War," "What's Going On?" "My Girl," "You've Really Got a Hold on Me," "Dancing in the Streets" and "Ain't Too Proud to Beg." But, still, 36? In comparison, "The Book of Mormon" has what now seems like a stingy 16 songs in total.

The 2 1/2-hour show, about Motown Records under founder Berry Gordy, opened Sunday at The Lunt-Fontanne Theatre completely unbalanced: The songs are staggering, the book utterly flimsy.

Both are due to one man: Gordy, who clearly knows what makes an indelible hit song, but also has an inability to write objectively about that skill. As the book writer, »

- AP

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Motown Legend Dies At 68

26 March 2013 5:28 AM, PDT | Huffington Post | See recent Huffington Post news »

Bellingham, Wash. — Motown songwriter-producer Deke Richards has died at a hospice at age 68.

Richards, whose real name was Dennis Lussier, died Sunday at the Whatcom Hospice House, Peace Health St. Joseph Medical Center spokeswoman Amy Cloud confirmed Monday.

Richards had been battling esophageal cancer, according to a statement from Universal Music.

As leader of the Motown songwriting, arranging and producing team known as The Corporation, Richards was involved in writing and producing many Jackson 5 hits, the Universal Music release said. Those songs included the Jackson 5's first three No. 1 hits - "I Want You Back," "ABC," and "The Love You Save."

He also co-wrote "Love Child" for Diana Ross & The Supremes, as well Ross' solo "I'm Still Waiting."

Other recording artists for whom Richards produced or wrote songs include Bobby Darin, Martha Reeves & the Vandellas.

He is survived by his wife, Joan Lussier, a brother and two nephews. »

- AP

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Look: Detroit Icons Captured In New Book

24 January 2013 9:05 AM, PST | Huffington Post | See recent Huffington Post news »

What do veteran punk rocker Iggy Pop, comedic actress Lily Tomlin and fashion designer Anna Sui have in common? They're all connected to Detroit -- and count them among 51 Motor City icons sharing memories of their hometown in a new book.

Fashion photographer Jenny Risher started working on the project that became Heart Soul Detroit: Conversations on the Motor City in 2010. Talking to her friend and model Veronica Webb, who hails from Detroit, Risher started thinking about the many famous and interesting individuals who come from the city.

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"I said to her, wouldn't it be cool if someone did a book of all the amazing people who have came out of Detroit," Risher said. "For three months the idea just kept bugging me and I couldn't let it go so I thought I would make a list of all the people I would love to photograph »

- Kate Abbey-Lambertz

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2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2004

3 items from 2013

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