The Los Angeles Convention Center was a nexus for music history on Friday night — as the stars of Motown and some of today's most notable acts assembled for heartfelt tributes and show-stopping performances.

The beneficiaries of this wellspring of talent and love were Motown legends Berry Gordy and Smokey Robinson, the 2023 MusiCares Persons Of The Year.

With stars ranging from Stevie Wonder and the Temptations to Brandi Carlile (who delivered an ovation-yielding performance of "The Tracks of My Tears") the night both spolighted the MusiCares mission and honored Gordy and Robinson's culture-shifting achievements

Here are 10 of the night's most memorable moments.

Stevie Wonder Wowed The Crowd

One of the night's most memorable performances came courtesy of the one and only Stevie Wonder.

The Motown legend, who first shot to fame as Little Stevie Wonder before embarking on one of the mighties solo careers in music history, delivered a reggae-infused "Tears of a Clown" as well as a downbeat, heartfelt "Try Something New."

"You must understand something," Wonder told the hushed crowd upon taking the stage. "It's more than a pleasure to be here, because if it were not for the people we're honoring tonight, I would not be here," said Wonder.

"I could never repay you," he added, "just thank you for the rest of my life."

With that, Wonder repeated: "Thank you, I love you, thank you, I love you!" — and added, "I should write a song of that!"

Gordy and Robinson's Decades-Long Friendship Rang Out

Gordy and Robinson met at the inception of Motown in the early 1950s. Today, Gordy is 91 and Robinson is 82; the duo are still as tight as can be.

Before performing a touching rendition of "Did You Know," a song he wrote for Gordy, Robinson delivered an emotional speech calling Gordy his best friend.

"The day (we met), the seed was planted for the best friendship in history," he said, calling their bond one of the proudest things in his life. "I love you, man."

A New Generation Paid Their Respects

A common refrain from a younger generation of artists onstage was the degree of  impact Gordy, Robinson and the sound of Motown had on their lives.

"It is more than a pleasure to be here, because were it not for the two people that are here that we're recognizing, I wouldn't be here," Chloe x Halle said. The R&B duo then performed a pitch-perfect rendition of the Supremes classic "Baby Love," sounding just like the '60s girl group.

For his part, John Legend performed a touching rendition of the Jackson 5's "I'll Be There."

"I grew up in a house that appreciated Motown, loved Motown, and I wouldn't know music without Motown," he said. "It'll probably be said many times tonight, but Motown was the soundtrack to our lives and it's due to the vision and the creativity of Berry Gordy and Smokey Robinson."

Family Bonds Were In The Air

The MusiCares event doubled as a reunion of sorts for the legends of Motown and their families, as well as the stars of the '60s and '70s.

Together, they not only celebrated Gordy and Robinson, but deeply reflected on what the duo built.

One guest was Lalah Hathaway, the daughter of soul legend Donny Hathaway. As she put it onstage, it was a deeply-felt connection.

"Motown's musical impact and its personal impact are the same for me," she told GRAMMY.com, calling Robinson and Gordy two mentors. "I grew up with that music. It's foundational for the culture of America and the world at large. Watching that model of Smokey and Berry being musicians and also entrepreneurs has been fascinating to me."

The singer later took the stage for a touching cover of the Motown classic "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing": "I wanted it to feel like a love letter to them," she said.

One can't help but hit the dance floor when Motown music blasted through a speaker system — and the MusiCares gala was no different, as attendees regularly rose to their feet and shimmied in the aisles.

When it comes to the professional dancers on stage, the night proved the Temptations and Four Tops' signature choreography remains a hallmark of their exhilarating live performances.

Mumford and Sons Honored The Late Barrett Strong

It was only days before the Persons Of The Year gala when Barrett Strong passed at the age of 81, on January 28.

The late Motown great co-wrote some of the label's most memorable songs, from Marvin Gaye's "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" to Edwin Starr's triumphant "War."

Strong's presence was felt when Mumford and Sons took the stage to cover his biggest success as an artist: "Money (That's What I Want)."

Co-written by Gordy and later covered by the Beatles, the song blends blues riffs with the earworm hooks and danceability the Motown sound is known for.

At the gala, Mumford and Sons delivered a stripped-down, subtly melancholic version of the track, making it all their own.

Sheryl Crow Paid Tribute To Michael Jackson

When considering who's most suited to cover Jackson 5's inimitable hit "I Want You Back," Sheryl Crow may not be the first artist you think of.

After all, it prominently features a young Michael Jackson, whose falsetto takes center stage; Crow's vocal range isn't typically Jacksonian.

Surprise! The nine-time GRAMMY winner sounded uncannily like Jackson; almost perfectly mimicking the late star's instantly recognizable voice, right down to the late star's extemporaneous-sounding "oohs" and "aahs."

It all served as a rousing reminder of not only Gordy's knack for songwriting and hooks, but Crow's versatility as an artist and interpreter.

Lionel Richie Honored His Mentors

Before the four-time GRAMMY-winning singer took the stage to perform his song "Easy," he emphasized Robinson and Gordy's decades-long impact on his career and life.

"How in the world did I get to be in the Motown family? How in the world did I get a chance to have a catalog and be sitting here in front of my amazing mentors?," Richie said in amazement.

"I am going to say this to you honestly," he continued. "I don't know whether I'm more excited to be part of the Motown family or have Berry Gordy and Smokey Robinson as my dear friends."

Motown Transcended Borders

Before the show, the rising Nigerian star Pheelz told GRAMMY.com before the show that Motown's reach stretches far beyond America.

"Going back to where I'm from, growing up with African culture and music, its drums and everything was very inspired by the Motown sound," he said. "I'd listen to those songs and learn the chords."

The Gala Met A Returning World

After a 2021 break and a 2022 postponement and move to Las Vegas due to pandemic concerns, this year's Persons Of The Year gala marked a grand return to Los Angeles — and a sense of normalcy.

"It's a better-than-normal return to events," Harvey Mason Jr, CEO of the Recording Academy, told GRAMMY.com. "It's bigger than eve, and it's more exciting."

According to Mason, the year of planning that goes into GRAMMY weekend is like Thanksgiving. "You cook for a long, long time and then when you sit down and eat you enjoy the heck out of it, and that's what we're doing now. We're loving what's happening, the energy, the people, the music."

Added the CEO: "I'm having a ball."

What Happened At Recording Academy's 2023 Producers & Engineers Wing GRAMMY Week Event: Musical Titans, Transfixing Sound & Undeniable Atmosphere

When organizers of the inaugural Fool In Love festival first announced the event's lineup this spring, soul and R&B heads across the internet went nuts.

The reaction was to be expected: There hadn't been such an ambitious mix of GRAMMY-winning legends and young, popular soul acts on a shared bill in recent memory. And certainly not in a single-day event.

The Aug. 31 event will highlight six decades of soul, R&B and funk — proof that those sounds are anything but oldies. The sounds of the 1960s through the '80s and beyond will be well represented by headliners Diana Ross and Lionel Richie, as well as Smokey Robinson and a recently reunited Nile Rodgers and Chic. Sets by Dionne Warwick, 2024 Special Merit Award honoree Gladys Knight, and sweet soul legend Brenton Wood promise to turn up the heat, sweet and memories. 

A cadre of up-and-coming soul acts — many of whom call Southern California home — also appear high up on the lineup, highlighting a younger generation's decade-long revival of interest in soul sounds. 

"I never want people to hear my records and wonder if it's new or not," GRAMMY nominee Mayer Hawthorne told GRAMMY.com in 2023. "I’ll never do classic '70s Philly soul better than the Delfonics. Plenty of artists do regurgitation of something old, but I’m all about putting my new spin on it."

In addition to Hawthorne, Fool In Love's lineup includes L.A.-based singer Trish Toledo, San Diego sweet soul phenoms Thee Sacred Souls, singer/drummer Aaron Frazer and singer Durand Jones, who will appear solo and together as Durand Jones and the Indications. 

While some of the older acts may be missing original members (Kool and the Gang's George Brown, for example, passed in 2023; Henry Fambrough, the last original Spinner died in early 2024; Ruth Pointer is the only living Pointer Sister) or have feuding families, the legendary acts playing across Fool In Love's four stages are not to be missed.

Ahead of the Labor Day weekend show, cruise over to your favorite streaming service and enjoy this playlist of Fool In Love performers.

Editor’s Note: Updated to add the Instagram Live video featuring Harvey Mason jr. and Stevie Mackey.

The Recording Academy continues its mission to empower music's next generation with the launch of its second specialization in the GRAMMY GO platform: "Music Production: Crafting Award-Worthy Songs."

This new course, a partnership between the Recording Academy and leading online learning platform Coursera, aims to bolster the technological and audio skills of music producers of all levels. The course, taught by Howard University professor and GRAMMY nominee Carolyn Malachi, features appearances by three-time GRAMMY winner and rap icon Hit-Boy, chart-topping and GRAMMY-winning producer/songwriter CIRKUT, artist and celebrity vocal coach Stevie Mackey, five-time GRAMMY nominee and Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason jr., and 15-time GRAMMY winner Judith Sherman.

Enrollment for "Music Production: Crafting Award-Worthy Songs" is open now.

Mixing a unique blend of theory and practice, the course teaches music creators of all levels the advanced skills and tools to develop the mindset and confidence of an experienced producer and produce songs of the highest industry standards across all genres. Explore the wide-ranging roles of a music producer, develop critical listening and analysis skills, and master the technical aspects to create music and compositions that cut through the noise. The course's applied learning approach allows learners to sharpen their pre-production skills, utilize Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs) effectively, and produce vocals, instrumentals and samples collaboratively. Through critical listening exercises and discussions, learners will refine their abilities to deliver professional-quality demos.

To celebrate the launch, the Recording Academy hosted an Instagram Live session on Tuesday in which guests Harvey Mason jr. and Stevie Mackey discussed the evolving role of music producers, strategies for working with artists, key elements of top-notch productions, common mixing mistakes, tips for keeping the creative process fresh, and enrollment details for the course.

Read more: How The Recording Academy's GRAMMY GO Is Building A Global Online Learning Community & Elevating The Creative Class

Building on the success of its first specialization, "Building Your Audience for Music Professionals," GRAMMY GO continues to offer industry-focused education tailored for emerging and established music creators and professionals alike. The innovative platform provides learners with real-time insights from leading music industry figures, ensuring the content remains practical and up to date. GRAMMY GO will also serve as an essential tool in the Recording Academy's global expansion into Africa and the Middle East, empowering music creators through enhanced training, bridging knowledge gaps, and fostering connections within the global music community.

Launched in April in partnership with Coursera, GRAMMY GO is the Recording Academy's first creator-to-creator platform, offering innovative courses tailored for both emerging and established music professionals. The initiative accelerates the Academy's global mission and reinforces its commitment to music education, providing a seamless bridge between all Academy initiatives.

Learn more about GRAMMY GO and the "Music Production: Crafting Award-Worthy Songs" and "Building Your Audience for Music Professionals" specializations.

Watch the Instagram Live session with Harvey Mason jr. and Stevie Mackey in full below:

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Nearly 15 years since its release, it’s still wrenching to watch the documentary Michael Jackson’s This Is It — a glimpse of one of the greatest concerts that never happened.

Revisiting behind-the-scenes footage of the planned residency at London’s O2 Arena, it’s clear Michael Jackson was at the top of his game. The Kenny Ortega-directed film takes us through rehearsals, dancer auditions, costume design, and more, as the run of 50 shows loomed.

Despite any personal or medical issues the embattled King of Pop faced, he danced and sang terrifically. All 50 dates had sold out; after more than a decade off the road, This Is It was bound to be a momentous pop event.

But the residency would never happen, for the most tragic reason possible: on June 25, 2009, after returning home from a past-midnight rehearsal, Jackson passed away from acute propofol intoxication, administered by his personal physician, Conrad Murray. Jackson was 50.

The news rattled the world, causing major internet platforms including Google, AOL Instant Messenger, Twitter, and Wikipedia to be pushed to the breaking point with significant traffic spikes. The following year, Murray was convicted of involuntary manslaughter, and sentenced to four years in prison. (He was released after serving nearly two years, due in part to good behavior.)

“Our beloved son, brother, uncle and father of three children has gone so unexpectedly, in such a tragic way and much too soon,” read a statement from the Jackson family. “It leaves us, his family, speechless and devastated to a point, where communication with the outside world seems almost impossible at times.”

As Jackson's music sales spiked, Jackson’s memorial service was held on July 7, 2009, at the Staples Center. Berry Gordy, Brooke Shields, and Smokey Robinson offered eulogies, and an all-star lineup — including Mariah Carey, Stevie Wonder, Lionel Richie, and others — performed Jackson’s iconic songs.

Of course, true legends never die — but a world without the King of Pop has been a little dimmer. On this day in music, crank up Thriller or Bad, and remember one of the greatest entertainers who ever lived.

Remembering Michael Jackson's Record-Setting Music Career

Of the many reviews of "The Wiz" over the years, one of the most famous comes from none other than Broadway legend Stephen Sondheim.

When asked what his favorite Broadway show is (besides his own), Sondheim named "The Wiz" and said it’s because, "it's the one show which makes you feel better when you come out of it than you did when you walked in." 

The original production of "The Wiz" had its pre-Broadway tryout in 1974, with a Broadway premiere in January 1975. In the decades since, it's remained beloved among musical theatre fans, as well as a staple of community theatre. Not only does "The Wiz" boast a 50 year legacy and the distinction of being one of the first shows with an all-Black cast, but the musical itself stands the test of time because of the strength of the music and the message behind it. To accompany a tour and Broadway revival at the Marquis Theatre, the 2024 revival cast recording comes out on June 14, paving the yellow brick road for a new generation of fans to ease on down and enjoy the journey.

While many people remember the 1978 Diana Ross film The Wiz (which also starred a young Michael Jackson), it was a critical and box office flop. The Broadway show, meanwhile, had more success. The show won seven Tony Awards including Best Musical. The original cast recording is the 30th highest selling cast album of all time. In 2017, the original Broadway cast recording of "The Wiz" was selected for preservation in the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant." 

The tale of Dorothoy's arrival in and travels through Oz has been in the cultural lexicon for over 100 years. "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" was written in 1900 and, 39 years later, the Technicolor Judy Garland movie cemented the iconic story. While "The Wiz" (full title "The Wiz: The Supersoul Musical ‘Wizard of Oz'") is still primarily set in the magical land of Oz, the creators and production team made significant, conscious choices to place "The Wiz" among Black culture of the time. The new production, with an updated book by Amber Ruffin, strives to do the same. 

Of "The Wiz," the Smithsonian — which displays costumes from the original production in their National Museum of African American History and Culture — says it is "a tale that celebrates African American street style as a unique subculture and unapologetically American way of life. The song lyrics, script, sets, and costumes all reference and champion the struggles and triumphs of African Americans." 

Analysis of the original cast album cites influences from popular music of the time, along with jargon. Most notably, however, and what Sondheim responded to, is that all the songs in "The Wiz" have a message and emotional core that moves the story forward both literally and within each characters’ arc. Instead of the repetitive "Follow the Yellow Brick Road" from the film, "The Wiz’s" "Ease on Down the Road" encourages the characters and then the audience to keep on keeping on with their goals. Lyrics such as "Cause there may be times/ When you think you lost your mind/ And the steps you're takin'/ Leave you three, four steps behind/ But the road you're walking/ Might be long sometimes/ You just keep on truckin'/ And you'll just be fine, yeah," can be applied to anyone’s life problems — not just Dorothy and Company on their fantastical journey. 

After vanquishing the Wicked Witch, Evilene, the principals and ensemble sing, "Everybody Rejoice/ Brand New Day," a celebratory song that exudes joy. They sing, "We always knew that we'd be free somehow," which, when placed in American theatre and sung by an all Black ensemble, holds more historical significance than a simple song about escaping capture. Glinda appears and doesn’t just tell Dororthy to click her heels; she tells her to "Believe in Yourself" not only that she can go home, but that she should believe in her own feelings and power inside her heart.

Finally, "Home," which some say takes the place of the classic "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," speaks to a broader character arc and feels more like a pop anthem than a musical theatre song. It has been released as a single throughout the show’s history, including last year by Brandi Carlile to go with the "Ted Lasso" finale. While Garland’s Dorothy learns in the end, "There’s no place like home," "The Wiz’s" Dorothy sings, "And I've learned that we must look/ Inside our hearts to find/ A world full of love/ Like yours, like mine/ Like home." 

The original Broadway cast recording is hard to find. It can be purchased on streaming services like Apple, but on Spotify, only the single version of "Home" is playable. "The Wiz: Live!," a well-received televised version, does have a readily streamable soundtrack, but a new Broadway cast album is very welcome. The cast features Nichelle Lewis as Dorothy and television and Broadway veteran Wayne Brady as the titular role; the stage production updates both script and set to feel more more contemporary. Meanwhile, the score has been lightly "refurbished" with additional songs. 

"The original ‘Wiz’ was a definitive product of the 1970s in its glam and excess," Brady told the New York Times. "Ours is of this time: We have this place and can just be. From the queerness onstage to the costumes, the musicality, light and bricks. I think instead of fighting to be seen, this ‘Wiz’ is, ‘Oh, you see us.’"

Sondheim’s praise of "The Wiz" is particularly magnanimous because Sondheim’s own show "Gypsy" had a revival in 1974, the same year as the original production of "The Wiz," which meant the two shows battled it out both in box office and awards. A revival of "Gypsy" starring Audra McDonald and directed by George C. Wolfe has just been announced, so both "The Wiz" and "Gypsy" will again be on Broadway. This time, both shows will be led by Black actors and directors. 

Broadway has struggled post-pandemic, and America has a lot to learn about love when it comes to race, but, with the release of "The Wiz" back into the world, we get a much-needed infusion of joy. Throughout the last 50 years, there have been many stories and real events that point to a world that is anything but full of love, but, through it all, "The Wiz" holds onto hope. 

New Broadway Musicals To See This Spring: "Hell's Kitchen," "The Wiz" & More