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Home > Atlanta Music Scene > Archives > 2008 > February > 08 > Entry
Honoring Berry Gordy and Jimmy Jam
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Los Angeles - Ahhhh, L.A. - the land of the red carpet lunches.
Actually, on the same day of this luncheon, the red carpet festivities were abruptly canceled because of “extraordinary circumstances.”
Extraordinary only begins to describe the gathering a group of music industry powers called Content held at Murano, on the infamous Melrose Drive.
You could start with the reasons for this “Chairman’s Luncheon,” as the occasion was billed: Gordy, the founder and chairman of the legendary Motown Records (home of Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross & the Supremes and the Jackson 5, among others); and Jam, one half of a legendary production duo (his partner being Terry Lewis, who’ve created decades of hits for everyone from the S.O.S.Band to Janet Jackson) and chair of the Recording Academy’s Board of Trustees.
But then, among the 100 or so at this West Hollywood restaurant to honor the two were - a deep breath may be required here - multi-Grammy winner Mary J. Blige; Island Def Jam Music Group chairman Antonio “L.A.” Reid; record and TV executive-turned manager to the stars, Benny Medina; pioneering Motown executive Suzanne DePasse; the chairman of the Universal Music Group, Doug Morris; the first music power to give Jam and Lewis a break as producers, Clarence Avant; and a contingent of Atlanta songwriters, producers and executives so large, no wonder Medina remarked “more hits are coming out of Atlanta than any place in this country.”
OK, the reason for that deep breath - Jermaine Dupri and his father Michael Mauldin; Bryan-Michael Cox; Sean Garrett; Johnta Austin; Sean Garrett; Christopher “Tricky” Stewart; J-Que; Tab Hale; DJ Toomp and his business partner Bernard Parks; Chaka Zulu and his business partner/brother Jeff Dixon; Christopher Hicks; Catherine Brewton; D.L. Warfield and Kenny Burns were all in attendance.
And over a three-course lunch of greens, a choice of chicken, salmon or risotto, and two desserts, a good two-plus hours were spent appreciating each other - and motivating.
Medina praised Blige: “If the music business has a heart, it’s you.”
Blige praised Reid: “We wouldn’t be able to make a record cross [over to mainstream audiences] without you.”
Gordy praised the entire room: “You only really feel successful when you’re family recognizes you. And you all are like my musical family.”
And Jam wrapped it all up with a simple charge: “Let’s make great music, and let’s make money for it!”
Since this was about paying tribute to Gordy and Jam for their contributions, a question: Which of their records helped build a legacy worth acknowledging in this fashion? Jam (and Lewis’s) early work with Jackson, like “Control” and “Rhythm Nation”? The song Medina insisted they close the luncheon with - Motown’s “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell? Name your favorite Motown and Jam and Lewis creations.
Comments
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By Darrell (of blackthen.com)
February 9, 2008 12:41 PM | Link to this
As musicians, I’ve been a fan of Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis since they were members of The Time, but their work with Janet Jackson is how I’ll remember them as producers and hit-makers.
Not to discount their work with artists such as The Human League, S.O.S. Band, Alexander O’Neal, Karyn White and others, but for that era, Control and Rhythm Nation were two of the most distinctive recordings ever produced and are a mainstay even today on the playlists of those of us who are ardent fans of ’80s R&B.
I’m acticipating the release of Janet’s new CD on February 26, not only as a fan of hers, but I can’t wait to see how the tracks produced by Jam and Lewis reflect their continued progression as master producers from then to now.
Darrell
By Darrell (of blackthen.com)
February 9, 2008 12:44 PM | Link to this
By the way, I meant ‘anticipating’ in my earlier post. Sorry for the typo. :-)