Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever is a 1983 television special produced by Suzanne de Passe for Motown Records, The show was also co-written by de Passe along with Ruth Adkins Robinson who would go on to write shows with de Passe for the next 25 years, including the follow up label tributes—through "Motown 40," Buz Kohan was the head writer of the threesome. The program was taped before a live studio audience at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena, California on March 25, 1983,[1] and broadcast on NBC on May 16. Among its highlights were Michael Jackson's performance of "Billie Jean", a Temptations/Four Tops "battle of the bands", Marvin Gaye's inspired speech about black music history and his memorable performance of "What's Going On", a Jackson 5 reunion.
Credits
Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever Cast
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Character |
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Billy Dee Williams
He was 46, now 87 years old
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Howard Hesseman
He was 43, now 84 years old
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Linda Ronstadt
She was 36, now 78 years old
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Richard Pryor
He was 42, 65 years old when he died
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Stevie Wonder
He was 33, now 74 years old
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Dick Clark
He was 53, 82 years old when he died
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Diana Ross
She was 39, now 80 years old
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Marvin Gaye
He was 44, 44 years old when he died
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Smokey Robinson
He was 43, now 84 years old
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Tim Reid
He was 38, now 80 years old
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Jermaine Jackson
He was 28, now 70 years old
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Dennis Edwards
He was 40, 74 years old when he died
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Randy Jackson
He was 21, 57 years old when he died
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Lionel Richie
He was 33, now 75 years old
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Tito Jackson
He was 29, now 71 years old
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José Feliciano
He was 37, now 79 years old
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Rick James
He was 35, 56 years old when he died
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Mary Wilson
She was 39, now 80 years old
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Valerie Simpson
She was 36, now 78 years old
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Melvin Franklin
He was 40, 52 years old when he died
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Berry Gordy
He was 53, now 95 years old
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Marlon Jackson
He was 26, now 67 years old
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Levi Stubbs
He was 46, 72 years old when he died
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Adam Ant
He was 28, now 70 years old
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El Debarge
He was 21, now 63 years old
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Martha Reeves
She was 41, now 83 years old
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Jackie Jackson
He was 32, now 73 years old
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James DeBarge
He was 19, now 61 years old
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Randy DeBarge
He was 24, now 66 years old
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Nickolas Ashford
He was 42, 70 years old when he died
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Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever Crew
