Motown Tom - MPI

12/09/2025

Celebrating my 6th year on Facebook. Thank you for your continuing support. I could never have made it without you. 🙏🤗🎉

06/09/2025

Legendary American pianist and composer Billy Preston (RIP), would have turned 79 today, worked with music industry greats such as The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Little Richard, Ray Charles, Elton John, Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, Sam Cooke, Aretha Franklin or Quincy Jones among many others, died in 2006. I remember vividly that the musician AL Mackay usually, accompanied Billy Preston when they came into the office to meet with Suzanne Coston on his Motown Albums.

Happy Heavenly Birthday Billy Preston!
Jazz Time Magazine

02/09/2025

My former boss, the legendary Suzanne de Passe, was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2024, receiving the Ahmet Ertegun Award—a rare honor reserved for non-performers who’ve profoundly shaped the music industry. I played speech over tonight and then I meditated once again, with the saved notes, I took when it played on Paramount+.

🎤 Her Acceptance Reflections
Suzanne’s speech was a masterclass in humility, grit, and gratitude. She didn’t just recount her achievements—she honored the journey:
• She spoke of learning through failure, saying:
“They were all hard, and they were all new—learning; making mistakes; getting my butt kicked; crying (tears of frustration, not sadness)—and little by little, I got my legs up under me.”
• She paid tribute to her family’s values, not just lessons, as the foundation of her resilience

Suzanne de Passe’s legacy is a masterclass in vision, intuition, and the sacred art of seeing—not just talent, but possibility. Her journey from booking acts at the Cheetah Club to shaping the cultural canon at Motown is a testament to what happens when discernment meets courage.
Here’s a meditation concept inspired by her story—one that could be woven into liturgy, visual reflection, or a musical tribute:

🎤 “She Saw Before the World Did” — A Meditation on Divine Discernmen.t

Scriptural Anchor:
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the oppressed…” — Isaiah 61:1

Opening Reflection:
God does not always call the loudest voice or the most polished résumé. Sometimes, God calls the one who listens with their whole body—the one who feels the Spirit rise in the back of their neck when something sacred is unfolding. Suzanne de Passe was that kind of listener. She saw the Jackson 5 and felt the divine pulse of possibility. She trusted it. She followed it. And she changed the world.

Liturgical Imagery:
• A candle lit for every artist she helped birth into the world—each flame a soul she nurtured.
• A mirror placed on the altar, symbolizing the gift of reflection and recognition: “I see you. I believe in you.”
• A loop of Motown harmonies playing softly, underscoring the sacredness of Black joy, rhythm, and resilience.

Prayer of Affirmation:
God of vision and velvet revolutions,
You anoint those who dare to see what others overlook.
You bless the ones who whisper “yes” to the unformed, the unproven, the unpolished.
Teach us to trust our holy instincts.
To honor the goosebumps.
To believe in the sacred before it’s celebrated.
Amen.
Creative Tribute Ideas:
• 🎶 A musical offering featuring gospel-infused renditions of Motown classics, honoring the spiritual roots of soul music.
• 🎨 A visual meditation with portraits of artists Suzanne championed, surrounded by affirmations like “She Believed,” “She Listened,” “She Lifted.”
• 🗣️ A spoken word piece echoing her acceptance speech, interwoven with scripture and testimonies from your own community.

Her legacy is not just about music—it’s about ministry through mentorship, prophetic intuition, and radical affirmation. I hope to carry that same gift until my last breath on this planet.
Pastor Thomas Rachal

18/07/2025

We’re bringing the heat to Rocket Plaza 🔥 Get ready to groove with the Detroit Motown Hustlers for an afternoon of excitement and dancing in the street!

This Saturday, July 19, grab your dance shoes and meet our lead instructors, Louis Jenkins and Nichol Poyntz, and the Hustle Team on the dance floor. Curating the soundtrack for the day is DJ Sam Smooth. 🎶

Come out from 12-3pm to learn new moves and enjoy a free community dance class, food trucks, and tours of Motown Museum.
This event is brought to you in partnership with Bank of America. To learn more about their community efforts, visit bofa.com/detroit.

💲 All Rocket Plaza activities are FREE
✅ No RSVP required
🪑 Seating is first come, first served
🎟️ Museum tour tickets must be purchased online or at the box office – space is limited!
🚗 Street parking available

21/03/2025

Michael Jackson's estate won his arbitration against HBO for its defamatory, lie-filled documentary. That explains why that garbage was removed from most streaming services and platforms. Big win for Michael Jackson.

21/10/2024

Congratulations to the best boss I ever had, Suzanne de Passe.

17/09/2024

13/07/2024

Bill Medley and Mary Wilson

Sorry about the poor qualityVisit http://www.righteousbrothersdiscography.com/

30/04/2024

Salle André Malraux with conductor arrangements 📷

18/04/2024

I just launched an app for students! myEssai is free and uses AI to power essay feedback for students! I'd be grateful if you check it out 😄 https://myess.a...

26/03/2024

Celebrating “Lady Sings the Blues” on Motown 60 for BERRY GORDY