As a MOTOWN FANATIC, the understatement of the millennium, there was no greater place to be on earth one Sunday night in SEPTEMBER than at the HAL Awards. Saw so many old friends, collaborators, and Motown royalty from the founder Barry Gordy to the night’s main honoree Suzanne de Passe, who chaired Motown after Mr. Gordy left, to Motown artists, songwriters, arrangers, producers and players, all of whom had had such a massive influence on me as a songwriter.
Detroit was SO in the house!! Special shout out to my pals and honorees Suzanne, and Deniece Williams. Not to mention my idol. Mr. Gordy, and Mary Wilson, Martha Reeves, Thelma Houston, Freda Payne, Scherrie Payne, Claudette Robinson, Eddie Holland, CJ Emmons, Charlo Crossley Fortier, Cornelius Grant, Paul Williams Jr., and Herb Powell. Thank you Janie Bradford for throwing a spectacular awards evening, not to mention writing Motown‘s first hit, “Money”. And thank you Paul Barker for making my Motown dreams come true!
