Motown 25: Yesterday, Today and Forever is a television special that originally aired on NBC on May 16, 1983. The special was produced to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Motown Records, the influential American record label that launched the careers of many legendary artists in the 1960s and 1970s.
The special was hosted by Richard Pryor and featured performances by many Motown artists, including Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross, The Temptations, The Four Tops, Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson, and many others. One of the most memorable moments of the show was Michael Jackson’s solo performance of “Billie Jean,” which introduced his signature moonwalk dance to the world.
Motown 25 was also notable for the reunion of The Supremes, with Diana Ross joining Mary Wilson and Cindy Birdsong on stage for the first time in over a decade. The show also featured several tribute segments, including one for Marvin Gaye, who has recently passed away.
Motown 25 was a huge success, drawing over 47 million viewers and earning critical acclaim for its performances and production values. The show has since become a cultural touchstone, and many of its performances are considered iconic moments in music history.
But it was Michael’s solo performance of his blockbuster No. 1 hit “Billie Jean” from his breakthrough album “Thriller” which galvanized the audience. It was an electrifying turn where he introduced the fedora, black sequin jacket and glove and his momentous moonwalk routine during the bridge of the song, all of which became his trademarks when performing “Billie Jean.” The New York Times described the routine as “astonishing. He is clearly the heir apparent to the dazzling androgyny mantle once monopolized by Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones.”
Michael had initially turned down the special because he thought he was too frequently appearing on TV. It was Motown founder Berry Gordy who convinced him to perform.
“Motown 25” was taped nearly two months earlier at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium.
The special earned nine Emmy nominations winning the top prize — best variety, music or comedy program. And producer/director Don Mischer won the DGA honor for outstanding directorial achievement in musical/variety. The album, “The Motown Story: The First 25 Years” earned a Grammy nomination for best historical recording losing to “Arturo Toscanini: The Greatest Recordings of Arturo Toscanini Symphonies, Vol. 1.”
