Berry Gordy Jr. Developing New Motown Musical?

According to the NY Post, Motown legend Berry Gordy Jr. is working on creating a Broadway musical on his life in order to 'preserve his legacy.' Soursces have revealed that Gordy has been collaborating with RENT producer Kevin McCollum on the production, which will reportedly include a slew of motown classics in the score.

As revealed by the show's press agent: "Berry's been wanting to do this for a long time. He's got the money and investors lined up. He's trying to involve Diana Ross and Smokey Robinson." 

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In 1957, Gordy discovered The Miracles (originally known as The Matadors) and began building a portfolio of successful artists. In 1959, at Miracles leader Smokey Robinson's encouragement, Gordy borrowed $800 from his family to create an R&B label, Tamla Records. On January 21, 1959, "Come To Me" by Marv Johnson was issued as Tamla 101. United Artists Records picked up "Come To Me" for national distribution, as well as Johnson's more successful follow-up records.

Berry's next release was the only 45 ever issued on his Rayber label, and it featured Wade Jones with an unnamed female back-up group. The record did not sell well and is now one of the rarest issues from the Motown stable. Berry's third release was "Bad Girl" by The Miracles, and was the first-ever release for the Motown record label. "Bad Girl" was a solid hit in 1959 after Chess Records picked it up. Barrett Strong's "Money (That's What I Want)" initially appearing on Tamla and then charted on Gordy's sister's label, Anna Records, in February 1960. The Miracles' hit "Shop Around" peaked at #1 on the national R&B charts in late 1960 and at #2 on the Billboard pop charts on January 16, 1961 (#1 Pop, Cash Box), which established Motown as an independent company worthy of notice. Later in 1961, The Marvelettes' "Please Mr. Postman" made it to the top of both charts.