Free event pays tribute to Motown Records’ Thursday night

An event at La Quinta Public Library Thursday night will pay tribute to Motown Records’ musical legacy.

Motown performers and executives will attend “An Evening with Friends: Motown Memories, Celebrating Black History Month” at 6 p.m. Admission is free.

Starting in the late 1950s, Motown Records groups including the Temptations, Four Tops, Martha and The Vandellas, Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye became national sensations, and Motown became the most successful African American-owned and operated record company and business in the country.

Motown executives expected tonight include Claudette Robinson, who performed with the Miracles and was crowned “First Lady of Motown” by Motown founder Berry Gordy Jr.; Jerrie Jones, who was an assistant to Jobete Publishing’s Robert Gordy; Miller London, a sales and marketing star who became general manager of Motown in 1988; national promotions manager Eddie Gilreath; and Temptations guitarist, songwriter and arranger Cornelius Grant.

Musicians Yve Evans, Elaine Woodard, James Clark, Reggie Alexander and Bruce Rochelle will perform Motown standards.