Gershwin Prize

ANNOUNCER

FROM WASHINGTON D.C., THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS PRESENTS THE 2016 GERSHWIN PRIZE FOR POPULAR SONG, WITH AN ALL-STAR SALUTE TO THIS YEAR'S HONOREE, SMOKEY ROBINSON. FEATURING PERFORMANCES BY ALOE BLACC. BEBE WINANS. CEE LO GREEN. CORINNE BAILEY RAE. ESPERANZA SPALDING. GALLANT. JOJO. KIP MOORE. LEDISI. TEGAN MARIE. THE TENORS. AND SMOKEY ROBINSON. WITH SPECIAL APPEARANCE BY THE LEGENDARY BERRY GORDY. AND YOUR HOST, SAMUEL L. JACKSON. AND NOW, LET'S GET READY FOR THE MUSIC OF SMOKEY ROBINSON.

"GET READY" "GOING TO A GO-GO" MEDLEY

ANNOUNCER

.

GALLIANT

I NEVER MET A GIRL WHO MAKES ME FEEL THE WAY THAT YOU DO.

GROUP

YOU'RE ALRIGHT.

GALLIANT

WHENEVER I'M ASKED WHO MAKES MY HEART REAL I SAY THAT YOU DO.

GROUP

YOU'RE OUTTA SIGHT.

GALLIANT

SO FEE FI, FO FUM. LOOK OUT BABY 'CAUSE HERE I COME.

ESPERANZA SPALDING

AND I'M BRINGING YOU A LOVE THAT'S TRUE. SO GET READY, GET READY. I'M GONNA TRY TO MAKE YOU LOVE ME TOO. SO GET READY, GET READY, 'CAUSE HERE I COME.

TENORS

GET READY, 'CAUSE HERE I COME.

ESPERANZA SPALDING

I'M ON MY WAY.

TENORS

GET READY, 'CAUSE HERE I COME.

ALOE BLACC

IF YOU WANNA PLAY HIDE AND SEEK WITH LOVE LET ME REMIND YOU.

GROUP

IT'S ALRIGHT.

ALOE BLACC

LOVIN' YOU'RE GONNA MISS AND THE TIME IT TAKES TO FIND YOU.

GROUP

IT'S OUTTA SIGHT.

ALOE BLACC

SO FIDDLEY DEE, FIDDLEY DUM. LOOK OUT BABY, 'CAUSE HERE I COME.

CORRINE BAILEY RAE

AND I'M BRINGING YOU A LOVE THAT'S TRUE. SO GET READY, GET READY. I'M GONNA TRY TO MAKE YOU LOVE ME TOO. SO GET READY, GET READY. 'CAUSE HERE I COME. GET READY, 'CAUSE HERE I COME. I'M ON MY WAY. GET READY, 'CAUSE HERE I COME. GET READY, 'CAUSE HERE I COME. GET READY, 'CAUSE HERE I COME.

JOJO

AND IF ALL MY FRIENDS SHOULD WANT YOU TOO I UNDERSTAND IT.

GROUP

BE ALRIGHT.

JOJO

I HOPE I GET TO YOU BEFORE THEY DO THE WAY I PLANNED IT.

GROUP

BE OUTTA SIGHT.

JOJO

SO TWIDDLEY DEE, TWIDDLEY DUM. LOOK OUT BABY 'CAUSE HERE I COME.

THE TENORS

AND I'M BRINGING YOU A LOVE THAT'S TRUE. SO GET READY, GET READY. I'M GONNA TRY TO MAKE YOU LOVE ME TOO. SO GET READY, GET READY. HERE I COME. GET READY, 'CAUSE HERE I COME. GET READY, 'CAUSE HERE I COME.

"GOING TO A GO-GO"

THE TENORS

.

TEGAN MARIE

NA, NA, NA, NA, YEAH. WELL, THERE'S A BRAND NEW PLACE I'VE FOUND. WHERE PEOPLE GO FROM MILES AROUND. THEY COME FROM EVERYWHERE. AND IF YOU DROP IN THERE. YOU MIGHT SEE ANYONE IN TOWN.

GROUP

GOIN' TO A GO-GO.

TEGAN MARIE

EVERYBODY'S.

GROUP

GOIN' TO A GO-GO.

TEGAN MARIE

OH COME ON NOW.

GROUP

DON'T YOU WANT TO GO?

TEGAN MARIE

ONE MORE TIME!

SAXOPHONE SOLO

TEGAN MARIE

. NA-NA-NA-NA-NA-NA

ALOE BLACC

PUT YOUR HANDS TOGETHER Y'ALL, COME ON!

TEGAN MARIE

NA-NA-NA-NA-OH-OH!

GROUP

DON'T YOU WANT TO GO?

CORRINE BAILEY RAE

YEAH, NOW, IT'S ALL RIGHT.

GROUP

GOIN' TO A GO-GO.

CORRINE BAILEY RAE

YES I AM NOW.

GROUP

GOIN' TO A GO-GO.

CORRINE BAILEY RAE

THAT'S SOUNDS GOOD, NOW. IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU GO STAG. IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU GO DRAG. YOU'RE GONNA HAVE SOME FUN. I'M TELLING EVERYONE. MOST EVERY TAXI THAT YOU FLAG IS.

GROUP

GOIN' TO A GO-GO.

CORRINE BAILEY RAE

COME ON BABY.

GROUP

GOIN' TO A GO-GO.

CORRINE BAILEY RAE

BABY, COME ON NOW.

GROUP

DON'T YOU WANNA GO?

CORRINE BAILEY RAE

YEAH, YEAH. NOW IT'S ALRIGHT.

MUSIC ENDS

CORRINE BAILEY RAE

.

AUDIENCE APPLAUSE

CORRINE BAILEY RAE

.

ANNOUNCER

LADIES AND GENTLEMAN, PLEASE WELCOME YOUR HOST FOR THE "LIBRARY OF CONGRESS GERSHWIN PRIZE FOR POPULAR SONG HONORING SMOKEY ROBINSON," SAMUEL L. JACKSON!

AUDIENCE APPLAUSE

ANNOUNCER

.

"AINT THAT PECULIAR"

ANNOUNCER

.

LAUGHS

ANNOUNCER

.

SAMUEL L. JACKSON

YEAH. WELCOME EVERYBODY TO THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS GERSHWIN PRIZE FOR POPULAR SONG HONORING SMOKEY ROBINSON!

AUDIENCE APPLAUSE

SAMUEL L. JACKSON

. LIKE THE SONG JUST SAID, "GET READY." WE'RE ALL HERE TONIGHT BECAUSE WILLIAM SMOKEY ROBINSON IS A MIRACLE, AND NOT JUST ANY MIRACLE. SMOKEY ROBINSON IS A TRUE AMERICAN MIRACLE.

AUDIENCE APPLAUSE

SAMUEL L. JACKSON

. ALONG WITH HIS LIFELONG FRIEND BERRY GORDY, SMOKEY CHANGED NOT JUST THE SOUND OF YOUNG AMERICA, BUT THE LOOK OF YOUNG AMERICA TOO. SMOKEY HAS BROKEN DOWN BARRIERS FOR SO MANY TO FOLLOW, AND SOMEHOW HAS DONE IT WITH HIS SINGULAR POETRY AND A KIND OF SWEET SOUL MUSIC THAT'S TIMELESS AND AGELESS JUST LIKE HE IS. TONIGHT, FOR SMOKEY'S MIRACULOUS AND ENDURING CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE AMERICAN SONGBOOK, THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF LIBRARIAN OF CONGRESS DR. CARLA HAYDEN, IS PRESENTING THIS MUSICAL GIANT WITH ONE OF THE GREATEST HONORS ANY SONGWRITER COULD RECEIVE... THE GERSHWIN PRIZE.

AUDIENCE APPLAUSE

SAMUEL L. JACKSON

. THAT'S RIGHT, THAT'S RIGHT; SMOKEY IS TAKING HIS RIGHTFUL PLACE IN THE PANTHEON OF POPULAR SONG UP THERE WITH A COUPLE OF ETERNALLY COOL BROTHERS NAMED GEORGE AND IRA. NOW, GROWING UP WHERE I DID AND WHEN I DID, I PERSONALLY BELIEVE IT IS UN-AMERICAN AND UNPATRIOTIC NOT TO SALUTE SMOKEY ROBINSON. THIS MAN IS MY KIND OF AMERICAN HERO. I WAS AN ONLY CHILD WHOSE DAD WAS NOT AROUND. AND THANKFULLY, WE DID HAVE A RADIO, AND ALMOST EVERYTHING I EVER REALLY NEEDED TO KNOW ABOUT LIFE AND LOVE AND BEING A MAN, I PICKED UP FROM LISTENING TO SMOKEY'S SONGS. AS A MATTER OF FACT, THE FIRST 45 I BOUGHT IN MY LIFE... THAT'S A RECORD, NOT A GUN, FOR ALL YOU MILLENNIAL'S...

AUDIENCE LAUGHTER

SAMUEL L. JACKSON

. WAS "SHOP AROUND." AND YES, I CRIED "THE TEARS OF A CLOWN" AND I SECONDED ALL OF SMOKEY'S EMOTIONS. I'VE EVEN MADE 5 LOW, NO TRUMP WITH SMOKEY AND RUN BOSTON'S ON PEOPLE AND HAD BOSTON'S RUN ON US. BUT NOT MANY. I KNOW, THAT'S A BLACK JOKE. SO RIGHT HERE IN CONSTITUTION HALL, THIS IS MY PRE-AMBLE. "WE THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES SAY THERE IS NO MORE PERFECT UNION OF WORDS AND MUSIC THAN THE WORK OF OUR 2016 GERSHWIN PRIZE WINNER... THE ONE AND ONLY SMOKEY ROBINSON!"

AUDIENCE APPLAUSE

SAMUEL L. JACKSON

. NOW LET'S DO LIKE SMOKEY HAS ALWAYS DONE AND GET RIGHT BACK TO THE MUSIC. THIS NEXT SONG BECAME A HIT FOR SMOKEY AND THE MIRACLES MORE THAN HALF A CENTURY AGO, BUT THESE WORDS WILL NEVER GET OLD. "PEOPLE SAY I'M THE LIFE OF THE PARTY CAUSE I TELL A JOKE OR TWO," BUT HERE TO PERFORM "THE TRACKS OF MY TEARS" AT SMOKEY'S BIG PARTY, LET'S HEAR IT FOR ALOE BLACC!

AUDIENCE APPLAUSE

SAMUEL L. JACKSON

.

"THE TRACKS OF MY TEARS"

SAMUEL L. JACKSON

.

ALOE BLACC

PEOPLE SAY I'M THE LIFE OF THE PARTY BECAUSE I TELL A JOKE OR TWO. ALTHOUGH I MAY BE LAUGHING LOUD AND HEARTY, HEARTY. DEEP INSIDE I'M BLUE. SO TAKE A GOOD LOOK AT MY FACE. YOU'LL SEE A SMILE LOOKS OUT OF PLACE. IF YOU LOOK CLOSER, IT'S EASY TO TRACE. THE TRACKS OF MY TEARS. I NEED YOU.

BACKING VOCALS

NEED YOU.

ALOE BLACC

NEED YOU.

BACKING VOCALS

NEED YOU.

ALOE BLACC

SINCE YOU LEFT ME IF YOU SEE ME WITH ANOTHER GIRL, SEEMING LIKE I'M HAVING FUN. ALTHOUGH SHE MAY BE CUTE, SHE'S JUST A SUBSTITUTE BECAUSE YOU'RE THE PERMANENT ONE. SO TAKE A GOOD LOOK AT MY FACE. YOU'LL SEE A SMILE LOOKS OUT OF PLACE. IF YOU LOOK CLOSER, IT'S EASY TO TRACE. THE TRACKS OF MY TEARS. OUTSIDE. I'M MASQUERADING. INSIDE. MY HOPE IS FADING. JUST A CLOWN. JUST A CLOWN TIL YOU PUT ME DOWN.

ALL

MY SMILE IS MY MAKE UP. I WEAR SINCE MY BREAK UP WITH YOU, WITH YOU.

ALOE BLACC

WITH YOU... OH, BABY, BABY, BABY. TAKE A GOOD LOOK AT MY FACE. YOU'LL SEE A SMILE LOOKS OUT OF PLACE. LOOK A LITTLE CLOSER, IT'S EASY TO TRACE. THE TRACKS OF MY TEARS. SO TAKE A GOOD LOOK AT MY FACE. YOU'LL SEE A SMILE LOOKS OUT OF PLACE. IF YOU LOOK CLOSER, IT'S EASY TO TRACE. THE TRACKS OF MY TEARS. SO TAKE A GOOD LOOK AT MY FACE. YOU'LL SEE A SMILE LOOKS OUT OF PLACE. IF YOU LOOK CLOSER, IT'S EASY TO TRACE. THE TRACKS OF MY TEARS. WHOA, OH...

MUSIC ENDS

ALOE BLACC

.

AUDIENCE APPLAUSE

ALOE BLACC

.

"GOT A JOB"

ALOE BLACC

.

ANNOUNCER

MORE THAN ANYONE AT MOTOWN SMOKEY ROBINSON PUT THE HITS IN HITSVILLE, USA. AFTER TAKING THE LABEL TO NUMBER ONE WITH "SHOP AROUND" SMOKEY WROTE OR CO WROTE A RUN OF HITS FOR HIMSELF AND THE MIRACLES INCLUDING "YOU REALLY GOT A HOLD ON ME" COVERED BY THE BEATLES. "MICKEY'S MONKEY" "I SECOND THAT EMOTION" "TRACKS OF MY TEARS" "GOING TO A GO-GO" COVERED BY THE ROLLING STONES AND THE NUMBER ONE SMASH "TEARS OF A CLOWN" WHICH SMOKEY CO-WROTE WITH STEVIE WONDER. AT THE SAME TIME, SMOKEY WAS ALSO PENNING HIT'S FOR OTHER MOTOWN GREATS INCLUDING, "MY GUY" FOR MARY WELLS, "MY GIRL" AND "GET READY" FOR THE TEMPTATIONS, "THE HUNTER GETS CAPTURED BY THE GAME" BY THE MARVELETTS AND "AINT THAT PECULIAR" BY MARVIN GAYE. AND THEN SMOKEY CAME UP WITH ONE OF THE BIGGEST HITS OF ALL TIME... A SONG STILL POPULAR DECADES LATER.

BERRY GORDY

SMOKEY DID "MY GUY" AND THEN HE FOLLOWED IT UP WITH "MY GIRL" WHICH EVERYBODY WAS RIDICULING HIM ABOUT, "HOW ARE YOU GONNA DO THAT?" "WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO, YOU KNOW, "MY MOTHER IN LAW?" "MY SISTER", "MY BROTHER", WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO?" "MY GIRL", "MY GUY", "MY GIRL" AND OF COURSE WE ALL KNOW "MY GIRL" WENT AND BECAME ONE OF THE BIGGEST RECORDS MOTOWN HAD EVER HAD.

SMOKEY ROBINSON

I'VE GOT SUNSHINE ON A CLOUDY...

ANNOUNCER

SMOKEY WOULD CONTINUE TO SCORE BIG HITS AS A SOLO ARTIST INCLUDING CLASSICS LIKE "CRUSIN" AND "1979" AND 80'S GEMS LIKE "BEING WITH YOU" AND "JUST TO SEE HER" AND EVERY TIME SMOKEY TAKES THE STAGE, THE HITS JUST KEEP ON COMING.

BERRY GORDY

HE HAD THAT HUMILITY AND THAT GRACIOUSNESS AND THAT THANKFULNESS. WHEN HE WAKES UP EVERY MORNING HE'S THANKFUL FOR, YOU KNOW, OTHER PEOPLE ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT STUFF THAT IS HAPPENING AND SO FORTH, AND HE'S THANKFUL ABOUT THE STUFF AND WHAT PEOPLE DID FOR HIM. THAT'S WHAT IT TAKES TO BE SUCCESSFUL, THAT'S WHAT IT TAKES TO STAY SUCCESSFUL. THAT'S WHY HE'S BEEN SUCCESSFUL ALL OF HIS WHOLE CAREER.

ANNOUNCER

PERFORMING "THE TEARS OF A CLOWN, " WHICH SMOKEY CO-WROTE WITH HIS FRIEND STEVIE WONDER, HERE'S A FOUR-TIME GRAMMY WINNING JAZZ MUSICIAN AND SINGER-SONGWRITER, ESPERANZA SPAULDING!

AUDIENCE APPLAUSE

ANNOUNCER

"THE TEARS OF A CLOWN"

ANNOUNCER

.

ESPERANZA SPALDING

HELLO AMERICA. OH YEAH, BABY. OH, WOO. NOW IF THERE'S A SMILE ON MY FACE. IT'S ONLY THERE TRYING TO FOOL THE PUBLIC. BUT WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO ME AND YOU. NOW HONEY, THAT'S QUITE A DIFFERENT SUBJECT. BUT DON'T LET MY GLAD EXPRESSION. GIVE YOU THE WRONG IMPRESSION. OH, I'M SAD. OH, I'M SADDER THAN SAD. YOU'RE GONE AND I'M NEED YA SO BAD. LIKE A CLOWN I PRETEND TO BE GLAD. NO, NO, NO. NOW THERE'S SOME SAD THINGS KNOWN TO MAN. BUT AIN'T TOO MUCH SADDER THAN. THE TEARS OF A CLOWN. WHEN THERE'S NO ONE AROUND. OH YEAH, BABY. NOW IF I APPEAR TO BE CAREFREE. IT'S ONLY TO CAMOUFLAGE MY SADNESS. IN ORDER TO SHIELD MY PRIDE I'VE TRIED. TO COVER THIS HURT WITH A SHOW OF GLADNESS. BUT DON'T LET MY SMILE CONVINCE YOU. THAT I'VE BEEN HAPPY SINCE YOU. DECIDED TO GO. OH, I NEED YOU SO. I'M HURT AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW. BUT FOR OTHERS I PUT ON A SHOW.

BACKING VOCALS

IT'S JUST A SHOW.

ESPERANZA SPALDING

NOW THERE'S SOME SAD THINGS KNOWN TO MAN. BUT THERE AIN'T TOO MUCH SADDER THAN. THE TEARS OF A CLOWN. WHEN THERE'S NO ONE AROUND. JUST LIKE PAGLIACCI DID. I TRY TO KEEP MY SADNESS HID. SMILING IN THE PUBLIC EYE. BUT IN MY LONELY ROOM I CRY. THE TEARS OF A CLOWN. WHEN THERE'S NO ONE AROUND. NOW IF THERE'S A SMILE ON MY FACE. DON'T LET MY GLAD EXPRESSION. GIVE YOU THE WRONG IMPRESSION DON'T LET THAT SMILE I WEAR. MAKE YOU THINK THAT I DON'T CARE. BABY, I'M SAD. I'M SAD. I'M SAD... OH.

MUSIC ENDS

ESPERANZA SPALDING

. AUDIENCE APPLAUSE].

ANNOUNCER

PLEASE WELCOME MULTI-PLATINUM COUNTRY MUSIC SINGER SONGWRITER, KIP MOORE.

AUDIENCE APPLAUSE

ANNOUNCER

.

KIP MOORE

I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT SMOKEY BROUGHT SO MUCH JOY AND LOVE TO MY HOUSEHOLD AS A LITTLE KID, GROWING UP. SO, IT'S SUCH AN HONOR TO BE HERE AND DO THIS TONIGHT.

"I SECOND THAT EMOTION"

KIP MOORE

. MAYBE YOU'LL WANNA GIVE ME KISSES SWEET. BUT ONLY FOR ONE NIGHT WITH NO REPEAT. AND MAYBE YOU'LL GO AWAY AND NEVER CALL. AND A TASTE OF HONEY'S WORSE THAN NONE AT ALL. OH LITTLE GIRL.

ALL

IN THAT CASE I DON'T WANT NO PART. THAT WOULD ONLY BREAK MY HEART. OH, BUT IF YOU FEEL LIKE LOVIN' ME.

KIP MOORE

IF YOU GOT THE NOTION. I SECOND THAT EMOTION. SAY, IF YOU FEEL LIKE GIVIN' ME A LIFETIME OF DEVOTION. I SECOND THAT EMOTION. MAYBE YOU THINK THAT LOVE WOULD TIE YOU DOWN. AND YOU DON'T HAVE THE TIME TO HANG AROUND. MAYBE YOU THINK THAT LOVE WOULD MAKE US FOOLS. SO YOU THINK IT'S WISE TO BREAK THE RULES. OH LITTLE GIRL. IN THAT CASE I DON'T WANT NO PART. THAT WOULD ONLY BREAK MY HEART. OH, BUT IF YOU FEEL LIKE LOVIN' ME. IF YOU GOT THE NOTION. I SECOND THAT EMOTION. SAY, IF YOU FEEL LIKE GIVIN' ME A LIFETIME OF DEVOTION. I SECOND THAT EMOTION. YEAH! YEAH! IN THAT CASE I DON'T WANT NO PART. THAT WOULD ONLY BREAK MY HEART. OH, BUT IF YOU FEEL LIKE LOVIN' ME. IF YOU GOT THE NOTION. I SECOND THAT EMOTION. SAY, IF YOU FEEL LIKE LOVIN' ME. IF YOU GOT THE NOTION. I SECOND THAT EMOTION. OH, BUT IF YOU FEEL LIKE LOVIN' ME. IF YOU GOT THE NOTION. I SECOND THAT EMOTION. IF YOU FEEL LIKE GIVIN' ME A LIFETIME OF DEVOTION. YEAH, I SECOND THAT EMOTION. I SECOND THAT EMOTION. I SECOND THAT EMOTION. YEAH, I, WHOA I... I SECOND THAT EMOTION... THANK YOU SO MUCH SMOKEY.

MUSIC ENDS

KIP MOORE

.

AUDIENCE APPLAUSE

KIP MOORE

.

ANNOUNCER

HERE TO SING "OOO BABY BABY," AN EXTRAORDINARY SINGER-SONGWRITER IN HER OWN RIGHT FROM LEEDS, ENGLAND. LADIES AND GENTLEMAN, CORRINE BAILEY RAE!

AUDIENCE APPLAUSE

ANNOUNCER

.

"OOO BABY BABY"

ANNOUNCER

.

BACKING VOCALS

OOH, LA, LA, LA, LA

CORINNE BAILEY RAE

I DID YOU WRONG. MY HEART WENT OUT TO PLAY. BUT IN THE GAME I LOST YOU. WHAT A PRICE TO PAY. I'M CRYIN'. OOO-OOO BABY BABY. OOO-OOO BABY BABY. MISTAKES, I KNOW I'VE MADE A FEW. BUT I'M ONLY HUMAN. YOU'VE MADE MISTAKES TOO. I'M CRYIN'. OOO-OOO BABY BABY. OOO-OOO BABY BABY. I'M JUST ABOUT AT THE END OF MY ROPE. BUT I CAN'T STOP TRYIN. I CAN'T GIVE UP HOPE. BECAUSE I FEEL ONE DAY. I'LL HOLD YOU NEAR. WHISPER I STILL LOVE YOU. UNTIL THAT DAY IS HERE... OOO-OOO BABY BABY. OOO-OOO BABY BABY. OOO-OOO BABY BABY. OOO-OOO BABY BABY. OOO...

MUSIC ENDS

CORINNE BAILEY RAE

.

AUDIENCE APPLAUSE

CORINNE BAILEY RAE

.

SAMUEL L. JACKSON

BEFORE WE GO ANY FURTHER, LET'S HEAR IT FOR OUR AMAZING HOUSE BAND LED BY OUR MUSICAL DIRECTOR, DETROIT'S OWN, GREG PHILLINGANES AND FEATURING THE GREAT NATHAN EAST ON FUNKY BASS!

AUDIENCE APPLAUSE

SAMUEL L. JACKSON

. NOW, BACK IN 1965, SMOKEY WAS WRITING SO MANY HITS SO QUICKLY, THE MAN HAD TO GIVE SOME AWAY. THIS NEXT SONG IS CALLED "IT'S GROWING," AND SMOKEY GAVE IT AWAY TO THE TEMPTATIONS AS A FOLLOW-UP TO ANOTHER HIT HE GAVE THEM THAT YOU MIGHT REMEMBER CALLED "MY GIRL". AND TONIGHT, THE GOSPEL TRUTH IS WE HAVE ONE OF THE GREATEST AND MOST SPIRITED SINGERS ON EARTH TO SING THIS SONG TONIGHT. LADIES AND GENTLEMAN, HERE TO HONOR SMOKEY AND TAKE US ALL TO CHURCH, THE SOUL-SANCTIFYING BEBE WINANS!

AUDIENCE APPLAUSE

SAMUEL L. JACKSON

.

"IT'S GROWING"

SAMUEL L. JACKSON

.

BEBE WINANS

LIKE A SNOWBALL ROLLING DOWN THE SIDE OF A SNOW COVERED HILL. IT'S GROWING. LIKE THE SIZE OF A FISH THAT THE MAN CLAIMS BROKE HIS REEL. HEY, IT'S GROWING. LIKE A ROSEBUD BLOOMING IN THE WARM OF THE SUMMER SUN. IT'S GROWING. LIKE THE TALE BY THE TIME IT'S BEEN TOLD BY MORE THAN ONE. HEY, IT'S GROWING. I SAID, EVERYDAY IT GROWS A LITTLE MORE THAN IT WAS THE DAY BEFORE. MY LOVE FOR YOU, IT GROWS AND GROWS. OH, HOW IT GROWS AND GROWS. AND WHERE IT'S GONNA STOP I'M SURE. NOBODY KNOWS.

BACKING VOCALS

HEY, HEY, HEY!

BEBE WINANS

HEY, NOBODY KNOWS IT. HOW IT GROWS, AND IT GROWS, AND IT GROWS AND NOBODY KNOWS YEAH, NOBODY KNOWS.

BACKING VOCALS

NOBODY KNOWS, IT GROWS, IT GROWS. WHERE IS IT GONNA STOP?

BEBE WINANS

LIKE A NEED IN A GUY TO SEE HIS GIRL WHEN SHE'S GONE AWAY. SAY, IT'S GROWING. LIKE THE SADNESS IN HIS HEART WHEN HE LEARNS SHE'S GONE TO STAY. ITS GROWING. I SAID EVERYDAY IT GROWS A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN IT WAS THE DAY BEFORE. MY LOVE FOR YOU, IT GROWS AND GROWS. OH, HOW IT GROWS AND IT GROWS. AND WHERE IT'S GONNA STOP I'M SURE. NOBODY KNOWS. I SAID NOBODY KNOWS. IT GROWS A LITTLE BIT STRONGER, YES IT DOES. IT GROWS A LITTLE BIT DEEPER. I'M IN LOVE WITH YOU. I'M MORE, I'M MORE IN LOVE WITH YOU. IT GROWS AND GROWS AND GROWS AND GROWS. IT GROWS, AMEN IT GROWS AND GROWS AND...

MUSIC STOPS ABRUPTLY

BEBE WINANS

. AND WHERE IT'S GONNA STOP I'M SURE... NOBODY... NOBODY... KNOWS.

MUSIC ENDS

BEBE WINANS

.

AUDIENCE APPLAUSE

BEBE WINANS

.

SAMUEL L. JACKSON

I JUST WANT TO SAY, UH, YOU GUYS ARE AN AMAZING AUDIENCE. JUST SITTING BACKSTAGE LOOKING AT ALL THE MONITORS AND LOOKING AT THE SHOTS OF YOU GUYS OUT HERE... YOU KNOW, IF YOU WANT TO BRING THE COUNTRY TOGETHER AND MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN... WE SHOULD JUST MAKE PEOPLE WALK AROUND SINGING SMOKEY ROBINSON SONGS.

AUDIENCE APPLAUSE

SAMUEL L. JACKSON

. I MEAN, MY GOD. IT'S, IT'S LIKE BIPARTISAN KARAOKE UP IN HERE! Y'ALL KNOW ALL THE WORDS! YOU'RE KILLING IT! KEEP ON KILLING IT! I'M LOVING YOU. UH, THIS NEXT SONG HAS AN AMAZING HISTORY. SMOKEY WROTE IT WAY BACK IN 1960, AND IT BECAME THE B-SIDE OF "SHOP AROUND." WHO KNEW? AND MOST FAMOUSLY IT BECAME THE DEFINING SONG OF ANOTHER OF MOTOWN GREATEST ACTS EVER, THE JACKSON 5. NOW, TO SING A SONG THAT... I'VE SAT AT HOME AND ASKED MYSELF ABOUT PEOPLE THAT I BROKE UP WITH, "WHO'S LOVING YOU"? MULTI-PLATINUM RECORDING ARTIST, JOJO!

AUDIENCE APPLAUSE

SAMUEL L. JACKSON

"WHO'S LOVIN' YOU"

SAMUEL L. JACKSON

.

JOJO

WHEN... I. HAD YOU. I TREATED YOU BAD... AND WRONG MY DEAR. AND SINCE... SINCE YOU BEEN AWAY. DONTCHA KNOW I SIT AROUND. WITH MY HEAD HANGIN' DOWN. AND I WONDER WHO'S LOVIN YOU. I, I, I, I... I SHOULD HAVE NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, NEVER MADE YOU CRY. BUT SINCE... SINCE YOU BEEN AWAY. DONTCHA KNOW I SIT AROUND. WITH MY HEAD HANGIN' DOWN. AND I WONDER WHO'S LOVIN YOU. SEE, LIFE WITHOUT LOVE IS OH SO LONELY. I DON'T THINK, I DO NT THINK I'M GONNA MAKE IT THROUGH. ALL MY LIFE, ALL MY LIFE. BELONGS TO YOU ONLY. SO COME ON AND TAKE IT BOY. COME ON AND TAKE IT BOY. BECAUSE ALL... SAID, I CAN DO, DO IS CRY... AND YOU. YOU... DO YOU EVER WONDER? WORRY YOUR PRETTY LITTLE HEAD WITH WHAT I DO? DONTCHA KNOW I SIT AROUND. WITH MY HEAD HANGIN' DOWN. AND I WONDER WHO'S... LOVING YOU...

BACKING VOCALS

WHO'S LOVING YOU. OH, OH, WHO'S LOVING YOU.

SCATTING INAUDIBLY

BACKING VOCALS

OH, OH, WHO'S LOVING YOU. OH, OH, WHO'S LOVING YOU.

JOJO

WHO'S... LOVING YOU... YEAH...

MUSIC ENDS

JOJO

. THANK YOU, THANK YOU SMOKEY!

AUDIENCE APPLAUSE

JOJO

.

ANNOUNCER

HERE TO RAISE THEIR VOICES FOR A MEDLEY OF THEIR FAVORITE SMOKEY CLASSICS, FROM CANADA, THE TENORS!

"SPECIAL OCCASION"

ANNOUNCER

.

TENORS

SPECIAL OCCASION. LIKE WHEN YOU DRESS UP IN YOUR TIE AND TAILS, YEAH. SPECIAL OCCASION. EVERY TIME IT NEVER FAILS. GIVE ME A THRILL THAT'S FRESH AND NEW. EVERY TIME I'M KISSIN' YOU. IT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU DO. MAKES EVERY TIME YOU'RE KISSIN ME. A REAL SPECIAL OCCASION. LIKE ONE THAT CALLS FOR A TOAST OF CHAMPAGNE. YEAH, YEAH. SPECIAL OCCASION. EVERY TIME AND IT'S HARD TO EXPLAIN. HOW THE SAME OLD TOUCH FROM THE SAME OLD HAND. CAN MAKE ME FEEL LIKE A DIFFERENT MAN. I JUST CAN'T UNDERSTAND. THAT EVERY TIME YOU TOUCH ME IT'S A REAL SPECIAL OCCASION.

"SHOP AROUND"

TENORS

. WHEN I BECAME OF AGE MY MOTHER CALLED ME TO HER SIDE. SHE SAID, SON, YOU'RE GROWING UP NOW PRETTY SOON YOU'LL TAKE A BRIDE. AND THEN SHE SAID JUST BECAUSE YOU'VE BECOME A YOUNG MAN, NOW. THERE'S STILL SOME THINGS THAT YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND NOW. BEFORE YOU ASK SOME GIRL FOR HER HAND, NOW. KEEP YOUR FREEDOM FOR AS LONG AS YOU CAN, NOW. MY MAMA TOLD ME. "YOU BETTER SHOP AROUND." OH YEAH, YOU BETTER SHOP AROUND. SHOP, SHOP AROUND. A-HA-HA, THERE'S SOME THINGS THAT I WANT YOU TO KNOW, NOW. JUST AS SURE AS THE WINDS GONNA BLOW, NOW. THE WOMEN COME AND THE WOMEN GONNA GO, NOW. BEFORE YOU TELL EM THAT YOU LOVE EM SO, NOW. MY MAMA TOLD ME. YOU BETTER SHOP AROUND. OOOH, YOU BETTER SHOP AROUND. SHOP, SHOP AROUND. A TRY TO GET YOURSELF A BARGAIN SON. DON'T BE SOLD ON THE VERY FIRST ONE. A PRETTY GIRLS COME A DIME A DOZEN. A TRY TO FIND ONE WHO'S GONNA GIVE YOU TRUE LOVIN'. BEFORE YOU TAKE A GIRL AND SAY I DO, NOW. MAKE SURE SHE'S IN LOVE WITH YOU, NOW. MY MAMA TOLD ME. YOU BETTER SHOP AROUND.

MUSIC ENDS

TENORS

.

AUDIENCE APPLAUSE

TENORS

.

SAMUEL L. JACKSON

IN EVERY SENSE OF THE WORD, SMOKEY ROBINSON HAS RANGE. THAT'S HOW HE'S INFLUENCED ARTISTS OF ALL AGES IN EVERY GENRE. HERE TO PROVE IT, A THIRTEEN-YEAR COUNTRY SINGER WHO'S BECOME A VIRAL SENSATION. PERFORMING "MY GUY," WHICH SMOKEY WROTE FOR MOTOWN'S FIRST FEMALE STAR, AND MY HEART, MARY WELLS. LET'S HEAR IT FOR TEGAN MARIE!

AUDIENCE APPLAUSE

SAMUEL L. JACKSON

.

"MY GUY"

SAMUEL L. JACKSON

.

TEGAN MARIE

NOTHING YOU COULD SAY COULD TEAR ME AWAY FROM MY GUY. NOTHING YOU COULD DO 'CAUSE I'M STUCK LIKE GLUE TO MY GUY. I'M STICKING TO MY GUY LIKE A STAMP TO A LETTER. LIKE BIRDS TO A FEATHER WE STICK TOGETHER. I'M TELLIN' YOU FROM THE START I CAN'T BE TORN APART FROM MY GUY. NOTHING YOU COULD DO COULD MAKE ME UNTRUE TO MY GUY.

BACKING VOCALS

MY GUY.

TEGAN MARIE

NOTHING YOU COULD BUY COULD MAKE ME TELL A LIE TO MY GUY.

BACKGROUND VOCALS

MY GUY.

TEGAN MARIE

I GAVE MY GUY MY WORD OF HONOR. TO BE FAITHFUL, AND I'M GONNA, YOU BEST BE BELIEVING I WON'T BE DECEIVING MY GUY. AS A MATTER OF OPINION I THINK HE'S TOPS. MY OPINION IS HE'S THE CREAM OF THE CROP. AS A MATTER OF TASTE TO BE EXACT. HE'S MY IDEAL AS A MATTER OF FACT. NO MUSCLE-BOUND MAN'S GONNA TAKE MY HAND FROM MY GUY.

BACKING VOCALS

MY GUY.

TEGAN MARIE

NO HANDSOME FACE COULD EVER TAKE THE PLACE OF MY GUY.

BACKING VOCALS

MY GUY.

TEGAN MARIE

HE MAY NOT BE A MOVIE STAR, BUT WHEN IT COMES TO BEIN' HAPPY. WE ARE. THERE'S NOT A MAN TODAY WHO COULD TAKE ME AWAY FROM MY GUY. NO MUSCLE-BOUND MAN'S GONNA TAKE MY HAND FROM MY GUY.

BACKING VOCALS

MY GUY.

TEGAN MARIE

NO HANDSOME FACE COULD EVER TAKE THE PLACE OF MY GUY.

BACKING VOCALS

MY GUY.

TEGAN MARIE

HE MAY NOT BE A MOVIE STAR, BUT WHEN IT COMES TO BEIN' HAPPY. WE ARE. THERE'S NOT A MAN TODAY WHO COULD TAKE ME AWAY FROM MY GUY.

BACKING VOCALS

WHAT'D YOU SAY?

TEGAN MARIE

THERE'S NOT A MAN TODAY WHO COULD TAKE ME AWAY FROM MY GUY.

BACKING VOCALS

TELL ME MORE.

TEGAN MARIE

THERE'S NOT A MAN TODAY WHO COULD TAKE ME AWAY FROM MY GUY... THANK YOU, THANK YOU SMOKEY.

MUSIC ENDS

TEGAN MARIE

.

AUDIENCE APPLAUSE

TEGAN MARIE

.

SAMUEL L. JACKSON

ONE OF THE ONLY GREAT SONGS OF THE SIXTIES THAT SMOKEY DIDN'T WRITE WAS "RESPECT." BUT SMOKEY EARNED RESPECT FROM ALL KINDS OF OTHER MUSIC LEGENDS, LIKE BOB DYLAN AND THE BEATLES WHO RECORDED THIS NEXT SONG IN THEIR EARLY CAREER. HE ALSO GAINED THE RESPECT OF MILLIONS OF BROTHERS AROUND THE COUNTRY IN HOT SWEATY BASEMENTS WITH BLUE LIGHT-BULBS. HERE TO SING "YOU'VE REALLY GOT A HOLD ON ME" TONIGHT, YEAH THAT'S RIGHT! A 9 TIME GRAMMY NOMINEE WHO PORTRAYED MAHALIA JACKSON IN THE OSCAR NOMINATED FILM "SELMA" LEDISI!

AUDIENCE APPLAUSE

SAMUEL L. JACKSON

.

"YOU'VE REALLY GOT A HOLD ON ME"

SAMUEL L. JACKSON

.

LEDISI

OOH YEAH. I DON'T LIKE YOU. BUT I LOVE YOU. SEEMS THAT I'M ALWAYS. THINKIN' OF YOU. OH, OH, OH, YOU TREAT ME BADLY. I LOVE YOU MADLY. YOU'VE REALLY GOT A HOLD ON ME.

BACKING VOCALS

YOU REALLY GOT A HOLD ON ME.

LEDISI

YOU REALLY GOT A HOLD ON ME.

BACKING VOCALS

YOU REALLY GOT A HOLD ON ME.

LEDISI

BABY! I DON'T WANT YOU. BUT I NEED YOU. DON'T WANNA KISS YOU. BUT I NEED TO. OH, OH, OH, YOU DO ME WRONG NOW. MY LOVE IS STRONG NOW. YOU'VE REALLY GOT A HOLD ON ME.

BACKING VOCALS

YOU REALLY GOT A HOLD ON ME.

LEDISI

YOU REALLY GOT A HOLD ON ME.

BACKING VOCALS

YOU REALLY GOT A HOLD ON ME.

LEDISI

BABY, I LOVE YOU. AND ALL I WANT YOU TO DO IS JUST. HOLD ME, HOLD ME, HOLD ME, HOLD ME. TIGHTER. YEAH. TIGHTER. I WANNA LEAVE YOU. DON'T WANNA STAY HERE. DON'T WANNA SPEND ANOTHER DAY HERE. OH, OH, OH, I WANNA SPLIT NOW. BUT I CAN'T QUIT NOW. YOU'VE REALLY GOT A HOLD ON ME.

BACKING VOCALS

YOU REALLY GOT A HOLD ON ME.

LEDISI

HEY, YOU REALLY GOT A HOLD ON ME. BABY! I LOVE YOU AND ALL I WANT YOU TO DO IS JUST. HOLD ME, HOLD ME, HOLD ME, HOLD ME... REALLY, REALLY GOT A HOLD ON ME.

BACKING VOCALS

REALLY GOT A HOLD ON ME.

LEDISI

I SAID YOU'VE REALLY GOT A HOLD ON ME.

BACKING VOCALS

REALLY GOT A HOLD ON ME.

LEDISI

HEY, YOU REALLY GOT A HOLD ON ME.

BACKING VOCALS

REALLY GOT A HOLD ON ME.

LEDISI

HEY...

BACKING VOCALS

REALLY GOT A HOLD ON ME.

LEDISI

OH, YOU'VE REALLY GOT A HOLD ON ME.

BACKING VOCALS

REALLY GOT A HOLD ON ME.

LEDISI

OH YEAH, YOU'VE REALLY GOT...

BACKING VOCALS

REALLY GOT A HOLD ON ME.

LEDISI

YOU REALLY GOT A HOLD ON ME.

BACKING VOCALS

YOU REALLY GOT A HOLD ON ME.

LEDISI

OH YEAH... YOU REALLY GOT A, HOLD... ON...

SCATTING

LEDISI

. ME... AH, YEAH. YEAH!

MUSIC ENDS

LEDISI

.

AUDIENCE APPLAUSE

LEDISI

.

ANNOUNCER

WHAT HAPPENED AT MOTOWN IN THE 60'S, INSIDE THE WALLS OF HITSVILLE, USA, WOULD SOON BE HEARD AND FELT AROUND THE WORLD BECOMING A GLOBAL FORCE FOR GOOD, CONTRIBUTING TO THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT OF THE ERA. THE COMPANY'S MASSIVE AND INTERNATIONAL CROSSOVER SUCCESS STORY FOREVER CHANGED THE FACE OF POPULAR MUSIC IN SIGNIFICANT WAYS. AT FIRST, THE MUSIC OF MOTOWN WAS NOT EXPLICITLY POLITICAL, BUT THE MESSAGE STILL CAME THROUGH LOUD AND CLEAR AND GRADUALLY THE GREATS OF MOTOWN BEGAN TO SPEAK MORE DIRECTLY TO THE TIMES THAT HELPED SHAPE AND ASK BIG QUESTIONS LIKE, "WHAT'S GOING ON".

A. PHILIP RANDOPH

I THINK HISTORY WAS WRITTEN TODAY, WHICH WILL HAVE IT'S EFFECT ON COMING GENERATIONS.

"I SECOND THAT EMOTION"

A. PHILIP RANDOPH

.

ANNOUNCER

TO PERFORM "CRUISIN'," SMOKEY'S LAST GREAT SMASH OF THE SEVENTIES AND ONE OF HIS SMOOTHEST EVER, PLEASE WELCOME GALLANT AND JOJO!

AUDIENCE APPLAUSE

ANNOUNCER

.

"CRUISIN'"

ANNOUNCER

.

BOTH SCATTING

ANNOUNCER

.

GALLANT AND JOJO

BABY LET'S CRUISE. AWAY FROM HERE... DON'T BE CONFUSED. THE WAY IS CLEAR...

BOTH

AND IF YOU WANT IT YOU GOT IT FOREVER.

GALLANT

THIS IS NOT A ONE NIGHT STAND, BABY.

JOJO

LET THE MUSIC TAKE YOUR MIND. JUST RELEASE AND YOU WILL FIND, YOU'LL FIND.

GALLANT

YOU'RE GONNA FLY AWAY. GLAD YOU'RE GOIN' MY WAY.

BOTH

I LOVE IT WHEN WE'RE CRUISIN' TOGETHER.

GALLANT

THE MUSIC IS PLAYED FOR LOVE. CRUISIN' IS MADE FOR LOVE.

BOTH

I LOVE IT WHEN WE'RE CRUISIN' TOGETHER.

SCATTING

BOTH

.

JOJO

BABY TONIGHT BELONGS TO US... EVERYTHING'S RIGHT SO DO WHAT YOU MUST.

BOTH

AND INCH BY INCH WE GET CLOSER AND CLOSER.

JOJO

TO EVERY LITTLE PART OF EACH OTHER. OOH BABY, YEAH. YOU'RE GONNA FLY AWAY. GLAD YOU'RE GOIN' MY WAY.

BOTH

I LOVE IT WHEN WE'RE CRUISIN' TOGETHER.

JOJO

THE MUSIC IS PLAYED FOR LOVE. CRUISIN' IS MADE FOR LOVE.

BOTH

I LOVE IT WHEN WE'RE CRUISIN' TOGETHER.

GALLANT

YOU'RE GONNA FLY AWAY. GLAD YOU'RE GOIN' MY WAY.

BOTH

I LOVE IT WHEN WE'RE CRUISIN' TOGETHER.

GALLANT

THE MUSIC IS PLAYED FOR LOVE. CRUISIN' IS MADE FOR LOVE.

BOTH

I LOVE IT WHEN WE'RE CRUISIN' TOGETHER.

SCATTING

BOTH

.

MUSIC ENDS

BOTH

.

AUDIENCE APPLAUSE

BOTH

.

SAMUEL L. JACKSON

BEING HERE IN OUR NATION'S CAPITOL AND HAVING SURVIVED THE PAST ELECTION YEAR... I CAN'T STOP THINKING OF A SONG MADE FAMOUS BY THIS NEXT MAN. NOT THE "RIDING ROUND TOWN WITH THE GIRL I LOVE" ONE, WHICH IS SORT OF APROPOS, BUT THE OTHER ONE, "CRAZY". HERE TO SALUTE SMOKEY WITH "THE WAY YOU DO THE THINGS YOU DO," LET'S GO "CRAZY" FOR CEE LO GREEN!

"THE WAY YOU DO THE THINGS YOU DO"

SAMUEL L. JACKSON

.

CEE LO GREEN

YOU'VE GOT A SMILE SO BRIGHT. YOU KNOW YOU COULD HAVE BEEN A CANDLE. I'M HOLDING YOU SO TIGHT. YOU KNOW YOU COULD HAVE BEEN A HANDLE. THE WAY YOU SWEPT ME OFF MY FEET. YOU KNOW YOU COULD HAVE BEEN A BROOM. AND AW, YOU SMELL SO SWEET. YOU KNOW YOU COULD HAVE BEEN SOME PERFUME. WELL, YOU COULD HAVE BEEN ANYTHING THAT YOU WANTED TO. AND I CAN TELL... THE WAY YOU DO THE THINGS YOU DO.

BACKING VOCALS

THE WAY YOU DO THE THINGS YOU DO. THE WAY YOU DO THE THINGS YOU DO.

CEE LO GREEN

AS PRETTY AS YOU ARE. YOU KNOW YOU COULD HAVE BEEN A FLOWER. IF GOOD LOOKS WAS A MINUTE. YOU KNOW THAT YOU COULD BE AN HOUR. THE WAY YOU STOLE MY HEART. YOU KNOW YOU COULD HAVE BEEN A COOL CROOK. AND BABY YOU'RE SO SMART. YOU KNOW YOU COULD HAVE BEEN A SCHOOLBOOK. WELL, YOU COULD HAVE BEEN ANYTHING THAT YOU WANTED TO. AND I CAN TELL... THE WAY YOU DO THE THINGS YOU DO.

BACKING VOCALS

THE WAY YOU DO THE THINGS YOU DO. THE WAY YOU DO THE THINGS YOU DO.

CEE LO GREEN

YOU MADE MY HEART SO RICH. YOU KNOW YOU COULD HAVE BEEN SOME MONEY. AND BABY YOU'RE SO SWEET. OOH, YOU COULD HAVE BEEN SOME HONEY. WELL, YOU COULD HAVE BEEN ANYTHING THAT YOU WANTED TO. AND I CAN TELL... THE WAY YOU DO THE THINGS YOU DO.

BACKING VOCALS

THE WAY YOU DO THE THINGS YOU DO.

CEE LO GREEN

OH, BABY.

BACKING VOCALS

THE WAY YOU DO THE THINGS YOU DO.

CEE LO GREEN

OOH, YOU MAKE ME SWEET.

BACKING VOCALS

THE WAY YOU DO THE THINGS YOU DO.

CEE LO GREEN

HEY, YOU SWEPT ME OFF MY FEET.

BACKING VOCALS

THE WAY YOU DO THE THINGS YOU DO.

CEE LO GREEN

YOU MADE MY LIFE COMPLETE.

BACKING VOCALS

THE WAY YOU DO THE THINGS YOU DO.

CEE LO GREEN

ALRIGHT!

BACKING VOCALS

THE WAY YOU DO THE THINGS YOU DO.

CEE LO GREEN

HEY, HEY...

BACKING VOCALS

THE WAY YOU DO THE THINGS YOU DO.

CEE LO GREEN

SAY, NOW.

BACKING VOCALS

THE WAY YOU DO THE THINGS YOU DO.

CEE LO GREEN

THE WAY YOU DO THE THINGS YOU DO... OH, YES!

MUSIC ENDS

CEE LO GREEN

.

AUDIENCE APPLAUSE

CEE LO GREEN

.

ANNOUNCER

WHEN SMOKEY ROBINSON MET BERRY GORDY THE MIRACLES REALLY STARTED TO HAPPEN. TOGETHER, THEY WROTE THE MIRACLES FIRST SINGLE, "GOT A JOB" AN ANSWER SONG TO THE SILHOUETTES' SMASH, "GET A JOB." THERE WERE MORE JOBS WHERE THAT CAME FROM WHEN AT THE DAWN OF THE 60'S... BERRY, WITH SMOKEY'S ENCOURAGEMENT, MADE THE BOLD MOVE TO FORM HIS OWN RECORD COMPANY. ONE THAT WOULD SOON BECOME SYNONYMOUS WITH SOUL MUSIC AND DETROIT, MOTOWN.

BERRY GORDY

SMOKEY WAS THE SOUL OF MOTOWN. HE SHOWED HIS BRILLIANCE VERY EARLY IN THE GAME. ASIDE FROM THE FIRST RECORD HE DID AND SO FORTH, EVERY RECORD HE DID HAD A SIMPLICITY ABOUT IT WITH SOMETHING THAT EVERYBODY KNEW AND FELT BUT NEVER SAID. HE WOULD TAKE THE SIMPLE LYRICS AND HE WOULD MAKE SOMETHING BRILLIANT OUT OF IT. LIKE, "WHAT'S SO GOOD ABOUT GOOD BYE" YOU KNOW AND HE'D WRITE A SONG AROUND THAT. YOU KNOW, PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SAYING GOOD BYE FOR YEARS AND HE'S, "SO WHAT'S SO GOOD ABOUT IT?" BUT HE WOULD DO THAT, HE COULD TAKE A LYRIC OR AN IDEA AND MAKE IT SIMPLE AND SOMETHING THAT YOU'D NEVER HEARD BEFORE.

ANNOUNCER

THE MIRACLES WERE ONE OF THE FIRST ACTS SIGNED TO THE LABEL CAUSING SMOKEY TO DROP OUT OF COLLEGE AFTER TWO MONTHS. BY LATE 1960, THE GROUP HAD RECORDED ITS FIRST HIT SINGLE, "SHOP AROUND" WRITTEN BY SMOKEY AND BARRY ON MOTOWN'S TAMLA LABEL. THIS WITTY AND CATCHY GEM WAS NOT ONLY A NUMBER 1 R&B HIT AND NUMBER 2 POP HIT, BUT ALSO THE FIRST MILLION SELLING RECORD FOR THE MIRACLES AND THE MOTOWN CORPORATION. THANKFULLY IN YEARS TO COME, SMOKEY WAS ABOUT TO DO SO MUCH TO HELP TRANSFORM MOTOWN ONCE AND FOR ALL INTO "HITSVILLE, USA"

AUDIENCE APPLAUSE

ANNOUNCER

.

SAMUEL L. JACKSON

THE INSPIRING STORY OF SMOKEY ROBINSON IS FOREVER TIED TO THE STORY OF THIS NEXT MAN, A TRUE GAME-CHANGER IN MUSIC HISTORY. LADIES AND GENTLEMAN, IT IS MY HONOR TO WELCOME TO THE STAGE, THE FOUNDER OF MOTOWN, MR. BERRY GORDY.

AUDIENCE APPLAUSE

SAMUEL L. JACKSON

.

"AINT THAT PECULIAR"

SAMUEL L. JACKSON

.

BERRY GORDY

SMOKEY WAS ALWAYS A GREAT POET WHO EXPRESSED ORDINARY THEMES IN EXTRAORDINARY WAYS. IN THE BEGINNING, HE WANTED TO LEARN AND I WANTED TO TEACH. BUT AS WE WORKED TOGETHER IT WASN'T LONG BEFORE HE BECAME A TEACHER... MINE. I LOVE THE WAY SMOKEY HAD A BRILLIANT WAY OF COMBINING EXQUISITE MELODIES WITH SOPHISTICATED STORYLINES THAT HAVE THE POWER TO TOUCH THE HEARTS OF PEOPLE ACROSS THE GLOBE, MAKING US FEEL WHATEVER HE WANTED US TO FEEL. HAPPY OR SAD CELEBRATING BEING IN OR OUT OF LOVE, YEARNING AND BURNING. SMOKEY HAD US THEN AND HE'S STILL GOT US TODAY! A GREAT DEAL OF SMOKEY'S POWER HAS ALWAYS BEEN HIS ABILITY TO WRITE SONGS THAT BECOME THE SOUNDTRACKS OF OUR LIVES. BUT THOSE OF YOU WHO REALLY KNOW HIM KNOW THAT HIS TRUE POWER LIES WITHIN THE STRENGTH OF HIS CHARACTER, HIS SOUL, AND THE GREAT HUMAN BEING THAT HE HAS ALWAYS BEEN. SMOKEY, TONIGHT, YET AGAIN, YOU ARE ABOUT TO TAKE YOUR RIGHTFUL PLACE IN THE MOST EXCELLENT COMPANY IMAGINABLE. AND TONIGHT I, YET AGAIN, AM SO PROUD TO SEE YOU, MY BEST FRIEND FOR OVER 50 YEARS, RECEIVE THE PRESTIGIOUS GERSHWIN PRIZE FOR SONG. I LOVE YOU, MAN.

ANNOUNCER

TO PRESENT THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS GERSHWIN PRIZE, PLEASE WELCOME... U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES MAJORITY LEADER KEVIN MCCARTHY. UNITED STATES SENATE MINORITY WHIP RICHARD J. DURBIN. U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES MINORITY LEADER NANCY PELOSI. U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES MINORITY WHIP STENY HOYER. CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE ON HOUSE ADMINISTRATION CANDICE S. MILLER. VICE CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT COMMITTEE ON THE LIBRARY GREGG HARPER. AND LIBRARIAN OF CONGRESS DR. CARLA HAYDEN.

AUDIENCE APPLAUSE

ANNOUNCER

.

DR. CARLA HAYDEN

WELL, GOOD EVENING AND WHAT A MEMORABLE ONE IT HAS BEEN. I KNOW MANY OF YOU CAN RELATE WHEN I SAY THAT SMOKEY ROBINSON WROTE THE SOUNDTRACK TO MY TEENAGE LIFE.

AUDIENCE APPLAUSE

DR. CARLA HAYDEN

. HIS MUSIC BROUGHT US TOGETHER. AND IT BRINGS US TOGETHER HERE THIS EVENING TO CELEBRATE THIS WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL ART FORM, POPULAR MUSIC. THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS PRESENTS THIS AWARD NAMED FOR THE SONGWRITING DUO OF GEORGE AND IRA GERSHWIN AND AMONG THE LIBRARY'S MANY MUSIC COLLECTIONS, ARE THE PAPERS OF GEORGE AND IRA; TWO INDIVIDUALS WHO, LIKE SMOKEY ROBINSON, LEFT THE AMERICAN SONGBOOK MUCH RICHER THAN IT WAS BEFORE. THEIR LEGACY ENDURES. OUR SONGBOOK CONTINUES TO BE ENRICHED BY THE EVER-CHANGING TAPESTRY OF CONTRIBUTIONS. I THINK, UNITING AMERICA WITH MUSIC. AS WE HONOR THIS HISTORY-MAKING SONGWRITER AND PERFORMER TONIGHT, WE HOPE YOU ASPIRING ARTISTS OUT THERE ARE STIRRED TO CREATE SOMETHING NEW. FIND YOUR OWN VOICE. CONTINUE THIS LEGACY AND MAKE HISTORY YOURSELVES. BECAUSE SMOKEY ROBINSON CERTAINLY DID. HE IS A GROUNDBREAKING AND UNFORGETTABLE PRESENCE ON AMERICA'S MUSICAL JOURNEY. SO, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IT IS NOW OUR GREAT, GREAT JOY TO PRESENT THE 2016 LIBRARY OF CONGRESS GERSHWIN PRIZE FOR POPULAR SONG TO MR. SMOKEY ROBINSON.

AUDIENCE APPLAUSE

DR. CARLA HAYDEN

.

AUDIENCE APPLAUSE

DR. CARLA HAYDEN

.

AUDIENCE APPLAUSE

DR. CARLA HAYDEN

.

AUDIENCE APPLAUSE

DR. CARLA HAYDEN

.

CROWD MEMBER

WE LOVE YOU SMOKEY!

SMOKEY ROBINSON

I LOVE YOU TOO. WELL, I GUESS THAT'S IT. YOU GUYS... THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. I REALLY CANNOT EVEN BEGIN TO TELL YOU HOW I FEEL. THIS IS SUCH A WONDERFUL, SPECTACULAR, INCREDIBLE NIGHT IN MY LIFE. I'VE HAD MANY OF THEM AND THIS IS JUST RIGHT ON THE TOP OF THE LIST. IT'S SO INCREDIBLE TO ME. I WANT TO THANK THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS AND ALL YOU GUYS WHO MADE THIS POSSIBLE FOR ME BECAUSE IT'S SO TOTALLY UNEXPECTED. I MEAN, GROWING UP WHERE I GREW UP IN DETROIT AND HAVING A DREAM THAT ONE DAY I COULD POSSIBLY BE IN SHOW BUSINESS FROM THE TIME I WAS PROBABLY 6 YEARS OLD... AND TO BE STANDING HERE TONIGHT FROM THAT PLACE IS SO ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE.

AUDIENCE APPLAUSE

SMOKEY ROBINSON

. I HAVE TO TAKE THE TIME EVERYDAY OF MY LIFE TO THANK GOD FOR WHERE I AM IN MY LIFE BECAUSE...

AUDIENCE APPLAUSE

SMOKEY ROBINSON

. IT'S TRULY, TRULY, TRULY, TRULY A BLESSING AND I NEVER FORGET THAT. I NEVER TRIP ON SMOKEY ROBINSON, OR ANY OF THAT BECAUSE I KNOW THAT WITHOUT PEOPLE LIKE YOU WHO HAVE ALLOWED ME TO HAVE THIS LIFE, I WOULD NOT HAVE IT AND I KNOW THAT IT'S A GOD PLAN AND I'M VERY, VERY, VERY THANKFUL FOR THAT. I GREW UP IN A HOME, FIRST OF ALL, WHERE MUSIC WAS PREVALENT. THERE WAS MUSIC IN OUR HOUSE EVERYDAY, ALL DAY LONG OF EVERY KIND THAT YOU CAN THINK OF. I HAD TWO OLDER SISTERS AND BETWEEN MY TWO SISTERS AND MY MOM, THEY PLAYED EVERYTHING. WE HAD EVERYTHING FROM GUT BUCKET BLUES, JOHN LEE HOOKER AND B.B. KING AND MUDDY WATERS AND LITTLE WALTER. THERE WERE A LOT OF "LITTLE'S" BACK IN THOSE DAYS... LITTLE WALTER, LITTLE ESTHER, LITTLE JUNIOR PARKER, LITTLE, YOU KNOW... HAD A BUNCH OF LITTLE'S AND WE HAD ALL OF THEM IN OUR HOUSE. AND WE HAD GOSPEL AND MY MOTHER SANG IN CHURCH AND PLAYED THIS OLD UPRIGHT PIANO THAT WE HAD IN THE HOUSE THAT I USED TO BANG ON. AND WE HAD CLASSICAL. WE LISTENED TO BACH AND BEETHOVEN AND CHOPIN AND PEOPLE LIKE THAT. WE HAD JAZZ AND MY SISTERS PLAYED, UM, COUNT BASIE AND DUKE ELLINGTON AND ELLA FITZGERALD AND PATTY PAGE AND FRANK SINATRA AND PEOPLE LIKE THAT. I HAD A GREAT DOSE OF MUSIC GROWING UP AND THE GERSHWIN MUSIC WAS PREVALENT IN OUR HOME. THE GERSHWIN'S WERE WRITERS BACK IN THE DAY WHEN THE SONG WAS KING. WHEN THEY WROTE A HIT SONG, EVERY ARTIST RECORDED THAT SONG AT THE SAME TIME. IT WAS OUT BY 10, 15 PEOPLE AT THE SAME TIME AND THE SONG WAS KING. SO FOR ME TO BE STANDING HERE TONIGHT IN THAT COMPANY IS BEYOND MY WILDEST DREAMS. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE AND LIKE I SAID WE HAD GERSHWIN MUSIC IN OUR HOUSE ALL THE TIME I KNOW THAT MY MOM AND MY TWO SISTERS AND MY DAD WHO HAVE ALL PASSED ON ARE SMILING DOWN AND THEY'RE VERY PROUD AND THEY'RE VERY HAPPY THAT I'M IN THIS COMPANY AND I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH AND I APPRECIATE... MY, MY, THIS IS, I SEE SO MANY OF MY FRIENDS AND MY FAMILY HERE TONIGHT AND, YOU GUYS, I'M SO HAPPY THAT YOU COULD COME AND SHARE THIS WITH ME. THAT ALL OF YOU COULD COME AND SHARE THIS. THIS IS SUCH AN INCREDIBLE EVENING AND ALL THESE WONDERFUL ARTIST WHO HAVE PERFORMED HERE THIS EVENING. IT'S, UH, WOW, I CAN'T EVEN...

AUDIENCE APPLAUSE

SMOKEY ROBINSON

. I JUST WANT TO SAY, UM, THANK YOU SO VERY, VERY, VERY MUCH FOR SHARING THIS MOMENT WITH ME AND GOD BLESS ALL OF YOU.

AUDIENCE APPLAUSE

SMOKEY ROBINSON

.

AUDIENCE APPLAUSE

SMOKEY ROBINSON

.

"BEING WITH YOU"

SMOKEY ROBINSON

. OOH... I DON'T CARE WHAT THEY THINK ABOUT ME AND. I DON'T CARE WHAT THEY SAY. I DON'T CARE WHAT THEY THINK IF YOU'RE LEAVING. I'M GONNA BEG YOU TO STAY. I DON'T CARE IF THEY START TO AVOID ME. I DON'T CARE WHAT THEY DO. I DON'T CARE ABOUT ANYTHING ELSE BUT. BEING WITH YOU, BEING WITH YOU. HONEY DON'T GO, DON'T LEAVE THIS SCENE. BE OUT OF THE PICTURE AND OFF OF THE SCREEN. DON'T LET THEM SAY, "WE TOLD YOU SO". THEY TELL ME YOU LOVE ME AND THEN LET ME GO. I'VE HEARD THE WARNING VOICE FROM FRIENDS AND MY RELATIONS. THEY TELL ME ALL ABOUT YOUR HEART-BREAK REPUTATION. BUT I DON'T CARE WHAT THEY THINK ABOUT ME AND. I DON'T CARE WHAT THEY SAY, NO. I DON'T CARE WHAT THEY THINK IF YOU'RE LEAVING. I'M GONNA BEG YOU TO STAY. I DON'T CARE IF THEY START TO AVOID ME. I DON'T CARE WHAT THEY DO. I DON'T CARE ABOUT ANYTHING ELSE BUT. BEING WITH YOU, BEING WITH YOU. OOH. OOH. OOH. PEOPLE CAN CHANGE, THEY ALWAYS DO. HAVEN'T THEY NOTICED THE CHANGES IN YOU? OR CAN IT BE THAT LIKE LOVE I AM BLIND. DO I WANT IT SO MUCH 'TIL IT'S ALL IN MY MIND? ONE THING I KNOW FOR SURE IS REALLY, REALLY REAL. I NEVER FELT BEFORE THE WAY YOU MAKE ME FEEL. NO ME IMPORTA QUE PIENSEN DE MI. NO ME IMPORTA QUIEN ERES. NO ME IMPORTA QUE PIENSEN SI TE ALEJAS. AQUI RUEGO CUH CUH DEZ. NO ME IMPORTA QUE EMPIECEN A EVITARME. NO ME IMPORTA EL QUE DIRAN. SOLO IMPORTA ESTAR AQUI CONTIGO. AQUI CONTIGO, AQUI CONTIGO, AQUI CONTIGO. AQUI CONTIGO. SOLO IMPORTA ESTAR AQUI CONTIGO. BEING WITH YOU, BEING WITH YOU, BEING WITH YOU. I DON'T CARE ABOUT ANYTHING ELSE BUT BEING WITH YOU. BEING WITH YOU, BEING WITH YOU...

MUSIC ENDS

SMOKEY ROBINSON

.

AUDIENCE APPLAUSE

SMOKEY ROBINSON

. THANK YOU, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

AUDIENCE APPLAUSE

SMOKEY ROBINSON

. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, YOU'RE BEAUTIFUL. THAT'S ALL I CARE ABOUT, IS BEING WITH YOU. UH, THIS IS A GERSHWIN NIGHT AND I GREW UP HEARING GERSHWIN MUSIC ALL MY LIFE. I LOVE THEIR MUSIC, I SING A BUNCH OF THEIR SONGS AND RIGHT NOW I'D LIKE TO SING ONE OF MY FAVORITE SONGS BY THEM.

"OUR LOVE IS HERE TO STAY"

SMOKEY ROBINSON

. IT'S VERY CLEAR. OUR LOVE IS HERE TO STAY. NOT FOR A YEAR. BUT EVER AND A DAY. THE RADIO AND THE TELEPHONE AND THE MOVIES THAT WE KNOW. MAY JUST BE PASSING FANCIES. AND IN TIME MAY GO... BUT OH, MY DEAR. OUR LOVE IS HERE TO STAY. TOGETHER WE'RE... GOING A LONG, LONG WAY. IN TIME THE ROCKIES MAY CRUMBLE. GIBRALTAR MAY TUMBLE. THEY'RE ONLY MADE OF CLAY. BUT, OUR LOVE IS HERE... TO STAY. BLOW THE HORN.

SCATTING RHYTHMICALLY

SMOKEY ROBINSON

. IT'S VERY CLEAR... OUR LOVE IS HERE TO STAY... TOGETHER WE'RE... GOING A LONG LONG WAY. IN TIME THE ROCKIES MAY CRUMBLE. GIBRALTAR MAY TUMBLE. THEY'RE ONLY MADE OF CLAY. BUT, OUR LOVE IS HERE... OUR LOVE IS HERE... OUR LOVE. IS HERE. TO STAY...

MUSIC ENDS

SMOKEY ROBINSON

.

AUDIENCE APPLAUSE

SMOKEY ROBINSON

.

"MY GIRL"

SMOKEY ROBINSON

. I'VE GOT SUNSHINE ON A CLOUDY DAY. WELL, WELL, WELL, WELL, WELL. WHEN IT'S COLD OUTSIDE I'VE GOT THE MONTH OF MAY. YES I HAVE, COME ON Y'ALL!

ALL

I GUESS YOU'D SAY. WHAT CAN MAKE ME FEEL THIS WAY. MY GIRL, MY GIRL, MY GIRL. TALKING 'BOUT MY GIRL. MY GIRL.

CEE LO GREEN

I'VE GOT SO MUCH HONEY THE BEES ENVY ME. I'VE GOT A SWEETER SONG THAN THE BIRDS IN THE TREES.

ALL

WELL I GUESS, YOU'D SAY. WHAT CAN MAKE ME FEEL THIS WAY? MY GIRL, MY GIRL, MY GIRL. TALKING 'BOUT MY GIRL MY GIRL.

CEE LO GREEN

OOH, OOH.

ALL

HEY, HEY, HEY! HEY, HEY, HEY!

CEE LO GREEN

OOOOOH, YES.

BEBE WINANS

I DON'T NEED NO MONEY, FORTUNE OR FAME. NO, NO. I'VE GOT EVERY SINGLE THING, DARLIN THAT A MAN CAN CLAIM.

ALL

WELL, I GUESS YOU'D SAY. WHAT CAN MAKE ME FEEL THIS WAY? MY GIRL, MY GIRL, MY GIRL. TALKIN' BOUT MY GIRL. MY GIRL. TALKING BOUT MY GIRL.

CEE LO

I'VE GOT SUNSHINE ON A CLOUDY DAY. TALKING BOUT MY GIRL.

SMOKEY ROBINSON

EVEN GOT THE MONTH OF MAY.

ALL

MY GIRL. WHOA, WHOA. TALKING BOUT MY GIRL. WHOA, WHOA. TALKING BOUT MY GIRL.

MUSIC ENDS

ALL

.

AUDIENCE APPLAUSE

ALL

.

ENCORE BEGINS

ALL

WHOA, WHOA. TALKING BOUT MY GIRL. WHOA, WHOA. TALKING BOUT MY GIRL. WHOA, WHOA. TALKING BOUT MY GIRL. WHOA, WHOA. TALKING BOUT MY GIRL. WHOA, WHOA. TALKING BOUT MY GIRL. WHOA, WHOA. TALKING BOUT MY GIRL. WHOA, WHOA. TALKING BOUT MY GIRL. WHOA, WHOA. TALKING BOUT MY GIRL. WHOA, WHOA. TALKING BOUT MY GIRL. WHOA, WHOA. TALKING BOUT MY GIRL.

MUSIC ENDS

ALL

.

AUDIENCE APPLAUSE

ALL

.