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Photo Credit: Kevin Winter/Getty Images for The Recording Academy
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Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson, Chris Stapleton and WanMor shut down the 65th Annual Grammy Awards with a tribute to Motown Records. On Friday (January 3), Motown founder Berry Gordy was honored during the MusiCares Persons of the Year gala, followed on Sunday with a Motown-dedicated segment at Los Angeles' Crypto.com Arena.
Wonder opened “The Way You Do The Things You Do,” accompanied by WanMor, who are all the sons of Boyz II Men member Wanya Morris. Robinson – who recently released his first album in a decade, titled Gasms – followed with "Tears of A Clown," before Stapleton assisted Wonder with his 1973 hit "Higher Ground."
\u201cStevie Wonder and Smokey Robinson gives a Mowtown tribute at the #GRAMMYs\u201d— Leon Carrington (@Leon Carrington) 1675648642
\u201cThe King of All Music Stevie Wonder jamming with Chris Stapleton was A MOMENT. Fantastic. 10s across the board. \n\nBerry knows. \n\nAnd PS - Mr. Berry Gordy is 93 years old. NINETY. THREE. YEARS. OLD.\n\n#Grammys #Grammys2023\u201d— Miss TLC (@Miss TLC) 1675648539
During the MusiCares event, performers for the Motown tribute included Wonder, Lionel Richie, John Legend, Dionne Warwick, Chloe x Halle, Jimmie Allen and more. After the performances, Robinson walked onstage to pay tribute to Gordy.
“In my life I’ve been blessed enough to get a few awards,” he began, per Billboard. "But this one is really the most special to me because I’m getting this award with my very best friend in the world. I’m standing here tonight because when I first met this man, it was the beginning of my dream come true. I wanted to be a singer, to be in show business, write songs and make music. I never thought it would be possible for me from where I grew up. But he took me under his wing … I love you man; you are so precious.”