[REPOST] Suzanne de Passe Looks Back on Motown 25 by Michael A Gonzales @gonzomike @EBONYmag @SuzannedeP

Suzanne de Passe Looks Back on Motown 25 by Michael A Gonzales Looks Back on Motown 25 by Michael A Gonzales

Over 30 years ago, the  force of nature that was Motown celebrated its 25th anniversary. It was a moment were the world stopped in order to appreciate the genius that was the explosion of a united front of Black culture and soul. Producing that hit television event (in which the recently solo artist Michael Jackson now famously graced us with “the moon walk“), was the young producer Suzanne de Passe. de Passe, whom we all now love for her hits like Sister, Sister and Smart Guy was still new in the game when given the reins for what is now an iconic moment in soul history.

soulhead’s very own Michael Gonzales sat down with de Passe to interview her for Ebony magazine. Check out some of the interview here.

EBONY: The day following Motown 25, it seemed that everyone in the country, regardless of race or class, was talking about the show. Did you anticipate such a major reaction?

Suzanne de Passe: We were so focused on getting that sucker in the can, we didn’t think about what the reaction might be. But from watching the rehearsals, we knew we had something special. Honestly, the program took on a life of its own; it made a lot of people very happy.

EBONY: What was it like to have so many big names together after all those years?

SP: It was like when Quincy [Jones] recorded “We Are the World,” people just automatically checked their egos at the door. People walked in and saw all their old friends and it turned into a party.

EBONY: Well, it might’ve been a party for them, but you were chaperoning.

SP: It was more like being the ringmaster with a whip and a chair. [laughter]

Read below for the full article!

Suzanne de Passe Looks Back on Motown 25 by Michael A Gonzales

Full interview

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