Columnist Joe Delaney: 'Sex' closes, Temptations carry on, jazz abounds

"History of Sex" ends its run -- somewhat suddenly -- on Nov. 12, at the Golden Nugget. ... Officially, the story is that, despite heavy advertising expenditure in all the media, the show never achieved satisfactory attendance numbers. ... Unofficially, it may also have been artistic differences between management and the producer-choreographer.

The Motown Story

"Legends of Motown" is the current attraction in Caesars Palace Circus Maximus. ... The Temptations, Mary Wilson of the Supremes, and The Marvelettes are co-featured. ... Motown, its name a corruption of Motor Town (Detroit), was founded by Berry Gordy Jr. in 1958. ... Gordy is Motown's first legend, starting the company from scratch in an old clapboard house with a sign in front that read "Hitsville, USA."

Twenty five years later, Motown had become a far-flung conglomerate with multiple record labels, music publishing companies, booking and managerial companies, and film and TV production firms, with a combined annual income in excess of $100 million.

Gordy had taken black performers, black elements and the black sound, built a strong black customer base, then made records that were able to cross over and become equally popular in all markets.

He went further

To insure that his artists were more than just recording studio performers, Gordy set up a finishing school to tutor acts in speech, etiquette, appropriate dress and general demeanor. ... He also brought in experts to teach the acts how to perform onstage, gave them lessons in presentation, dynamics, dance and other in-person necessities.

His recording material of choice was romantic subjects . ... The studio musicians were the finest in the area. ... Smokey Robinson qualifies as an early Motown legend for his hit recordings with the Miracles, his song writing, and as a producer of hit recordings for many other Motown acts.

During the 1960s, the Motown roster included Diana Ross and The Supremes, Marvin Gaye, the Marvelettes, Temptations, Four Tops, Gladys Knight & The Pips, Jackie Wilson, Stevie Wonder and The Jackson Five.

The Temptations

First known as The Primes, The Temptations ranked second only to Diana Ross and The Supremes nationally during the 1965-1971 period, scoring 10 No. 1 hits in rhythm and blues before hitting No. 1 in the pop charts with "My Girl," firmly establishing the Motown pop-soul sound in that category. ... The Temptations are viable LV headliners today. ... A mini-series on The Temptations starts Sunday evening on NBC.

Diana Ross, The Four Tops (three originals, one recently deceased) and Smokey Robinson continue to be headline attractions as well in Las Vegas as the 1990s come to a close.

What Berry Gordy did with his acts in the 1960s, the late Jack Kapp did on Decca, now MCA label, in the 1940s, making Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Lionel Hampton, Louis Jordan, the Ink Spots and Mills Brothers into artists who transcended color and artist categories.

One more legend

Living quietly in Las Vegas is still another Motown legend, a man who taught all the above listed Motown artists stage presence and created their choreography, so integral to a live presentation. ... His name is Cholly Atkins, recent winner of a Tony Award for his choreography in "Black and Blue," a hit Broadway musical.

Jazz update

As promised, here is an updated jazz listing, courtesy of the LV Jazz Society: It's Joe Darro Trio, Tuesday through Saturday, Ruth's Chris West; Mike Breene Trio, Wednesday through Saturday, Santa Fe; Rocco Barbato with Steven Lee, Wednesday through Saturday, Sunset Station Brewery; Carl Lodico's Big Band, Thursdays (Pepper's); and Irv Kluger's Friday Jazz at Pogo's.

There's more: Jim Fitzgerald's Kinda Dixie Jazz Band, weekdays, Gold Coast; Stan Mark's Sass 'n' Brass, weekdays, Arizona Charlie's; Ronnie DiPhillips, Friday and Saturday, Maxx's in Henderson; The Jazz Organ-ization, Sundays, Santa Fe; Marv Koral's All-Stars, Saturday, Roadrunner, and Sunday evenings, Carollo's; Don Menza & Friends, Mondays, Riviera, plus library concerts.

Join the Jazz Society, support good jazz whenever and wherever. ... The Jazz Society's semi-monthly newsletter also lists jazz on radio plus stories about local well-known jazz artists.

Friday addenda

Have a safe and sane Halloween. ... Be sure to cast your vote Tuesday or sooner, if possible. ... Do something nice this weekend. ... See you next Thursday.

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