It鈥檚 a sound deeply-rooted in Detroit history that inspired a generation.
That鈥檚 the narrative that 鈥檚 Glee Club hopes to embody as they take the Powerhouse Theatre stage Dec. 15-17 for Glee Club Takes a Musical Journey to Motown.
Formerly under the name Tamla Records, Motown started in Detroit in 1959, filling an integral role in racial integration of popular music.
鈥淭hey gave an opportunity to people of colour and changed music forever,鈥� said Glee Club director Therese Parent. 鈥淚 think a lot of the music is still being played today but the history and importance isn鈥檛 really known anymore.鈥�
With the idea of education and entertainment in mind, 17 performers will grace the stage, singing iconic Motown hits like Marvin Gaye鈥檚 Ain鈥檛 No Mountain High Enough, James Brown鈥檚 I Feel Good and The Temptations鈥� Get Ready.
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 really great that people will get to see how it was performed and how it changed lives,鈥� Parent said.
Steeped in gospel and soul roots, Motown marked not only a cultural movement but the evolution of 鈥�60s American pop music.
鈥淚t (Motown sound) had that gospel feel with the contemporary edge of the time,鈥� Parent said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 a style to it, the Motown style. Even though it was in the 鈥�60s and 鈥�70s, it was very different than the (mainstream) style.鈥�
Parent, who grew up hearing Motown sounds on her parents鈥� records, pored over archives and discographies to craft the 20-song setlist featured in the tribute show.
鈥淒anica Hardy and I took days and just listened to a bunch of Motown songs that would fit well and are theatrical,鈥� Parent said. 鈥淲hen I鈥檓 choosing the songs, I usually think about the kind of singers I have in the group and I always end up with a lot more women than men.鈥�
And it鈥檚 a composition that is reflected in the set, with hits from The Supremes like Where Did Our Love Go and Stop In The Name Of Love and, of course, Aretha Franklin鈥檚 Respect.
鈥淭hat will be a huge hit for people,鈥� Parent said of Respect, noting that Darby Mills 鈥� former lead singer of Headpins who currently performs as the Darby Mills Project 鈥� is a guest performer for the song. 鈥淪he鈥檚 a very great sport and a huge talent.鈥�
Other than Mills and a guest performer from Parent鈥檚 junior Glee Club group who will take the stage as a young Michael Jackson, the lineup of performers are all members of Parent鈥檚 Glee Club who have been rehearsing for the year-end performance since classes started in September.
鈥淪ome have performed before and some haven鈥檛. We鈥檙e really open to anyone who wants to come on stage,鈥� Parent said. 鈥淪inging, playing music and performing 鈥� that鈥檚 how the Glee Club started.鈥�
Glee Club Takes a Musical Journey to Motown is the club鈥檚 fourth annual show, starting off with a tribute to ABBA, followed by a Beatles-influenced performance and most recently a in 2016.
Taking the stage alongside Glee Club members is the five-piece band, comprised of Don Parker on guitar, Aaron Jamin on saxophone, Mike Parent on drums, Julian Veres on bass and saxophone and Ryan Epp on the keys.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a fundraiser for the school and is a community event. There are a lot of sponsors and we wouldn鈥檛 be able to do it without help from the community,鈥� Parent said. 鈥淚t feels good. I think it鈥檚 going to be a really fun show.鈥�
Glee Club Takes a Musical Journey to Motown hits the Powerhouse Theatre Dec. 15-16 at 7:30 p.m. and Dec. 17 at 1:30 p.m. Tickets are available for $28 from the Ticket Seller, 250-549-7469, .Proceeds from the event go towards the Vernon Community Music School.
