music@theJ - R&B and J: Celebrating the Jewish Songsmiths of the Motown Era

A concert and dance party exploring the Jewish contribution to R&B, soul, blues, and Motown. Sheldon Sands assembles a stellar ensemble of local musicians to present the chart-topping songs that reflected changing racial relations during the civil rights era.

Cary Wolfson, Producer of "Blues from the Red Rooster Lounge,” discusses the history of the era at an ACE Lunch and Learn on Thursday, October 17.

As a young music journalist, Jerry Wexler coined the name 'Rhythm and Blues' to describe the musical artists he admired, including Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, and Otis Redding. While African American artists found fame in the ‘50s and ‘60s as performers, Jewish songwriters and music industry professionals helped shape and popularize the new sound. Phil Spector, husband and wife team Barry Mann and Cynthia Weill, Jerry Lieber, Mike Stoller, Doc Pomus, Carole King, and Kenny Young and Arthur Resnick all composed major hits of the R&B era. Berry Gordy, who created Motown Records to showcase African American singing and songwriting talent, had a vision of this new music as an answer to hate and a repudiation of prejudice, stating “I made music for all people.”

Performers include:

Sunday, October 27 | 7 pm | $30, Early Bird Registration $25 (must register 48 hours in advance) | $10 for students | REGISTER HERE
This program is now on JConnect, the Boulder JCC's registration portal. Click here for more information on JConnect.