Press release about a forthcoming "musical play" planned to open in 2007 called Hitsville USA with plans to show eventually in uk
Seems there is also another musical play in the pipeline for 2007 as well, written by Berry Gordy
Authentic "Jersey Boy" Names Al Abrams, Motown Records Founding Publicist, to Create Original Motown Musical Play
Hitsville USA Will Debut in Detroit in 2007 Prior to Broadway, London Openings
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Detroit, MI (PRWEB via PR Web Direct) July 27, 2006 -- The compelling untold true story of the early days of Motown Records as seen through the eyes of Al Abrams, the founding publicist of Motown and the first employee of Berry Gordy's Tamla-Motown music empire, is poised to become the basis of a theatrical musical.
Abrams, author of 11 published books and a journalist and publicist, has been named to write the book for the play, titled Hitsville USA.
Abrams was hired by Gordy on Memorial Day 1959 before there was even a Motown label. Although he had absolutely no experience, it was Abrams' job to get the fledgling company's records played on the air by disk jockeys, and especially white disk jockeys on Top 40 radio stations. And he succeeded, often using unorthodox but now legendary methods.
Abrams also became the company's first publicist, serving in that role through 1966, arguably the label's most productive years before Motown abandoned its Detroit roots for Los Angeles.
The legendary Hitsville USA studio at 2648 West Grand Boulevard in Detroit is where such Motown musical icons as Diana Ross and the Supremes, the Temptations, Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, the Four Tops, the Marvelettes, Martha and the Vandellas and Stevie Wonder recorded their breakthrough hit records. Many of their songs are today anthems of pop culture. Now the site of the Motown Museum, the Hitsville USA address is known worldwide as a must-see destination for fans that make their musical pilgrimage to the building where Abrams once occupied the attic as his office.
The show's primary angel and organizer of the investor group is successful New Jersey businessman and musician Michael C. Haber. He says the musical will debut in Detroit. Among the potential venues are the Fox Theatre, which hosted the legendary Motortown Revues, and the Fisher Theatre in the landmark Fisher Building on West Grand Boulevard.
Haber, the son of Janet and Lenny Haber, is a musical prodigy who began playing the drums at the age of eight and began his professional musical career at 15. The Newark-born Haber performed with many contemporaries of the Jersey Boys' including the Belmonts and the Angels of My Boyfriend's Back fame. "I've been on stage 10,000 times," says Haber. Jersey Boys is the Tony Award winning musical on Broadway chronicling the career of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons.
Berry Gordy announced his own plans for a Motown musical in 2003 and is scheduled to open his production in 2007 as well. "But the similarities end there," says Abrams. "I will be telling the Motown story through the eyes of an 18-year-old white Jewish boy in an all black environment, where I was surrounded by musical genius on a daily basis. My experiences at Motown were a microcosm of the then-contemporary rise of the civil rights movement in the United States. I am sure Berry will bring his unique perspective to his story."
Abrams is the featured essayist on Universal's Hip-O Select 166-song The Complete Motown Singles Volume Five - 1965 CD compilation, to be released August 4. He is currently completing Hype! a book on how he sold the Motown Sound to the media and the masses.
So how did the Jersey/Philly sound of Haber and the Motown Sound of Abrams get on the same play list? Haber explains, "I had the good fortune to meet Al Abrams through a mutual friend of a friend. There is no doubt that God has brought us together so amongst other things Al Abrams can receive the long awaited recognition and respect he undeniably deserves.
"This project stirs a passion in me to bring not only the wonderful songs that the great Berry Gordy has produced and delivered to us (thank you Mr. Gordy), but also the wonderful stories of the backgrounds and lives of the Motown artists. Most of all, it will introduce to the public the Al Abrams Motown story that has been overlooked by such productions as the Motown 40 television show. Motown and Gordy have left Abrams standing in the shadows long enough. Like the Funk Brothers before him, it is time for him to step into the spotlight."
Haber says he expects Hitsville USA to reach Broadway as well as London where many Motown/Northern Soul aficionados can have an opportunity to see the show.
You can reach Abrams through alanabrams@aol.com and Haber at blktiafair@aol.com
CONTACT: Michael Haber
732-757-5152
