Berry Gordy founded what would become Motown Records a half-century ago with an $800 loan. Today, that would have got you two tickets with a bit to spare to the Motown 50 Golden Gala.
For $200 more, you could have attended a VIP event and a swanky party afterward.
The event was Saturday in Detroit, with an appearance by Gordy and performances by Aretha Franklin, The Temptations and duet partners Stevie Wonder and Kid Rock.

David Ornette Cherry was nominated for the 2010 Portland Music Awards for "Outstanding Achievement in Jazz" by the Jazz Society of Oregon. The awards are decided by a public vote, which can be made at www.musicspectator.com/portland_music_award.

LAS VEGAS (AP) -- The physician being investigated in Michael Jackson's death was due in a Las Vegas courtroom Monday to ask a judge to let him make minimum child support payments to a California woman and her son ...

The mystery surrounding bluesman Robert Johnson's life and death feeds the lingering fascination with his work.
There's the myth he sold his soul to the devil to create his haunting guitar intonations. There's the dispute over where he died after his alleged poisoning by a jealous man in 1938. Three different markers claim to be the site of his demise.

The Universal Zulu Nation has come to Portland.
The newly formed local chapter of the international hip hop culture organization - the 45th Parallel Universal Zulus - is holding a house warming celebration on Friday, Nov. 6 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at their new office at 109 SE Salmon St. Suite C in Portland.

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Rod Stewart grew up idolizing soul singers like Sam Cooke, Jackie Wilson and Otis Redding. On his new album, "Soulbook," he gets a chance to pay tribute to his childhood idols in song -- and even gets a chance to sing with one of them on the CD.

NEW YORK (AP) -- Rihanna on Friday described the horror she felt as her ex-boyfriend Chris Brown was biting and punching her during a violent argument in February, saying she saw "no soul in his eyes."

In a special homage to pop music icon Michael Jackson, tens of thousands of dancers around the world gathered simultaneously in public places to perform the immortal steps of the legendary music video "Thriller."

Monsters of Hip Hop, an all Hip Hop dance convention tour will stops in Portland at the Red Lion on the River on Nov. 7-8.

Famed entertainer and dancer Tommy the Clown will be a judge at the upcoming 2010 Nordic Moves street dance event on Jan. 23-24 in Helsinki, Finland. The event, which attracts the best dancers from Finland, Russia, Latvia, Denmark, Spain, Switzerland, Morocco, Japan and the U.S., is especially known for its good atmosphere and esteemed judging panel.