It’s been said that jazz is the greatest American art form, but when it comes to uniquely American musical exports, it probably isn’t the most beloved. That honor belongs to a genre that was born in the mind of Detroit’s Berry Gordy. With a mere $800, the songwriter formed Motown Records, and the rest is history. Thanks to a perfect confluence of soul and pop, the portmanteau “Motown” quickly became a metonym for the infectious and universally loved hits that the label was churning out. Honestly, who can resist The Temptations? For those who second that emotion, Motown The Musical comes to Tempe’s Gammage Auditorium, 1200 South Forest Avenue, at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 23. Tickets are $64 and up. Visit www.asugammage.com or call 800-765-1259 for details.
April 21-25, 7:30 p.m.; Sat., April 25, 2 p.m.; Sun., April 26, 1 & 6:30 p.m., 2015