<ul class="summary-list"><li>President Biden on Sunday restored a Washington tradition by attending the Kennedy Center Honors.</li><li>The annual event, which was postponed last year due to COVID-19, returned to full form this year.</li></ul><keyword id="11917122" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="president-joe-biden" source="Orion">President Joe Biden</keyword> and first lady <keyword id="11937546" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="jill-biden" source="Orion">Jill Biden</keyword> on Sunday returned a semblance of political normalcy to Washington with his much-heralded attendance at the Kennedy Center Honors, the first time that a commander-in-chief has attended the gala since 2016.This year's <a href="https://www.kennedy-center.org/whats-on/honors/">honorees</a> for lifetime artistic achievements were Motown Records founder and legendary music executive <keyword id="12682675" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="berry-gordy" source="Orion">Berry Gordy</keyword>, "Saturday Night Live" creator and producer <keyword id="12130200" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="lorne-michaels" source="Orion">Lorne Michaels</keyword>, actress and singer Bette Midler, opera singer Justino Díaz, and folk music icon Joni Mitchell.The main event, held at the main opera house at the Kennedy Center, was in many ways a return to some of the pre-pandemic glamour that has been missing from the nation's capital for nearly two years.The Bidens, who have long spoke of their commitment to the arts, received a standing ovation from attendees.The comedian David Letterman opened the event by expressing to the audience his happiness at a presence from the White House."Tonight, it is quite nice, very nice, to see the presidential box once again being occupied," he said, eliciting cheers from the crowd.He then quipped: "The same with the Oval Office."<div type="image" title="Kennedy Center Honorees 2021" height="681" width="1024" msid="88129012" hostid="261"></div>Former President Donald Trump, who had a famously frosty relationship with the arts and <keyword id="11896019" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="entertainment" source="Orion">entertainment</keyword> community after taking office in 2017, shunned the event during his first three years in office after several of the 2017 honorees threatened to boycott a White House reception if he took part in the program.And last year, with health-related protocol surrounding COVID-19, the 2020 honorees had their events postponed until earlier this year. Those recipients included the choreographer and actress Debbie Allen, singer-songwriter Joan Baez, country music star Garth Brooks, the violinist Midori, and legendary actor Dick Van Dyke.This year, the theater was fully occupied and there were no social-distancing restrictions, but attendees had to present proof of vaccination and recent negative COVID-19 tests.Before the start of the Kennedy Center event, Biden also brought back another tradition — hosting the honorees at a White House reception."We welcome everyone back," the president said to roughly 150 people in the East Room.Guests at the reception included Vice President <keyword id="11939049" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="kamala-harris" source="Orion">Kamala Harris</keyword>, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California, diplomat Caroline Kennedy, the actor Steve Martin, and the musician Herbie Hancock."Our nation is stronger, more dynamic and more vibrant because of you," Biden relayed to the honorees.The ceremony will be broadcast on CBS on December 22.

David Letterman said it's 'very nice to see the presidential box once again being occupied' with Biden's return to Kennedy Center Honors

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Supremes co-founder <keyword id="1816358" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Mary-Wilson">Mary Wilson</keyword> died Monday night, according to publicist Jay Schwartz.</li><li>Wilson's <keyword id="6354530" type="CITY" weightage="60" keywordseo="music">music</keyword> career was defined by 12 No. 1 hit singles during the 1960s, and <keyword id="1118805" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="60" keywordseo="the-Supremes">the Supremes</keyword> are considered one of <keyword id="107084" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Motown">Motown</keyword>'s major acts.</li><li>She was a "trendsetter who broke down social, racial, and gender barriers," Schwartz said.</li></ul>Mary Wilson, one of the co-founding members of the Supremes, died Monday night, her publicist told Insider. She was 76. Wilson "passed away suddenly" while in her Henderson, Nevada, home, publicist Jay Schwartz said in a statement to Insider. She was a "trendsetter who broke down social, racial, and gender barriers," Schwartz, also a close friend of Wilson's, said. Along with Wilson, the Supremes was made up of members Diana Ross and Florence Ballard. The singing group has for years been recognized as one of the biggest acts signed by the Motown Records music label. "I was always proud of Mary," Motown founder Berry Gordy said in a statement to <a href="https://www.npr.org/2021/02/09/965713448/mary-wilson-founding-member-of-the-supremes-dies-at-76">NPR</a>. "She was quite a star in her own right and over the years continued to work hard to boost the legacy of the Supremes. Mary Wilson was extremely special to me. She was a trailblazer, a diva and will be deeply missed."The group's music career was marked by wild success in the 1960s. The Supremes released popular hits still recognized today like "Stop! In the Name of Love," "Where Did Our Love Go," and "Baby Love."Throughout the 1960s, the group scored 12 No. 1 hit singles.Wilson's career began in 1959, when she joined a group called the Primettes. Eventually, the group changed its name to the Supremes. "Their influence not only carries on in contemporary R&amp;B, soul and pop, they also helped pave the way for mainstream success by Black artists across all genres," Schwartz's statement said.Beyond her successful music career, Wilson was also recognized as an author and humanitarian, Schwartz said in his statement."Wilson used her fame and flair to promote a diversity of humanitarian efforts including ending hunger, raising HIV/AIDS awareness and encouraging world peace," the publicist said.Early Tuesday, Ross on Twitter said she had learned of Wilson's death that day and expressed her condolences."I just woke up to this <keyword id="6355005" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="news">news</keyword>, my condolences to you Mary's family, I am reminded that each day is a gift, I have so many wonderful memories of our time together 'The Supremes' will live on, in our hearts," Ross tweeted.<blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—Ms. Ross (@DianaRoss) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1359107845623455753?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 9, 2021</a></blockquote>Because of coronavirus health restrictions, funeral services will be restricted to family and close friends, her publicist said. The cause of death had not been determined Tuesday, a representative from the Clark County Coroner's Office told Insider.

Mary Wilson, co-founding member of the Supremes, dies

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Well-connected political figures and megadonors are commonly found on the performing arts center's board.</li><li>One <keyword id="616568" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Kennedy-Center">Kennedy Center</keyword> appointee appears to have called for political violence, saying he was "disgusted with this lie that Biden has been chosen"</li><li>In total, Insider found more than 40 appointees across 14 federal boards who publicly embraced election fraud lies and alluded to political violence. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/federal-appointees-supported-trumps-election-lies-2021-8">Read the full investigation here</a>.</li></ul>Seats on the Kennedy Center's board of trustees have long been favored handouts to generous and loyal political supporters. The gig comes with few responsibilities, free premium seats for events at the legendary performance hall, and ample opportunity to rub elbows with some of the most powerful people in the world.In more than a dozen instances, those plum positions have gone to individuals who helped spread baseless election fraud allegations championed by former president Trump; attempted to reverse the outcome of the 2020 presidential election, and even raised the specter of political violence in fiery public comments.Insider found that the board currently includes 16 appointees who have vocally supported Trump's election fabrications, called for violence in response to the election results, or financially supported politicians who did. That's out of more than 40 federal appointees Insider discovered who had spread vote fraud lies, made calls for political violence, downplayed the January 6 <keyword id="1621083" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="insurrection">insurrection</keyword>, or gave to politicians who did.<ul><li><keyword id="30129" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Mike-Huckabee">Mike Huckabee</keyword>. The former Arkansas governor said flatly <a href="https://video.foxnews.com/v/6220630345001#sp=show-clips">on Fox News on the day of the insurrection</a> that "there is evidence" of vote fraud. Huckabee endorsed Republican lawmakers who pledged not to vote to certify the election results and disputed that Trump intended to overturn them. "If the funny business went on - that we have thousands of affidavits indicating, that we have videotape indicating, that you have expert testimony, if you have that and you don't investigate it, then you leave this cloud over Joe Biden and his election," Huckabee said on Fox. Huckabee did not respond to multiple requests for comment.</li><li><keyword id="2484352" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Pam-Bondi">Pam Bondi</keyword>. The former Florida attorney general and Trump administration aide made herself a key figure in the disgraced one-term president's failed efforts to push the false fraud narrative. "We've won Pennsylvania, and we want every vote to be counted in a fair way," <a href="https://www.tampabay.com/news/florida-politics/2020/11/05/pam-bondi-throws-herself-into-trump-effort-to-stop-counting-votes/">Bondi said</a>, three days before the state's vote was called for Biden. "Here we GO!!!" she tweeted a few days later with a screenshot of a report that then-Attorney General William Barr had authorized federal prosecutors to pursue allegations of voting irregularities. Bondi did not respond to requests for comment.</li><li><keyword id="32636" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Jon-Voight">Jon Voight</keyword>. In <a href="https://twitter.com/jonvoight/status/1326323889417322497?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1326323889417322497%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fdeadline.com%2F2020%2F11%2Fjon-voight-baseless-election-fraud-twitter-leftists-evil-corrupt-satan-1234612769%2F9%2F">a bizarre video he posted to Twitter</a> in November, the "Midnight Cowboy" star <a href="https://deadline.com/2020/11/jon-voight-baseless-election-fraud-twitter-leftists-evil-corrupt-satan-1234612769/">promoted Trump's election-fraud fraud lies</a>, compared liberals to Satan, and said the country was facing its "greatest fight since the Civil War." Voight said: "My fellow Americans, I stand here with all the feelings I do, disgusted with this lie that Biden has been chosen. As if we all don't know the truth. And when one tries to deceive, we know that one can't get away with it, there will be a price to pay …. Let us fight this fight as if it is our last fight on Earth." Paraphrasing Muhammad Ali, Voight said, "It's not over until the last punch you have." A spokeswoman for Mr. Voight told Insider he was not available for comment.</li></ul>In addition, nearly a dozen right-wing megadonors and their spouses on the Kennedy Center's board of trustees have generously funded campaigns for candidates who aligned themselves with efforts to discredit the 2020 election results and <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/551683-hawley-defends-jan-6-fist-pump">even signaled sympathy</a> with the mob that overran the Capitol.Asked for comment, a Kennedy Center spokesperson said, "For decades, across numerous administrations, we have had a bi-partisan board that works collaboratively and positively to advance the mission of the Kennedy Center. Despite differences in backgrounds and beliefs, they are all united in their support and in coming together to collaborate in the name of the Arts."At the upcoming 44th annual Kennedy Center Honors, scheduled for December 5, board members will have an opportunity to hobnob with honorees Berry Gordy, Joni Mitchell, Lorne Michaels, and Bette Midler.<h2>READ OUR FULL STORY: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/federal-appointees-supported-trumps-election-lies-2021-8">Dozens of people who supported radical right-wing efforts to overturn the 2020 election currently sit on government boards running places like the Holocaust Memorial and the Kennedy Center</a></h2>

Advocates of Trump's 'Big Lie' hold more than a dozen seats on the Kennedy Center's board of trustees

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5a81ff0ed0307258018b4630-1824/ap090319052099.jpg" alt="berry gordy" data-mce-source="AP" data-mce-caption="Berry Gordy Jr. and Smokey Robinson stand in front of Hitsville, USA, the former Motown studio in Detroit, MI, in 2009.">APBerry Gordy Jr. and Smokey Robinson stand in front of Hitsville U.S.A., the former Motown studio in Detroit, MI, in 2009.</img></div></div></div>The culture-shifting sensation that was Motown music began in January 1959, when Berry Gordy Jr. founded Tamla Records in Detroit, Michigan.&#xa0;After Gordy incorporated the name "Motown Records" in 1960, the label and its subsidiaries would usher in the careers of a number of legendary artists, including Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, and Diana Ross, along with decades of soul and R&amp;B classics.From its first major hit with Smokey Robinson &amp; the Miracles' "Shop Around" in 1960, Motown utilized a prolific "<a href="http://s.telegraph.co.uk/graphics/projects/berry-gordy-motown/index.html">assembly line</a>" approach to song production that Gordy said he adapted from working on the factory lines of Detroit's automotive industry.At "<a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&amp;rct=j&amp;q=&amp;esrc=s&amp;source=web&amp;cd=1&amp;cad=rja&amp;uact=8&amp;ved=0ahUKEwiaqZ3RgKbZAhVQwVkKHaxJBoMQFggrMAA&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.motownmuseum.org%2F&amp;usg=AOvVaw17MjIWLjDJ8TILHcQwqdRp">Hitsville U.S.A.</a>," the small Detroit home that served as the label's studio throughout the 1960s, musicians and songwriters would circle in and out to collaborate on, and produce, hit records at a rapid pace. The company eventually moved to Los Angeles in 1972, which roughly coincided with artists like Wonder and Gaye breaking from the conventional "Motown sound" to produce innovative and influential concept albums.After nearly three decades of immense commercial success, the label had financial difficulties toward the end of the 1980s, and an era ended when Gordy <a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&amp;rct=j&amp;q=&amp;esrc=s&amp;source=web&amp;cd=1&amp;cad=rja&amp;uact=8&amp;ved=0ahUKEwi6gKiZ0aPZAhUInFkKHUmNB3QQFggnMAA&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Farticles.latimes.com%2F1988-06-29%2Fbusiness%2Ffi-4916_1_motown-records&amp;usg=AOvVaw17zqRX5TVRpi6-Gnc5_sQ0">sold the label</a> to MCA for $61 million in 1988. But the power of the company's timeless music endures.In honor of Black History Month, the following is a brief retrospective on Motown's 7 most essential artists and the contributions they've made to music:

Motown's 7 most successful music artists, from Stevie Wonder to The Jackson 5

MoviePass CEO Stacy Spikes on his plans to relaunch the service (for real) and bring back an unlimited option

<div class="image-container float_right" style="width:400px"><div class="image"><img src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/5147516aeab8ea9a64000010-710-532/redfoo-australian-open-1.jpg?maxX=400" border="0" alt="redfoo australian open" width="400" /></div>Cameron Spencer/Getty Images</div>Stefan Gordy, who is also known as <keyword id="1365628" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Redfoo">Redfoo</keyword> in the group LMFAO, will take a shot at professional <keyword id="6355013" type="SPORT" weightage="60" keywordseo="tennis">tennis</keyword> as he will attempt to qualify for the U.S. Open in both singles and mixed doubles according to an Associated Press report (<a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/lfmao-redfoo-open-bid-article-1.1290704?localLinksEnabled=false">via NYDailyNews.com</a>).
Gordy, Motown Records founder Berry Gordy's son, does have a background in tennis, having played as a junior. He also currently coaches 17-year-old Ayaka Okuno, who is ranked 29th among juniors by the ITF.
Gordy, 37, will pair with Okuno in the mixed doubles at the sectional qualifying tournament in June.
Gordy is also well-known among tennis fans as a friend of <keyword id="63394" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Victoria-Azarenka">Victoria Azarenka</keyword>, the third-ranked player in the world. Redfoo is often seen at tournaments as a guest of Azarenka, and even put on <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/victoria-azarenka-and-redfoo-are-having-fun-at-the-australian-open-2013-1">quite a show at the recent Australian Open</a>. And at a recent exhibition, Azarenka had <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/video-rafael-nadal-vs-little-girl-at-bnp-2013-3">Redfoo sub in for her against Serena Williams for a poin</a>t.

Singer Redfoo Will Attempt To Qualify For The U.S. Open

The most noticeable spectator at this year's <keyword id="22576" type="SPORT" weightage="60" keywordseo="Australian-Open">Australian Open</keyword> is <keyword id="1365628" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Redfoo">Redfoo</keyword>, formerly of the popular dance music duo LMFAO and son of Motown founder Berry Gordy. He is a guest of top-seeded <keyword id="63394" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Victoria-Azarenka">Victoria Azarenka</keyword> who is aiming for her second straight Australian Open title.
Well, when she is not playing, Azarenka likes to have some fun with ESPN cameras set up outside the players' clubhouse at the tournament. The latest was Azarenka and Redfoo doing a little dance number. You can see another example of Azarenka messing with the cameras below (via @cjzero)...
<center><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8093/8410633188_6d01bfeb43_o.gif" border="0" style="width: 618px;" /></center>
 
<center><img src="http://cjzero.com/gifs/AzarenkaCameras.gif" border="0" style="width: 618px;" /></center>

Victoria Azarenka And Redfoo Danced For The Cameras At The Australian Open

<div class="image-container float_right"><div class="image"><img src="http://static3.businessinsider.com/image/5223af0069beddb80b8b4570-600-450/barrett-strong-money-thats-what-i-want-single.jpg?maxX=480" border="0" alt="Barrett Strong Money (thats what I want) (single)" width="480" />Google Images</div></div>The classic Motown song "Money (That's What I Want)" has generated millions of dollars in royalties since it was first recorded in 1959.
It's appeared in countless movies, and been covered by John Lennon, Iggy Pop and Waylon Jennings among many others.
But a quirk of American <keyword id="42436" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Copyright">copyright</keyword> law may have cheated songwriter Barrett Strong out of most of it, <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/01/arts/music/for-a-classic-motown-song-about-money-credit-is-what-he-wants.html?smid=tw-share">the New York Times' Larry Rohter reports</a>.
Mr. Strong's predicament illustrates a little-known oddity in the American copyright system, one that record and <keyword id="6354530" type="CITY" weightage="60" keywordseo="music">music</keyword> publishing companies have not hesitated to exploit. The United States Copyright Office, a division of the Library of Congress, does not notify authors of changes in registrations, and until recently the only way to check on any alterations was to go to Washington and visit the archives personally.
Strong got the original credit for the song in 1959, but was removed by Motown Records executives three years later. He was restored in 1987 when the copyright was renewed, but was then literally scratched out his name the following year, Rohter says.
Motown chief Berry Gordy argues the statute of limitations for Strong to pursue his copyright claim has passed.
But the U.S. Copyright Office does not notify of authors of changes to royalty registrations, and Strong says he's been duped:
"For 50 years, I had no idea about any of this," Mr. Strong, 72, said in an interview here, in which he acknowledged his lack of business acumen. "It was hidden from me. So how do they expect me to have acted to protect myself? It's crazy and unfair."
<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/01/arts/music/for-a-classic-motown-song-about-money-credit-is-what-he-wants.html?smid=tw-share">Read Rohter's full report on NYTimes.com » </a>

You Searched For "berry gordy" and got 8 results

David Letterman said it's 'very nice to see the presidential box once again being occupied' with Biden's return to Kennedy Center Honors

John L. Dorman

Mary Wilson, co-founding member of the Supremes, dies

Yelena Dzhanova

Advocates of Trump's 'Big Lie' hold more than a dozen seats on the Kennedy Center's board of trustees

Justin Rood

Motown's 7 most successful music artists, from Stevie Wonder to The Jackson 5

John Lynch

MoviePass CEO Stacy Spikes on his plans to relaunch the service (for real) and bring back an unlimited option

Jason Guerrasio

Singer Redfoo Will Attempt To Qualify For The U.S. Open

Cork Gaines

Victoria Azarenka And Redfoo Danced For The Cameras At The Australian Open

Cork Gaines

The Guy Who Wrote One Of The Most Famous Songs Of All Time Says US Copyright Law Cheated Him Of Millions

Rob Wile