The Legends of Motown, Starring The Temptations and The Marvelettes, to Perform

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The Center for the Arts at the University at Buffalo welcomes The Legends of Motown starring The Temptations and The Marvelettes at 8 p.m. on Feb. 14 -- Valentine's Day -- in the Mainstage Theatre in the Center for the Arts on the UB North (Amherst) Campus. Tickets will go on sale at noon on Dec. 2. The concert is presented by 104.1 WHTT-FM.

For more than 40 years, The Temptations have prospered, propelling popular music with a series of smash hits and sold-out performances throughout the world. The history of The Temptations is the history of contemporary American pop. An essential component of the original Motown machine, The Temptations began their musical life in Detroit in the early 1960s. It wasn't until 1964, however, that the Smokey Robinson-written and -produced "The Way You Do the Things You Do" turned the Temptations into stars. Many more hits followed, including: "My Girl," "Get Ready," "Ain't Too Proud to Beg," "I Can't Get Next To You," "Papa Was a Rolling Stone" and much more. With a lineup that includes founding member Otis Williams, the group has remained active, perpetuating what they've long referred to as "the tradition."

The Marvelettes occupy an esteemed place in the history of American popular music as the group that caused Motown, and most notable Berry Gordy, to change the label's focus from single bluesy soul artists to a smooth harmonic sound that transcended the prior racial limits of rhythm and blues. With their first record, "Please Mr. Postman" hitting the top spot on the charts and selling 3 million records in a crossover market, Motown was to concentrate on the Marvelettes, Supremes, Temptations, Four Tops and Martha and the Vandellas and create a new group pop-soul sound that totally dominated the music charts until the advent of The Beatles four years later.

Tickets for The Legends of Motown starring The Temptations and The Marvelettes are $49.50 and $39.50. Tickets are available from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday in the Center for the Arts Box Office and all Ticketmaster locations, including Kaufmann's. To charge tickets, call 852-5000; in Canada, call 1-416-870-8000. For group sales, call 645-6771. For more information, call 645-ARTS. The Center for the Arts is a Ticketfast location.