TCM to celebrate Motown's 50th anniversary

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LOS ANGELES, March 30 (UPI) -- Turner Classic Movies says it plans to mark with a film marathon the 50th anniversary of the founding of Detroit's Motown Records.

The cable television network said it will screen on April 14 the music-themed movies "Thank God It's Friday," "Standing in the Shadows of Motown" and "Lady Sings the Blues," as well as "The Big Chill" and "Norman… Is that You?" -- all of which feature Motown soundtracks.

"Since the 1960s, Motown has been keeping America grooving with some of the hottest songs on the radio, featuring such stars as Diana Ross, Smokey Robinson, The Temptations and Marvin Gaye," the network said in a news release Tuesday. "Turner Classic Movies proudly celebrates Motown's 50th anniversary with an all-night movie marathon slated for April 14 ... exactly 50 years to the day that Berry Gordy Jr. officially incorporated the company."