Hits from Motown liven up the Life Enrichment Center

The Life Enrichment Center of Oyster Bay was hopping on April 19 when roughly 100 people enjoyed a lively evening of Motown hits. Dance instructor, singer and DJ Louis Delprete and his horns were there to perform some of the numbers live to the delight of attendees. And Delprete would also “spin the records” of the famous songs. Plenty of dancing and laughter could be heard, as people shared their memories of what the songs meant to them and what the world was like back then.

Motown Records were founded by Berry Gordy, Jr. in Detroit Michigan in 1959. He needed to borrow $800 from his family to start the business which would make him quite wealthy years later. Motown became one of the most successful Black-owned businesses as well as one of the most influential record companies in American history.

It didn’t take long for Motown’s first number one single to hit the Billboard Hot 100 chart — “My Girl,” performed by Mary Wells in 1964. Motown’s biggest act was the Supremes but there were so many other favorites too. Although Gordy shut down his business in 1972, his songs remain beloved and can be heard often as soundtracks in movies, on the radio or in the car.

The evening didn’t just include dancing and live performances. There was plenty of soul food to enjoy at the buffet, which included fried chicken.