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PEOPLE & ARTS Saturday 20 OctOber 2018

Ambassadors for Motown sound seek more of it in hometown

By JEFF KAROUB Belgrave’s crusade is Mark
Associated Press Scott, who joined the
DETROIT (AP) — From the legendary Motown group
auditorium of Detroit’s The Miracles about 15 years
main library on a recent ago and sings the leads
weeknight emerged the made famous by Smokey
sound of Motown: Spirited Robinson.
takes of tunes that sprung “When we go overseas, the
from a studio just a few response is enormous,” said
miles away and made their Scott, who also performed
way around the world. at the Detroit library. “A lot
Some of Detroit’s best of people come here to
singers and musicians visit, and they’re not able
breathed new life into to see a lot of Motown acts
beloved songs more than consistently. ... I think the
a half-century old: “Signed, thing about Detroit that the
Sealed, Delivered I’m venues need to start doing
Yours.” ‘’Dancing in the is respecting the legacy.”
Street.” ‘’Stop! In the Name Belgrave isn’t giving up.
of Love.” ‘’Papa Was a She’s grateful for places like
Rolling Stone.” the library, which has long
They still beguile audiences supported local music and
across the globe, but the artists, including those with
music of Stevie Wonder, In this July 31, 2018, photo, from left, Mark Scott of The Miracles, Angela Williams, Roschelle connections to or a love for
Martha Reeves, the Laughhunn of the Vandellas, Emmanuel (E.J.) Johnson of Enchantment, Bertha Gibson, Hazelette Motown. She’s looking for a
Supremes and Temptations Crosby, and Al Chisholm of the Contours perform in Detroit. new venue or two to take
doesn’t get heard regularly Associated Press up the cause.
and reliably in the city of Motown Museum. And who spins records from the New Orleans music. Why To be sure, she’s been
its birth. Joan Belgrave, then what?” label and era. To top it off, don’t we have a place like feeling a surge of support
one of the voices belting Sure, you can catch a whiff the Motown Museum plans that in Detroit?” for Detroit’s musical
out Motown classics on of Hitsville U.S.A. here and a major expansion and Belgrave had high hopes heritage as artists have
the library stage, is out to there in Detroit. Classic upgrade that includes a for something regular been paying homage to
change that as the label Motown singers and groups performance space. earlier this year when Aretha Franklin , who died
nears its 60th anniversary — some of which still boast Still, Belgrave said it’s not she was brought in to Aug. 16 at 76. Franklin
early next year. an original member or two enough for a city with book entertainment at a wasn’t officially a Motown
“There’s no place that’s — certainly “can’t forget such a sonic lineage and downtown bar. They started artist, but alums consider
dedicated to that genre. the Motor City,” to quote a legacy. an open jam session one her family: She grew up
And this is Detroit,” said Reeves and the Vandellas “Marcus and I would go to weeknight and brought alongside Robinson and
Belgrave, wife of the late hit, on a tour. Other artists New Orleans, Preservation in some Motown tribute recorded and toured with
jazz trumpeting great and might throw a Motown song Hall ,” she said. “It’s just a bands on the weekends, the Four Tops. Robinson
Motown player Marcus or two into their set lists. little bitty place. But it’s a but the efforts stalled when delivered a touching
Belgrave . “People come Further, there are tribute place designated for that the bar closed. tribute to her at her funeral,
here (and) they go to the bands and even a local DJ place’s music — traditional Among those joining as did Stevie Wonder.q

‘The Darkness’ is insightful character study

By OLINE H. COGDILL might not seem as if the when her boss, Magnus, says he really didn’t mean
Associated Press author could sustain a tells her that she will be for her to start an investi-
“The Darkness” (Minotaur), series based on this char- leaving in two weeks. gation.
by Ragnar Jonasson acter. But “The Darkness” She’ll get her full salary but While “The Darkness” takes
Icelandic author Ragnar melds an insightful charac- the department needs to a grim path, Jonasson
Jonasson takes a ma- ter study with a solid plot make room for a less expe- elevates the plot with a
jor chance — that works for an outstanding novel rienced man who’s been compelling look at a de-
extremely well — in “The and shows how he could hired. tective who has dealt with
Darkness,” the launch of sustain this as a series. As a consolation, Magnus extreme personal losses
a new series about De- A widow whose only child tells Hulda she can work on and worries that she is fac-
tective Inspector Hulda died decades ago, the a cold case of her choos- ing a retirement, and old
Hermannsdottir. Rather perpetually depressed ing before she leaves. Hul- age, alone. Angry at hav-
than meeting the Reyk- Hulda has lived for her da plunges into the case ing dealt with sexism and
javik, Iceland, detective work ever since. She of Elena, an asylum-seek- ageism, Hulda has never This cover image released
at the beginning or even thrives on this job, despite ing Russian woman whose stopped being a good by Minotaur shows “The
by
Ragnar
Darkness,”
the middle of her career, being passed over for pro- death was ruled a suicide. detective, a situation Jonasson.
Jonasson introduces Hulda motions that have gone Hulda quickly realizes that even Magnus is forced to Associated Press
at the end of the career to younger and less quali- her colleague’s investiga- acknowledge. Hulda is not
that has been her lifeline. fied men. The 64-year-old tion was, at best, careless. the easiest person to like — Hulda may be at the close
Hulda’s swan song as a dreads that mandatory re- Hulda’s sense of justice prickly and strident — but of her career, but Jonas-
detective, as well as other tirement is near, but that’s energizes her, despite rais- Jonasson finds many lay- son is just getting started
choices Jonasson makes, next year. She’s shattered ing the ire of Magnus, who ers to his new character. with this new series.q