De Passe Jones Entertainment
de Passe Jones Entertainment is an American entertainment content provider led by Suzanne de Passe and Madison Jones that sources, develops, acquires, and produces a variety of television, motion picture, theater, new media, and print content. The company was founded by Berry Gordy Jr., in 1968, as Motown Productions, the film and television arm of Gordy's Motown Records label. It became de Passe Entertainment in 1992, then in 2008, joining forces with Jones, de Passe Jones Entertainment.
History
Motown Productions
Motown Productions' original focus was on the production of television specials for its star recording artists. These included TCB and G.I.T. on Broadway, starring Diana Ross & the Supremes with The Temptations, The Temptations Show, The Smokey Robinson Show, Diana! starring Diana Ross, and Goin' Back to Indiana starring The Jackson 5. When Suzanne de Passe joined Motown in 1968, much of her work involved the production of these television specials. Motown's first television series was The Jackson 5ive, a Saturday morning cartoon by Rankin/Bass starring characters based upon Motown's popular teen act.The company's first feature film was Lady [Sings the Blues (film)|Lady Sings the Blues], a Billie Holiday biographical film starring Diana Ross as Holliday and Billy Dee Williams as her husband Louis McKay. After Lady Sings the Blues became a success, garnering box office success and five Academy Award nominations, Ross and Williams were paired for a second feature, Mahogany. Both films were coupled with successful music releases: Lady Sings the Blues was accompanied with a platinum-selling soundtrack album by Ross, while Mahogany featured Ross' number-one pop hit "Theme from Mahogany (Do You Know Where You're Going To)" Other Motown films included Scott Joplin, another musician biopic starring Billy Dee Williams, and Thank God It's Friday, which starred Donna Summer and featured her hit song "Last Dance".
Following the commercial and critical failure of Motown's eighth film, a 1978 adaptation of the Broadway musical The Wiz starring Diana Ross and the Jackson 5's Michael Jackson, the company focused more closely on television. Its productions during the late 1970s and early 1980s included TV movies such as Amateur Night at the Dixie Bar and Grill, and Callie & Son and TV specials such as the popular and successful Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, and Forever. Motown 25, an anniversary special for the Motown Records label, was most noted for featuring Michael Jackson's famous performance of his non-Motown hit song "Billie Jean". By this time, Suzanne de Passe had become the executive producer in charge of Motown's film and TV products. Motown briefly returned to feature films with Berry Gordy's The Last Dragon, which became Motown's final theatrical feature. In 1986, Motown Productions had inked an agreement with video distributor MCA Home Video in an effort to expand the direct-to-video market with a series of "Motown Video Originals" mini-movie series.
de Passe Entertainment
In 1988, Gordy sold Motown Records to MCA Inc. and Boston Ventures. The following year, he sold Motown Productions to de Passe, and the company continued its success in television with the popular miniseries Lonesome Dove. A sequel, Streets of Laredo, would follow in 1995. Changing its name to de Passe Entertainment in 1992, the company has produced a number of successful TV programs, among them Sister, Sister, Smart Guy, and It's Showtime at the Apollo. Successful TV specials from the company include Motown biopics such as The Jacksons: An American Dream and The Temptations, The Loretta Claiborne Story, and the Essence Awards and NAACP Image Awards telecasts. de Passe Entertainment also produced the feature films Class Act, starring rappers Kid 'n Play, and Who's the Man?, starring hip-hop radio personalities Doctor Dré and Ed Lover.de Passe Jones Entertainment
In 2008, Suzanne de Passe joined with veteran producer Madison Jones to form de Passe Jones Entertainment which is headquartered in Los Angeles, California.Films
Motown Productions
The Supremes In The Orient Lady Sings the Blues Mahogany The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings Scott Joplin Big Time Thank God It's Friday Almost Summer The Wiz- ''The Last Dragon''
de Passe Entertainment
Class Act- ''Who's the Man?''
Notable television films, miniseries, and specials
Motown Productions
TCB G.I.T. on Broadway The Temptations Show The Smokey Robinson Show Diana! Goin' Back to Indiana An Evening with Diana Ross Amateur Night at the Dixie Bar and Grill Callie & Son Happy Endings Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever Motown Returns to the Apollo The Motown Revue Temptations and Four Tops Marvin Gaye Motown Merry Christmas Michael Jackson Lonesome Dove Small Sacrificesde Passe Entertainment
Streets of Laredo The Temptations Motown 40: The Music is Forever Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century Zenon: The Zequel Motown 45- ''Zenon: Z3''
Notable television series
Motown Productions
The Jackson 5ive Nightlife- ''Sidekicks''
de Passe Entertainment
Sister, Sister Smart Guy Showtime at the Apollo All American Girl- ''On Our Own''