NBC’s 1983 “Motown 25” special celebrated the label’s silver anniversary

Variety recounts how Berry Gordy celebrated Motown’s silver anniversary with the two-hour NBC special “Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever” on May 16, 1983. The Richard Pryor-hosted telecast featured Michael Jackson introducing the moonwalk while performing “Billie Jean.” Variety says Motown Productions later donated $100,000 from the special’s proceeds to the National Association for Sickle Cell Diseases.