Designation Detr@it

Motown Memories

Birmingham lawyer donates rare Motown memorabilia to the Detroit Historical Museum.

Jackie Headapohl I Managing Editor

enowned Birmingham-
based lawyer Henry Baskin
and host of Due Process on
WTVS-TV (Channel 56) has
a lot of music memorabilia at his
home, which he accumulated during
his career as an entertainment lawyer
representing such Motown stars as
Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson and
Diana Ross.
Baskin knew Gaye well, having
represented him for 18 years. "He
was one of the first people to help the
Channel 56 Auction when it was held
at Tel Twelve Mall," Baskin reminisced.
Eventually, Motown stars began
moving to Los Angeles, and Detroit's
music scene began to fade. Baskin,
however, would still take his collec-
tion of gold and platinum records
to Detroit high schools to hopefully
inspire students who had aspirations
in the music business.
"Eventually, I realized I had no
reason to retain my collection and no
reason not to give back to the corn-
munity," said Baskin, who was born

R

and raised in Detroit, went to Central
High School and attended Wayne
State University. "I began looking for
a place to give them to."
Baskin decided on the Detroit
Historical Museum. In late August,
he visited the Streets of Old Detroit
at the Detroit Historical Museum to
present a donation from his collection
of Motown records.
Bob Bury, executive director and
CEO of the Detroit Historical Society,
accepted a platinum recording of
Marvin Gaye's Let's Get It On, gold re-
cords including Eddie Kendricks' Boo-
gie Down, Marvin Gaye Live and Eddie
Kendricks' The Eddie Kendricks Album
and several original album covers for
Motown artists including Rare Earth,
David Ruffin and other Detroit-based
groups. These donated artifacts will
be placed into the Allesee Gallery
of Culture, a new exhibition of the
Detroit Historical Museum when it
reopens in November.
"Detroit has a stunning reputation
for creating music," Baskin said. "It

was a great industry,
fueling the economy
of Detroit through the
1 970s-1 980s. This
memorabilia will be
able to feed the inspi-
ration of those that
view it."
Baskin, who has
dedicated his legal
career to child welfare
and domestic violence
issues, is also a board
member of Haven,
an Oakland County
organization helping
Birmingham-based attorney Henry Baskin donates
victims of violence.
several valuable records from his Motown collection
A member of Temple
to the Detroit Historical Society, sharing the stories
Shir Shalom, Baskin
behind the platinum and gold recordings with CEO
said he was raised to
and executive director Bob Bury.
give tzedakah. "Every-
body has time to give
Baskin said that while the records
or valuables to share," he said. "I hope
mean a great deal to him and to his
this donation will encourage young
family, son Marc, daughter Dana,
artists to pursue their own dreams
and four grandchildren, "they really
and spur others to contribute their
belong to the city." Li
memorabilia to the museum."

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September 20 • 2012

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