Film & TV / Music / Business & brands
Suzanne de Passe
born 1946 · producer, record and television executive
Harlem-raised executive who joined Motown in Detroit as Berry Gordy's creative assistant, shaped the Jackson 5's act and later ran Motown Productions.
- Born
New York City, New York
age 80- Birth name
- Suzanna Celeste de Passe
- Detroit years
- late 1960s–1972
- Field
- Film & TV, Music, Business & brands
01 / The Detroit story
The Detroit story
A Syracuse University graduate who had booked acts at New York's Cheetah nightclub, de Passe came to Motown through her friendship with the Supremes' Cindy Birdsong and became creative assistant to Berry Gordy while the company was still based in Detroit. Early on she developed the Jackson 5's wardrobe and the stage show they took on the road. She co-wrote the screenplay of Lady Sings the Blues, earning an Academy Award nomination as the first person of color nominated for original screenplay, and she moved Motown into television with specials such as Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever. As head of Motown Productions she produced the miniseries Lonesome Dove; with her own company she made The Temptations miniseries (1998). The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame selected her for the Ahmet Ertegun Award in 2024.
Highlights
- Creative assistant to Berry Gordy from the late 1960s
- Developed the Jackson 5's wardrobe and stage act
- Oscar nomination for co-writing Lady Sings the Blues (1972)
- Produced Motown 25 and the miniseries Lonesome Dove
- Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Ahmet Ertegun Award (2024)
02 / Their Detroit places
Their Detroit places 1
Where they lived, worked, performed and liked to hang out. Closed and demolished places stay here too, because they are part of the city's history.
Worked here · c. 1968–1972
Donovan Building (Motown headquarters, 1968–1972)
Demolished · 1923–2006
Motown's Detroit headquarters when she joined the company. Demolished in 2006; the site is now part of the Little Caesars Arena plaza.