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Memorial set for Bobby Taylor

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A memorial, “The Way We Were: Celebration of Life,” will be held on Monday, Sept. 25 for the late Motown Records great Bobby Taylor. The event will take place from 7 p.m. to midnight at the Bonaventure Hotel in Downtown Los Angeles, 404 S. Figueroa St.

Taylor was being treated for leukemia when he died in Hong Kong on July 22. He was the lead singer of  Bobby Taylor and the Vancouvers known for the 1969 hit “Does Your Moma Know About Me?”

Taylor may be most remembered as the first producer of the Jackson 5 who opened for his group at a 1968 concert in Chicago. Taylor was impressed by the five brothers from Gary, Ind., and soon contacted Motown President Barry Gordy to schedule an audition. The group was soon signed to Motown Records.

“We want to tell the stories of times we shared with him, and how hard he made us laugh and what listening to him sing meant to us,” said Motown veteran Cornelius Grant. “We will tell our ‘Bobby’ stories, so you know there will be some tears, but laughter and more laughter. He was ‘Bobby Taylor and the Vancouvers. He was the guy who kept a lion in his apartment in Detroit. He’s the guy who brought those little Jackson kids from Indiana to Motown.”

Among the guests expected to attend is Tommy Chong of Cheech and Chong fame, who was once a member of the Vancouvers.

A GoFundMe account has been established for the celebration. Please visit www.gofundme.com/donations-for-bobby-taylor/donate.

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