September 28, 1968 Gilroy Stadium, Gary, IN

On September 28, 1968, Berry Gordy offered some of his biggest stars to honor Gary, Indiana Mayor Richard G. Hatcher as "the mayor of the century." Stevie Wonder, Shorty Long, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Bobby Taylor and the Vancouvers, and Abdullah performed for an audience of 8,000 Gary teens. Proceeds from "Motown Soul Day" went to "disadvantaged youths" and the ticket price was just $1.50 to make it affordable to those who didn't have a lot of money. Reports of the event from the Chicago Defender do not indicate whether any local groups performed. If so, the Jackson 5 would have been likely candidates (and it's interesting that two of the Motown groups who did perform are the two most frequently credited with discovering the J5).