CLEVELAND -- An "Upbeat" rock 'n' roll reunion: That's what one could call events taking place at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in celebration of the music show Thursday.

The stars came back to Cleveland to celebrate WEWS studios being designated a rock n' roll landmark. The artists appeared on the show, hosted by NewsChannel5's Don Webster during the 1960s and '70s.

Many have said that the variety music show helped up-and-coming artists. Gary Lewis of Gary Lewis and the Playboys concurs that the show helped artists' careers.

"I knew that anything would be good for my career," he says. "Because of the show, I got several gigs in the Ohio Valley area."

He adds that after appearing on "Upbeat," he got a job performing at a Euclid Beach concert.

Kim Weston, who is probably best remembered for a duet with Marvin Gaye, said that when musicians came to Cleveland, they wanted to get on the "Upbeat" show.

"It was a prestigious thing to come into Cleveland and appear on the show," she says.

Although many may recognize her as half of the duo that sang "It Takes Two Baby," she says that her recording of the black national anthem is what stands out the most to her.

Claudette Robinson, of the Miracles, also came back to celebrate the show making history.

She knows that the "Upbeat" performances help drive their tunes to the top of the charts. She also attributes her group's success to a name change from the Miracles to Smokey Robinson and the Miracles. This happened in 1971.

"It was Berry Gordy's idea so that it could help the group be identified," she says. "There were groups going around impersonating the Miracles and other groups. This way, no groups could impersonate the group."

Mitch Ryder remembers his appearance on the show like it was yesterday, because it was the show that included the last live performance by Otis Redding. Ryder and Redding sang a duet.

Redding was killed in an airplane crash after the show.

Ryder says that he was somewhat established as an artist when he appeared on the show, but it made his career even better.

Sales and concert crowds grew.

For Freda Payne, coming to the Rock Hall was like paying a tribute to music.

When she appeared on the show, she had good feelings, and some of those feelings returned with her trip to Cleveland.

"It was very exhilarating to know that it was happening," Payne said.

In the 1960s, it was the success as an artist. Today, it was being recognized as a part of rock 'n' roll history -- a place that Payne and the others are happy to take.