With such a rich musical pedigree, it’s no wonder that LMFAO have become an international pop phenomenon. Before their tour touches down in Columbus, they are scheduled to perform in glamorous, exotic locales such as Milan, Italy; Fortaleza, Brazil, and Paris, France.

By CHRIS BOURNEA

Staff Writer

COLUMBUS OHIO -- Hip-hop/dance duo LMFAO will perform the only Ohio date on their world tour at Nationwide Arena in downtown Columbus on May 22. Although it has not been widely publicized, the members of the group are descended from legendary Motown founder, the late Berry Gordy.

LMFAO consists of Stefan Gordy, 37 (known as DJ Redfoo) and his nephew, Skyler Gordy, 25 (DJ SkyBlu). Stefan Gordy is the son of Berry Gordy and video director/writer Nancy Leiviska. Stefan is also the half-brother of Rhonda Ross Kendrick (Berry Gordy and Diana Ross’ daughter) and singer Rockwell (famous for the hit “Someone’s Watching Me”) and the former brother-in-law of Jermaine Jackson. Skyler is Berry Gordy’s grandson (the son of Berry Gordy IV and his wife, Valerie Robeson).

With such a rich musical pedigree, it’s no wonder that LMFAO have become an international pop phenomenon. Before their tour touches down in Columbus, they are scheduled to perform in glamorous, exotic locales such as Milan, Italy; Fortaleza, Brazil, and Paris, France.

While Stefan and Skyler may not advertise their connection to Motown, they are carrying on the historic music label’s tradition of having African-American entertainers serve as ambassadors for American pop culture around the world. Just as their famous forebear, Berry Gordy, turned acts such as The Temptations, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles and the Supremes into global superstars, LFMAO have developed a worldwide following in a relatively short amount of time.

Although they are now famous enough to headline arenas, LFMAO only have two full-length albums to their credit. The duo made their debut in July 2008, when they released their “Party Rock” EP on the iTunes music store. A year later, they released a full-length version of the album, which shot to number two on the Billboard dance chart.

LFMAO are currently riding on the success of their sophomore album, “Sorry for Party Rocking,” which was released in June 2011. The single “Sexy and I Know It” launched the group to international fame last fall. They received a Grammy nomination for Best Dance/Electronica Album, an American Music Award nomination for Favorite Pop/Rock Band/Duo/Group and a MTV Video Music Award for Best Choreography.

LFMAO were able to reach an even wider global audience in February, when they performed with Madonna during her Super Bowl half-time show. It’s fitting that the duo would share a stage with Madonna, since the Gordys and the Material Girl herself have roots in Detroit.

Like the Motown music factory that their father and grandfather Berry Gordy founded, Stefan and Skyler Gordy have achieved crossover pop success. Motown represented African-American excellence, but from the very beginning, Motown artists captured the pop as well as the R&B charts and played to integrated audiences. Similarly, LFMAO are known more as a dance/pop group than for rap/hip-hop.

Whether LFMAO can sustain a long career that spans decades like Berry Gordy and many of the Motown artists he groomed for fame, or if the young duo is just the hip, trendy flavor of the moment, remains to be seen. But if they’ve inherited any of the trademark showmanship from their Motown legacy, they’re sure to put on a world-class show when they bring their act to Columbus.

For tickets and more information, visit Nationwide.com or any Ticketmaster outlet.