But on top of that, she'd been instrumental in making Motown Records the globally recognised business it became and remains, whilst also acting as a mentor to many of the company's artists, including a young Stevie Wonder, in its early days.

This seems to have happened almost by accident. She was running a family bank in the late 50s. Each member of the large Gordy family paid in $10 a month to the bank, and the money was used to provide loans back to family members when they were needed. That's quite an amazing thing in itself, and in 1959 one of the Gordys who came forward asking for financial help was her younger brother, Berry Gordy Jr. He wanted $800 to set up a record label.

As well as lending him the money, she came on board and eventually became the company's CEO. She only resigned the position in 1972 when the company moved to LA and she decided to stay back in Detroit, where she had grown up.

In 1985, she set up a Motown Historical Museum, preserving the company's original HQ, along with the studio where many of Motown's early hits were recorded, and the huge amount of memorabilia she had collected over the years.

But still, Motown is only part of her life. A big part, but not the only significant thing she ever did. Not by a long way. Looking through her 91 year life, you wonder when she ever got time to sit down and take stock of it all. It's an inspiring and slightly scary. Though the one overriding theme seems to be that everything she ever did benefitted Detroit in some way, a city she lived in for nearly 90 years. And a city she must have seen visibly fall apart in that time, but it was a city she stuck by nonetheless until the end.

Also a talented illustrator, next month he publishes his second graphic novel through Ninja Tune, 'Space Cadet'. Like his first, 'Nufonia Must Fall', the book comes with a soundtrack album (or "still picture score", as it's being called), in this case a full album of gentle piano-based music.

Summarising the book's story, Kid Koala said: "He's the guardian robot programmed to protect the sweetest astronaut on this (or any) planet. But when she blasts off on a solo mission of outer-space adventure, he is left to wonder... What now? A tomorrow-days lullaby about finding your place in the universe".

The book and album are due for release on 19 Sep, and on 13 Sep he will host a special event dubbed 'Music To Draw To'. Comprising a story-related Q&A, character introductions, and a live performance, the one-off event will take place at the Material/Red Gallery on London's Rivington Street from 7pm. The only rule, according to the man himself, is "no dancing".

The current Sugababes disputed that Buena had any reasonable claim to the name, and argued that Universal already technically owned it anyway, even though they hadn't formerly registered it with the trademark authorities. Expanding on that claim, Universal released a statement saying that the group's record contract - which bound current and past members - granted the company rights to use the name in connection to audio and video recordings. With all that in mind, the band and Universal both separately submitted objections to Buena's application.

In the meantime, Buena hinted that she was planning to retire from music to become a child psychologist, and the Sugababes were dropped by Universal/Island and signed a new deal with Sony/RCA. Buena also hinted that she might abandon her trademark application and all went quiet.

But then this week Buena posted to her Facebook page: "I won the official name of the Sugababes now! I deserve this! I'm over the moon!"

Big news. If what she said was true, it would potentially mean that the current group would no longer be able to use their own name, not without paying Buena a royalty, at least. And that's how many publications reported it, taking Buena's status update at face value without checking the publicly accessible European trademark authority database. Doing that, however, showed it wasn't quite as simple as the former Babe made it sound.

True, she had indeed been granted the right to use the name, but not in all instances, as she had originally applied for. In fact, those objections raised by the group and their label had been successful, and in April (while they were still signed to Universal/Island), the current line-up had been granted the trademark in almost all occurrences. Then earlier this month, Buena was granted what was left: stationery and giftwrap.

Writing sets and wrapping paper are not, as you may have already noticed, core to any pop group's operations. And on Thursday the band's management issued a statement to clarify the situation, in which they explained: "Over four months ago (21 Apr 2011) it was officially confirmed by the European Trade Marks Department that Sugababes were successful in claiming their ongoing right to use the name 'Sugababes' for all areas of commercial activity that the band requires, namely within the music, sound recording and entertainment industry, as well as being granted extensive rights to produce a wide range of merchandise".

They added: "The trademark rights for Class 16 (excluding those items which are already covered by Sugababes merchandise, eg posters, stickers, etc.) include certain paper and cardboard goods, such as stationery, paper gift wrap and paper gift wrapping ribbons. This is a category that currently holds no commercial interest for the band and, accordingly, the band has no immediate plans to challenge Ms Buena for these rights".