In a neglected corner were the session musicians the Funk Brothers, who played on God knows how many hit songs. Over there was the talent Stevie Wonder, whom the label discovered when he was 11 Marvin Gaye, who wanted so much to be a jazz crooner before he came into his own in the late 60's and, above all, Diana Ross, whom the label put its stake in early on, and who was told so many times that she was a star that she drove off one of the Supremes before quitting to launch a solo career. Over here were the songwriters Robinson and the team of Eddie Holland, Lamont Dozier, and Brian Holland (Holland-Dozier, Holland, or H-D-H). It is rumored that Gordy modeled his hit factory after the Detroit car assembly line that he knew so well: Make a good product, then make something similar, and make it quick. All became part of what would come to be known as the Motown Sound. Over the next decade, the sheer number of chart-topping artists, musicians, and groups produced by Motown defied comprehension: Martha and the Vandellas, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, The Temptations, The Four Tops, Diana Ross and the Supremes, Gladys Knight and the Pips, The Jackson 5, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye. Postman," by The Marvelettes, was the label's first No. The two had become friends years earlier and Robinson, who was the lead singer of a band called The Miracles, produced, wrote, and sang several of Motown's most memorable hits including the labels' first smash song, "Shop Around" in 1960. ( See an audio slideshow of five of Motown's best tunes.)Ī former boxer and automobile worker, Berry Gordy was a nascent songwriter when, at the urging of Smokey Robinson, a songwriter ten years younger than Gordy, he decided to establish Motown Records. Arriving at the height of the civil rights movement, Motown was a black-owned, black-centered business that gave white America something they just could not get enough of joyous, sad, romantic, mad, groovin', movin' music. 12, 1959, Motown quickly became another Detroit factory where the Big Three produced automobiles, Motown assembled the soul and pop classics that changed America. Then the slogan came true.įounded on Jan. Grand Blvd, the sign demonstrated Gordy's blazing and at the time, unearned arrogance. To mark the 60th Anniversary of Motown's foundation, Hot Press editor Niall Stokes will be on BBC Radio Foyle tomorrow, January 12, at 1.20/1.25, to talk about the history of the label.Follow the front windows of Motown Records' Detroit headquarters was a sign that read "Hitsville U.S.A." Placed there by Motown founder Berry Gordy soon after his company moved into the modest home at 2648 W. As an African American-owned label, it was responsible for helping black artists enter the cultural and musical mainstream. Motown also had an important part to play in the racial integration of popular music. Postman' helped exemplify its early success, while music giants like The Supremes, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder and The Jackson 5 all helped the label go from successful to legendary. Tracks like Barrett Strong's 'Money (That's What I want)' and The Marvellette's 'Please Mr. This was the date when Tamla Records was founded, by Berry Gordy Jr.Ī year later, the label was incorporated as the Motown Record Corporation ( a portmanteau of "motor" and "town") and, centred in Detroit, it quickly propelled many African-American artists into the pop mainstream.ĭuring the 1960s, the Motown label had unprecedented success in popular music, with as many as 110 singles reaching the Top 10 between 1960-1971. January 12 is widely considered to be the day when motown first shook up the music world.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |