Motown High School Marching Band Unit Ms. Zunic The History of

Berry Gordy, Jr Detriot songwriter Berry Gordy, Jr. notices talent in a young singing group fronted by Smokey Robinson. Gordy convinces the group to change their name from the Matadors to the Miracles. Frontman Smokey Robinson convinces Gordy to start his own record label.

Tamla Records 1959 –After the success of his first Top 10 hit and an $800 loan from his family, Berry Gordy, Jr. launches the Tamla Record Company. –The company’s first release was Marv Johnson’s “Come to Me” which became a Top 30 hit on the pop charts –Gordy changes the record label name to Motown Record Corporation after the Motor City (Detroit).

Hitsville, U.S.A. Gordy went on to purchase a home at 2648 W. Grand Blvd. in Detroit. With the basement turned recording studio, Hitsville, U.S.A. becomes Motown Records’ headquarters. By 1960 Motown Records was known as “The Sound of Young America.”

The Four Tops Came together at a birthday party in Detroit Were first known as the Four Aims Stayed together as a group for over forty years until Lawrence Payton’s death (1997) Well known for having a baritone lead singer, rather than the typical tenor.

Top Hits Baby I Need Your Loving – 1964 (U.S. #11) I Can’t Help Myself – 1965 (U.S. #1) It’s the Same Old Song – 1965 (U.S. #5) Reach Out I’ll Be There – 1966 (U.S. #1) Standing in the Shadows of Love – 1966 (U.S. #6) Walk Away Renee – 1968 (U.S. #14)

Marvin Gaye The 1960s found Marvin Gaye as Motown’s top solo artist (male) Discharged for not following orders from the U.S. Air Force Marvin Gaye was first signed by Berry Gordy as a drummer for other famous acts

Top Hits How Sweet It Is – 1964 (U.S. #6) I Heard it Through the Grapevine – 1968 (U.S. #1) What’s Going On – 1971 (U.S. #2) Mercy Mercy Me – 1971 (U.S. #4)

Tammi Terrell Began in music business at 13 Best known for duets with Marvin Gaye Collapsed suddenly at a performance with Gaye at a Virginia College Died shortly later from a brain tumor (at the age of 24)

Top Hits (Duets with Marvin Gaye) Ain’t No Mountain High Enough – 1967 (U.S. #19) Your Precious Love – 1967 (U.S. #5) If I Could Build My Whole World Around You – 1967 (U.S. #10) If This World Were Mine – 1968 (U.S. #68) Ain’t Nothin Like the Real Thing – 1968 (U.S. #8) You’re All I Need to Get By – 1968 (U.S. #7)

The Jackson 5 Considered in the 1970s to be one of the “biggest sensations in pop music” Comprised of the 5 eldest Jackson brothers: Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon and Michael Became the first group to have their first four singles with a major label reach the top of the American charts

Top Hits I Want You Back – 1969 (U.S. #1, R&B #1) ABC – 1970 (U.S. #1, R&B #1) The Love You Save – 1970 (U.S. #1, R&B #1) I’ll Be There – 1970 (U.S. #1, R&B #1) Never Can Say Goodbye – 1971 (U.S. #2, R&B #1) Dancing Machine – 1974 (U.S. #2, R&B #1)

Smokey Robinson and the Miracles Motown Records’ first successful group Robinson gained the nickname “Smokey” from his love of cowboy movies Name was changed from Matadors to Miracles because the original members included a female member

Top Hits Shop Around – 1960 (U.S. #2) You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me – 1963 (U.S. #8) Mickey’s Monkey – 1963 (U.S. #8) I Second that Emotion – 1967 (U.S. #4) The Tears of a Clown – 1970 (U.S. #1)

Gladys Knight and the Pips Comprised of family members: Gladys, brother Merald (“Bubba”), and cousins Edward and William The group was named after cousin James “Pip” Woods I Heard it Through the Grapevine was Motown’s best-selling single at the time of its release

Top Hits I Heard It Through the Grapevine – 1967 (U.S. #2) If I Were Your Woman – 1970 (U.S. #9) Midnight Train To Georgia – 1973 (U.S. #1) Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me – 1974 (U.S. 3) I’ve Got to Use My Imagination – 1974 (U.S. #4)

Stevie Wonder Recorded over 30 Top 10 hits Holds 21 Grammy Awards and an Oscar Was blinded from excessive oxygen levels as a newborn Started at a very young age singing and playing instruments in church

Top Hits Fingertips – Part 2 – 1963 (U.S. #1) Uptight – 1965 (U.S. #3) I Was Made to Love Her – 1967 (U.S. #2) For Once in My Life – 1968 (U.S. #2) My Cherie Amour – 1969 (U.S. #4) Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours – 1970 (U.S. #3) Superstition – 1972 (U.S. #1) You Are the Sunshine of My Life – 1973 (U.S. #1) Sir Duke – 1977 (U.S. #1)

Diana Ross and the Supremes Most successful African American singing group of the 1960s Had 12 number one hits over a span of six years Began as the Primettes – sister act to the Primes (later becoming the Temptations)

Top Hits Where Did Our Love Go – 1964 (U.S. #1) Baby Love – 1964 (U.S. #1) Come See About Me – 1964 (U.S. #1) Stop! In the Name of Love – 1965 (U.S. #1) Back in My Arms Again – 1965 (U.S. #1) I Hear a Symphony – 1965 (U.S. #1) You Can’t Hurry Love – 1966 (U.S. #1) You Keep Me Hangin’ On – 1966 (U.S. #1) Love is Here and Now You’re Gone – 1967 (U.S. #1) The Happening – 1967 (U.S. #1) Love Child – 1968 (U.S. #1) Someday We’ll Be Together – 1969 (U.S. #1)

The Temptations Became the most well- known male group of the 1960s Were part of the Motown label for 40 years—the 2 nd longest of all musical acts signed Had also been named the Primes, the Distants, and the Elgins

Top Hits My Girl (#1 U.S. Top 10, #1 R&B) Get Ready – 1966 (#1 R&B) Ain’t Too Proud to Beg – 1966 (#1 R&B) I Can’t Get Next to You – 1969 (#1 U.S. Top 10, #1 R&B) Just My Imagination – 1971 (#1 U.S. Top 10, #1 R&B)

Martha and the Vandellas Known to have a “churchy” “southern- styled” soul to their sound In the 1960s they were one of Motown’s most successful groups “Vandellas” came from the street that neighbored Martha’s street (Van) mixed with the name of Martha’s favorite singer (Della Reese)

Top Hits (Love Is Like A) Heat Wave – 1963 (U.S. #4) Dancing in the Street – 1964 (U.S. #2) Nowhere to Run – 1965 (U.S. #8) I’m Ready for Love – 1966 (U.S. #9) Jimmy Mack – 1967 (U.S. #10)

Notable Artists of the 1950s/1960s Mabel John Marv Johnson Barrett Strong Mary Wells The Contours The Marvelettes Jimmy Ruffin David Ruffin The Spinners Kim Weston Brenda Holloway Jr. Walker (& the All Stars) The Isley Brothers Edwin Starr Rare Earth

Notable Artists of the 1970s Diana Ross (solo) Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons Undisputed Truth Eddie Kendricks G.C. Cameron Michael Jackson Thelma Houston Jermaine Jackson Smokey Robinson (solo) The Commodores Teena Marie Rick James DeBarge

Notable Artists of the 1980s/1990s Lionel Richie El DeBarge Chico DeBarge Boyz II Men Shanice Johnny Gill Brian McKnight Queen Latifah Erykah Badu Degrees

Assignment Write an 2-3 page essay on one of the artists featured in this presentation. Include biographical information, including important events while under the Motown Records label. Include one paragraph comparing/contrasting two songs recorded by the chosen artist Be sure to include a Works Cited page with at least 3 sources. Only 1 source can be from the web!

References