BERRY GORDY AND MOTOWN RECORDS
EARLY LIFE -born 1929 (Detroit, Michigan) -7 th of 8 children -dropped out of high school -became a boxer -drafted into the Army (Korean war) -married Thelma Coleman (1953)
Career: -began writing songs -opened a record store (3-D RECORD MART) -wrote a song that was recorded by Jackie Wilson
PRODUCING: -discovered Smokey Robinson and the Miracles in he began building his group of artists SMOKEY ROBINSON AND THE MIRACLES
TAMLA RECORDS: -founded in R&B record label -Motown label created in December named after Detroit “Motor City” -also called Hitsville USA
ARTISTS: -Gordy promoted primarily African-American artists. -He controlled their image, dress, dance, and manners. -This control over public image made Motown a national success.
ARTISTS OF THE 1960s: Mary Wells The Supremes led by Diana Ross Marvin Gaye The Temptations The Four Tops Gladys Knight and The Pips The Commodores The Velvelettes The Marvelettes Martha & the Vandellas Stevie Wonder Jackson Five
Mary Wells
Four Tops
The Supremes
The Commodores
Stevie Wonder
MOVING TO LOS ANGELES: -Berry Gordy moved Motown Records to Los Angeles in 1968 after riots in Detroit. - Motown added movies, television and publishing to its record business.
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$: Motown Records was sold to MCA and BOSTON VENTURES in 1988 for...
$61 MILLION DOLLARS
Berry Gordy was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990.