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Motown: Motown: The Sound of The Sound of IntegrationIntegration

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Berry Gordy's Berry Gordy's Motown Records Motown Records

Built one of the most impressive rosters Built one of the most impressive rosters of artists in the history of pop musicof artists in the history of pop music

Becoming the largest and most Becoming the largest and most successful independent record successful independent record company in the United States company in the United States

Founded by Berry Gordy as Founded by Berry Gordy as Tamla Tamla RecordsRecords in 1959, the company was in 1959, the company was incorporated as incorporated as Motown Record Motown Record CorporationCorporation in 1960. in 1960.

The name, derived from the words The name, derived from the words motormotor and and towntown, is also a nickname for , is also a nickname for Detroit Detroit

Motown RecordsMotown Records

A high school drop out he A high school drop out he became a professional became a professional boxer in hopes of boxer in hopes of becoming rich quick becoming rich quick

1950 he was drafted by 1950 he was drafted by the U.S. Army for the the U.S. Army for the Korean war. Korean war.

Background on Background on Berry…Berry…

1953  he opened up the 3-1953  he opened up the 3-D  Record Mart D  Record Mart - House - House of Jazz.of Jazz.

Too obsessed with his Too obsessed with his own love of Jazz, Berry own love of Jazz, Berry was to stubborn to stock was to stubborn to stock the Blues records the the Blues records the neighborhood craved.  So neighborhood craved.  So in 1955  the store went in 1955  the store went bankrupt and was forced bankrupt and was forced to close. to close.

Background on Background on Berry…Berry…

By 1958 Gordy managed the By 1958 Gordy managed the Miracles and produced their Miracles and produced their single "Got a Job" on the single "Got a Job" on the EndEnd labe. labe.

The small royalty check he The small royalty check he received from received from EndEnd, along , along with similar small royalty with similar small royalty checks for other hits he had checks for other hits he had co-written, convinced him to co-written, convinced him to form his own label Tamla form his own label Tamla Records. Records.

Tamla Records eventually Tamla Records eventually turned into Motown Records.turned into Motown Records.

Motown played an important role in Motown played an important role in the racial integration of popular musicthe racial integration of popular music It was the first record label owned by an It was the first record label owned by an

African -American African -American First to primarily feature African-American First to primarily feature African-American

artists artists Many achieved crossover success. Many achieved crossover success.

In the 1960s, In the 1960s, "The Motown Sound""The Motown Sound", , came to be known as a style of soul came to be known as a style of soul music with a distinct pop influence.music with a distinct pop influence.

The Motown SoundThe Motown Sound

Smokey Robinson & The Smokey Robinson & The MiraclesMiracles

R&B and Soul R&B and Soul singer/songwriter, singer/songwriter, record producer, and record producer, and former record former record executive. executive.

Noted for being one of Noted for being one of the primary figures the primary figures associated with associated with Motown Records, Motown Records, second only to Berry second only to Berry Gordy. Gordy.

William "Smokey" William "Smokey" Robinson, Jr.Robinson, Jr.

Robinson's hits, and Robinson's hits, and contributions earned him contributions earned him the title of the "the title of the "King of King of MotownMotown". As both a ". As both a member of The Miracles member of The Miracles and a solo artistand a solo artist

Robinson recorded thirty-Robinson recorded thirty-seven Top 40 hits for seven Top 40 hits for Motown between 1960 and Motown between 1960 and 1987 including:1987 including: You’ve Really Got a Hold You’ve Really Got a Hold

on Me (put Motown on the on Me (put Motown on the map)map)

Shop AroundShop Around Served as the company's Served as the company's

VP from 1961 to 1988.VP from 1961 to 1988.

William "Smokey" William "Smokey" Robinson, Jr.Robinson, Jr.

All from the public housing projects in Detroit. All from the public housing projects in Detroit. Founding members:Founding members:

Florence Ballard Florence Ballard Mary Wilson Mary Wilson Diana Ross Diana Ross Betty McGlownBetty McGlown

The Supremes 1959- The Supremes 1959- 7272

A female singing group, one A female singing group, one of the signature acts on of the signature acts on Motown Records during the Motown Records during the 1960s. 1960s.

Founded in Detroit, Founded in Detroit, Michigan in 1959. Michigan in 1959.

Original name: The Original name: The PrimettesPrimettes

They were one of the most They were one of the most successful of Motown's acts, successful of Motown's acts, with twelve of the group's with twelve of the group's singles peaking at number singles peaking at number one on the one on the BillboardBillboard Hot Hot 100.100. Stop! In the Name of LoveStop! In the Name of Love Baby LoveBaby Love Where Did Our Love Go?Where Did Our Love Go?

The Supremes 1959- The Supremes 1959- 7272

These hits were These hits were written and produced written and produced by Motown's main by Motown's main songwriting and songwriting and production team, production team, Holland-Dozier-Holland-Dozier-Holland. Holland.

The Supremes rivaled The Supremes rivaled The Beatles in The Beatles in worldwide popularity, worldwide popularity, and their success and their success made it possible for made it possible for future African-future African-American R&B and American R&B and soul musicians to find soul musicians to find mainstream success.mainstream success.

The Supremes 1959- The Supremes 1959- 7272

Was a singer-songwriter, drummer, Was a singer-songwriter, drummer, pianist and instrumentalist. pianist and instrumentalist.

Starting as a member of the doo-wop Starting as a member of the doo-wop group The Moonglows in the late group The Moonglows in the late fifties, he ventured into a solo career fifties, he ventured into a solo career after the group disbanded in 1960 after the group disbanded in 1960

Signed with Motown Records. Signed with Motown Records. After a year as a session drummer, After a year as a session drummer,

Gaye ranked as the label's top-Gaye ranked as the label's top-selling solo artist during the sixties.selling solo artist during the sixties.

Marvin GayeMarvin Gaye

Was as moody as talentedWas as moody as talented Avoided TV, rarely Avoided TV, rarely

performed live, and was performed live, and was known to miss scheduled known to miss scheduled concertsconcerts

Mostly worked solo, but Mostly worked solo, but had some big hits with had some big hits with Tammi TerrellTammi Terrell Ain’t No Mountain High Ain’t No Mountain High

EnoughEnough Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Ain’t Nothing Like the Real

ThingThing

More on Marvin More on Marvin GayeGaye

Let’s Get It OnLet’s Get It On Mercy, MercyMercy, Mercy What’s Going OnWhat’s Going On Can I Get A Witness (became theme for Can I Get A Witness (became theme for

Mods)Mods) I Heard It Through The Grapevine (#1)I Heard It Through The Grapevine (#1)

Marvin Gaye Hits…Marvin Gaye Hits…

The The Four TopsFour Tops

Founded in Detroit, Michigan Founded in Detroit, Michigan Lead singer Levi Stubbs and Abdul Lead singer Levi Stubbs and Abdul

"Duke" Fakir, Renaldo "Obie" Benson "Duke" Fakir, Renaldo "Obie" Benson and Lawrence Payton and Lawrence Payton

The The Four TopsFour Tops An vocal quartet, whose repertoire has An vocal quartet, whose repertoire has

included doo-wop, jazz, soul music, R&B, included doo-wop, jazz, soul music, R&B, disco, adult contemporarydisco, adult contemporary

Remained together for over four decades.Remained together for over four decades. Hits: Hits:

Ain’t No Woman Like the One I’ve GotAin’t No Woman Like the One I’ve Got Sugar Pie Honey BunchSugar Pie Honey Bunch

Essential component of Motown machineEssential component of Motown machine Turned into stars when they recorded Turned into stars when they recorded

Smokey Robinson’s Smokey Robinson’s The Way You Do The The Way You Do The Things You DoThings You Do

More hits followed:More hits followed: My GirlMy Girl Get ReadyGet Ready Ain’t Too Proud to BegAin’t Too Proud to Beg The Way You Do the The Way You Do the

Things You DoThings You Do

The TemptationsThe Temptations

Classic Lineup:Classic Lineup: Otis Williams, Melvin Franklin, Paul Otis Williams, Melvin Franklin, Paul

Williams, Eddie Kendricks, and David Williams, Eddie Kendricks, and David RuffinRuffin

Became famous for smooth stepping as Became famous for smooth stepping as well as singingwell as singing

Ruffin later fired by other members of Ruffin later fired by other members of group for not showing for a concert group for not showing for a concert (not by Gordy as other reports state)(not by Gordy as other reports state)

Paul Williams apparently shot himself Paul Williams apparently shot himself

TemptationsTemptations

A two-time Grammy Award-nominated from A two-time Grammy Award-nominated from Gary, Indiana. Gary, Indiana.

Founding group members Jackie, Tito, Founding group members Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon and Michael Jackson formed Jermaine, Marlon and Michael Jackson formed the group after changing their name from the group after changing their name from The The Jackson BrothersJackson Brothers, which originally consisted of , which originally consisted of a trio of the three older brothers.a trio of the three older brothers.

The Jackson

The Jackson

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The band served as the launching pad for the The band served as the launching pad for the solo careers of their lead singers Jermaine and solo careers of their lead singers Jermaine and MichaelMichael

Active from 1966 to 1989, the Jacksons played Active from 1966 to 1989, the Jacksons played from a repertoire of R&B, soul, pop and later from a repertoire of R&B, soul, pop and later disco. During their six-year Motown tenure, The disco. During their six-year Motown tenure, The Jackson 5 were one of the biggest pop-music Jackson 5 were one of the biggest pop-music phenomenon of the 1970sphenomenon of the 1970s

The Jackson

The Jackson

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Significantly, they were the first black teen idols to Significantly, they were the first black teen idols to appeal equally to white audiences thanks to the appeal equally to white audiences thanks to the successful promotional skills of Motown CEO Berry successful promotional skills of Motown CEO Berry Gordy. Gordy.

They left Motown for CBS in 1976, The Jacksons were They left Motown for CBS in 1976, The Jacksons were forced to change their name and replace Jermaine (who forced to change their name and replace Jermaine (who remained at Motown) with younger brother Randy. remained at Motown) with younger brother Randy.

Their 1989 album Their 1989 album 2300 Jackson Street2300 Jackson Street was recorded was recorded without Michael and Marlon. Michael and Marlon did without Michael and Marlon. Michael and Marlon did appear, however, on the title track. The disappointing appear, however, on the title track. The disappointing sales of the album led to the group's eventual breakup sales of the album led to the group's eventual breakup at the end of the year.at the end of the year.

Hits: ABC & I Want You BackHits: ABC & I Want You Back

Jackson 5Jackson 5

The MarvellettesThe Marvellettes Please, Mr. PostmanPlease, Mr. Postman

Mary WellsMary Wells My GuyMy Guy

Other Motown Other Motown PerformersPerformers

Stevie Wonder: Stevie Wonder: Superstition Superstition My Cherie AmourMy Cherie Amour

Martha and the VandellasMartha and the Vandellas Dancing in the StreetsDancing in the Streets Nowhere To RunNowhere To Run

Other Motown Other Motown PerformersPerformers

Rick JamesRick JamesSuper Super FreakFreak

Other Motown Other Motown PerformersPerformers