Motown

Motown Motown

Berry GordyBerry Gordy

• Hits the pop charts with his

song “Reet Petite”

• Same year he quits his

upholstery job

• Jan. 1958 he launches

Motown( originally Tamla)

• 1960 settles in Detroit

• Hits the pop charts with his

song “Reet Petite”

• Same year he quits his

upholstery job

• Jan. 1958 he launches

Motown( originally Tamla)

• 1960 settles in Detroit

“That’s the only name I can think of that expresses what I want it to be - a hip name for a factory where hits are going to be built” -

Berry Gordy

Social ContextSocial Context• Racial Integration of popular music

• Civil Rights Movement

• Most were only exposed to popular music through records or 45rpm

• Artists recieved backlash - turned down from white hotels when touring.

• Young generation used music to rebel against senseless wars and inequality

• Racial Integration of popular music

• Civil Rights Movement

• Most were only exposed to popular music through records or 45rpm

• Artists recieved backlash - turned down from white hotels when touring.

• Young generation used music to rebel against senseless wars and inequality

The Motown SoundThe Motown Sound• Gospel, pop, R&B, Jazz, Doo-woop, and country that was

created and performed by black artists.

• melodic electric bass-guitar lines; blaring horn sections

• Call and Response originating from Gospel music

• KISS principal “Keep it simple, stupid.”

• The Funk Brothers

• Overdubbing (Duplicating Instrumentation)

• Simple love songs with simple stories

• Gospel, pop, R&B, Jazz, Doo-woop, and country that was

created and performed by black artists.

• melodic electric bass-guitar lines; blaring horn sections

• Call and Response originating from Gospel music

• KISS principal “Keep it simple, stupid.”

• The Funk Brothers

• Overdubbing (Duplicating Instrumentation)

• Simple love songs with simple stories

PerformancePerformance

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are needed to see this picture.

• Maxine Powell created a “finishing school” for all the acts

• “Good enough to perform for kings”

• Cholly Atkins was brought in to teach all the acts their moves

• The Four Tops

• Maxine Powell created a “finishing school” for all the acts

• “Good enough to perform for kings”

• Cholly Atkins was brought in to teach all the acts their moves

• The Four Tops

Smokey RobinsonSmokey Robinson• Wrote over 1,000 songs, earning the title “Mr. Motown”

• With Gordy from the beginning

Marvin GayeMarvin Gaye

• Tammi Terrell - died from brain tumor

• Fueled by new independence from Anna Gordy “Let’s Get it On” - 1973

• The hit caused him to switch the focus from his politically charged songs

• A classic Motown single, begining with the three great wah-wah notes that throw back to a vintage Fifties melody

• Tammi Terrell - died from brain tumor

• Fueled by new independence from Anna Gordy “Let’s Get it On” - 1973

• The hit caused him to switch the focus from his politically charged songs

• A classic Motown single, begining with the three great wah-wah notes that throw back to a vintage Fifties melody

The Supremes The Supremes

• Fueled the crossover to a white audience

• 1967 renamed Diana Ross & The Supremes

• Only act that was able to take on The Beatles and Beach Boys

• Fueled the crossover to a white audience

• 1967 renamed Diana Ross & The Supremes

• Only act that was able to take on The Beatles and Beach Boys

• The Supremes had 12 number one hit singles between 1964-1969

Diana Ross“Women had been the inspiration of my life since childhood. They were what inspired me to do everything- create, make money, win.” - Berry

Gordy

Diana Ross“Women had been the inspiration of my life since childhood. They were what inspired me to do everything- create, make money, win.” - Berry

Gordy

• Gordy’s favoritism caused a large rift to form in the once family like company

• Fueled The Marvellettes to drop from the label

• Desire to make her a huge superstar

• Success of The Supremes dropped after she left

• “Most successful female music artist in history” - Billboard Magazine

The TemptationsThe Temptations

• The first to earn a grammy with the song “Cloud Nine”

• R&B, doo-wop, funk, disco, and soul

• Plagued by interchanging members

• Each member had a chance to be ‘lead’

• Popularized the Motown style

• The first to earn a grammy with the song “Cloud Nine”

• R&B, doo-wop, funk, disco, and soul

• Plagued by interchanging members

• Each member had a chance to be ‘lead’

• Popularized the Motown style

Stevie WonderStevie Wonder

• Steveland Morris

• “We can’t keep calling him the eighth wonder of the world”

• Joined Motown at the age of eleven after the performance at Apollo Theatre

• Fingertips (Part 2) - Youngest in history to top Billboard

• Steveland Morris

• “We can’t keep calling him the eighth wonder of the world”

• Joined Motown at the age of eleven after the performance at Apollo Theatre

• Fingertips (Part 2) - Youngest in history to top Billboard

The Jackson 5The Jackson 5• First large act out of

Motown’s new headquarters in LA

• First four major singles all topped the Billboard Charts

• Crossed over to the white audience of Teen Idols

• First large act out of Motown’s new headquarters in LA

• First four major singles all topped the Billboard Charts

• Crossed over to the white audience of Teen Idols

• Replaced Supremes in main marketing target

• 1971 - Motown chose to start Michael Jackson’s solo career

Heading WestHeading West

• After the ’67 Riots in Detroit, Gordy looked to expand west - mainly Los Angeles

• “I’m Gonna Make You Love Me” - teamed up the two hottest acts

• Distracted by Hollywood, tried to take on creating movies staring Diana Ross - Mahogany and Lady Sings the Blues

• 1988 Motown was sold to MCA for $61 million

• After the ’67 Riots in Detroit, Gordy looked to expand west - mainly Los Angeles

• “I’m Gonna Make You Love Me” - teamed up the two hottest acts

• Distracted by Hollywood, tried to take on creating movies staring Diana Ross - Mahogany and Lady Sings the Blues

• 1988 Motown was sold to MCA for $61 million