BERRY GORDY AND MOTOWN RECORDS EARLY LIFE born

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 1957 -he began building his group of artists SMOKEY ROBINSON AND THE MIRACLES

TAMLA RECORDS: -founded in 1959 -R&B record label -Motown label created in December 1959 -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 1960 s: 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.

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