BERRY GORDYAND

MOTOWN RECORDS

EARLY LIFE-born 1929 (Detroit, Michigan)-7th 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 1960s:Mary Wells

The Supremes led by Diana RossMarvin Gaye

The TemptationsThe Four Tops

Gladys Knight and The PipsThe Commodores

The VelvelettesThe Marvelettes

Martha & the VandellasStevie WonderJackson 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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