Motown and Stax: Soul Music Breaks the ColourBarrier of the Recording Industry

Much of soul music can be traced back to gospel

music of the slave era. -Plantation owners would require

their slaves to attend church and become Christians. This was the only time when the slave community was allowed to gather and not have to work. Church became a joyous event in the slave community, and its functions (worship, prayer, music) began to reflect that joy. This is why the atmosphere in many Gospel churches resembles that of a party, not of a solemn occasion.

-Religious hymns became influenced by the musical roots of Africa which is apparent in the rhythms, dancing, call and response, note bending, shouting and general exuberance

-this sound would pave the way for “Soul Music”

Ray Charles

“I gotta woman” is an excellent example of this.

The lyrics offended his own community.

See if you can figure out why?

Stax Records Memphis

Tennessee

Owned by a white couple…

Who planned to make country records

Instead, they catered to recording the unpolished, but raw talent of Southern R&B Artists

Booker T and The MGs, a multi-racial house band that accompanied all the Stax artists

Sam & Dave “Soul Man”

Otis Redding

“Try A Little Tenderness”

Motown Records Detroit Michigan

Founded by: Berry Gordy Jr Wanted to record black music with the same quality as “Sinatra” and

other white artists. He wanted to replace the sound and marketing of “race records” Motown was a black record label to reach all audiences.

He hired a far superior musician to be his partner Smokey Robinson

Smokey Robinson himself

The Funk Brothers

This group of 15 to 20 became Motown’s house band

They played on more number one hits, than The Beatles, The Beach Boys and Elvis….COMBINED

Backing up artists like these on all their hits.

The Jackson 5

Stevie Wonder

Edwin Starr “War” A Motown song protesting the Vietnam War (which will talk about next time, so just enjoy

However, it wasn’t all fun

The Civil Rights movement occurs during the 1960’s.

Despite being “free” for almost 100 years, blacks in the south still faced legalized segregation.

Those who stood for change Rosa Parks refused to sit in the “coloured”

section of the bus. This caused the bus protests that swept America

Brown vs Board The Brown family wanted their child

to attend their local school, which was for whites

The two strongest voices

Martin Luther King

Wanted to bring equality through peaceful means

Malcolm X

Wanted to bring equality by any means necessary

The Soundtrack of Social Change

The Black community is represented on the countries airwaves through Motown and Stax Records

These record companies would also reach across the colour barriers of the music industry

Marvin Gaye

Assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.

Race Riots sweep Detroit and other major American cities

What’s Goin’ On?

Mother, motherThere's too many of you cryingBrother, brother, brotherThere's far too many of you dyingYou know we've got to find a wayTo bring some lovin' here today - Ya

Father, fatherWe don't need to escalateYou see, war is not the answerFor only love can conquer hateYou know we've got to find a wayTo bring some lovin' here today

Picket lines and picket signsDon't punish me with brutalityTalk to me, so you can seeOh, what's going onWhat's going onYa, what's going onAh, what's going on

Father, father, everybody thinks we're wrongOh, but who are they to judge usSimply because our hair is longOh, you know we've got to find a wayTo bring some understanding here today

Picket lines and picket signsDon't punish me with brutalityTalk to meSo you can seeWhat's going on