Motown was, and still is an iconic place that has helped shape music and civil rights in Detroit Michigan in the 1950s. Berry Gordy was born in 1929, and founded his music company in 1959. He was married in 1953, had a family, and started working at Lincoln-Mercury assembly line in 1955, while working he would compose songs. "Through family connections, Gordy encountered singer Jackie Wilson's manager; he ended up co-writing the Wilson hit "Reet Petite," which came out in 1957. Gordy also wrote Wilson's "Lonely Teardrops” and "To Be Loved."(Kettler, Sarah.) Gordy tried to make the company name by using his kids initials and came up with Jobete which did not stick so well so he decided to open his open record company. When it was founded, …show more content…
He signed primarily African American artists and applied his principles, he learned in the factory production to produce records and the creation of different groups. Gordy tried to move Motown records to Los Angeles in 1968 after riots in Michigan while trying to diversify the brand, which didn't go well and Berry had to file for bankruptcy, then later had artists leave for another record label company. Berry Gordy sold Motown records in 1988 to MCA, Inc. for $61 million with a limited partnership. Motown was a success from a number of factors, such as, economic, demographic, educational, and musical in the 1900th century. Detroit was the fourth largest city in the US, until the population went up to almost 2 million. Part of the population was 28.9% by the 1960s, which caused a lot of racism. Black families who migrated to Detroit, were able to create a life for themselves that were a lot better than being back in the south. Most did this "to develop a sense of pride and dignity in the culture and traditions that they brought with them."(McCarthy, Marie).
Samuel Gompers was born on January 27, 1850 in East London. Gompers was sent to a free jewish school at the age of six. The education was short lived when he started work rolling cigars at ten years old. In 1863 he and his family moved to a poor area in new york city, where Gompers took up cigar making once more.
2.With performers like Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gay, the Temptations, and Diana Ross and the Supremes, Motown Records changed music history. Who founded Motown Records in 1959?
On February 19, 1940 Smokey Robinson was born. Save for founder Berry Gordy, no one has been more connected with the recording empire in Detroit known as Motown than the great William “Smokey” Robinson. First he leads the Miracles singing Group then he did other things such as being a producing at Motown, writing sons for them, he also became very close to Gordy you can say he was his right hand man. Smokey Miracles were signed second in Gordy’s management and production company. Motown was just a big old family and everyone knows family have affairs. The Primettes best known as the Supremes because they had later changed their name. They ended up auditioning at Motown because they knew Diana Ross she was a neighbor of Robinson’s. Between 1960 and 1971 the Miracles was really popping they scored twenty-seven pop soul hits with their leader Smokey Robinson songs such as “You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me,” “Mickey’s Monkey,” “Going to a Go-Go” and “I Second That Emotion”.
In Detroit, Michigan, there was an influx of African Americans from across the country, resulting in a 24% increase in the population of blacks. Many stayed in the Sojourner Truth homes, located in black-Polish neighborhoods. Source 2 says “when they arrived to move in, they were greeted by white mobs who beat them and stoned their cars”. Many cities, such as Detroit, confined the minority groups to ghettos, generally spanning less than a five mile square. Along with this, tensions began to run high as strikes were conducted throughout the city, opposing the treatment of African Americans in the
Berry Gordy Jr. started Motown Records in January of 1959 with only an $800 loan from his family and a passion for music. Within a few years of opening Motown Records, what started as a small Detroit record studio, they were selling more singles and releasing more hits than any other recording company. Motown became a cultural icon changing the way music was. Berry Gordy Jr. was known as the most successful African-American owned and operated record company which gave African-American artists a chance to record and sell their music. The embrace of Motown’s artists and recordings by the entire listening audience helped control racial barriers that had plagued the country since its establishment. In its classic era, the eventful music scene of the 1960s, Motown’s artists were among the most popular, establishing a standard of excellence and sophistication that has never been exceeded.
When you hear the name Aretha Franklin what do you think? The woman of soul music, I hope! Not only did Aretha have a successful career, but she was able to maintain her personal life and accomplish what she wanted to. We are going to look at Aretha Franklin starting with her beginning and early career, the success from her career as one of the Queen’s of soul and her personal accomplishments. Let's take a look at Aretha Franklin’s beginning and early career.
Motown was established by Berry Gordy Jr. in the later winter of 1959. Then about 3 to 4 years later Motown Records,”was selling more singles and releasing more hits than any other record company.” (Classic Motown) Motown then soon became known as a central icon for many artists and just ordinary people. Motown had such a different and new sound that the people loved it and they wanted more. The love for this music has not gone away. People still listen and talk about the Motown sound and how it changed the way we looked at music. Motown created such fascinating sounds that would make you want to get up and dance. They would put soul, pop, and rock into everything they did. The best thing about Motown was that the artists and the bands and the recording people loved what they did they loved to sing dance play the instruments. This is what made them so successful that they did not have to try hard to love what they did.
Chuck Berry’s big break came when he went to Chicago in May of 1955 and met up with Muddy Waters who suggested he contact Chess Records. As a result he recorded “Maybellene” which went on to sell over a million copies and rose up to number one on the Billboard Rhythm and Blues chart. Berry was a success and popular by the end of the 50s. He opened up his own nightclub in St. Louis, Missouri Berry’s Club Bandstand.
Barry Gordy Jr. was born in November 28, 1929, in Detroit, Michigan. Gordy formed his interest in music by writing songs In 1957, Jackie Wilson recorded Reet Petite, a song Gordy had Co written, and it became a modest hit, but had more success internationally. Jackie Wilson's next six songs also Co written by Barry Gordy including Lonely Teardrops which topped the R & B charts, and got to number 7 in the pop charts. Berry and Gwen Gordy also wrote All I Could Do Was Cry for the late Etta James at Chess Records. Barry Gordy reinvested his profits from his songwriting success into producing. He later discovered the Miracles, and began building a portfolio of successful artist, in 1959, the Miracles leader Smokey Robinson encouraged Barry
Chuck Berry at this point had a climbing music career that would eventually have a great decline in 1961. He had been convicted under the “Mann Act” because he was illegally transporting woman across state lines for "immoral purposes." (Rock & Roll Hall of Fame). What would have been three years earlier, in 1958, Chuck Berry had opened his own Club Bandstand. He did this in what was a predominantly white business district of downtown St. Louis. That next year, while
Motown Records was founded in 1959 by Berry Gordy who turned his music production company into history’s most successful black-owned record label company.
Not because he did anything wrong, but because that’s what being black in Detroit was like then. In comparison to now, times have changed. There aren’t police officers waiting to interrogate owners outside of their businesses. Police and not trying to shut down their business for fun. On a positive note, there are plenty flourishing black owned businesses today.
The birth of Motown music came to be in a small recording studio aptly named Hitsville, U.S.A. Barry Gordy, who came from a large middle class family had borrowed money in order. The main stage of Motown music came from a small house that had been remodeled into a recording studio, the name of the company was Hitsville, U.S.A. Mr. Gordy had gathered the best jazz and blues players in and Motown was born through his genius. This small but dynamic
Motown took the world over by surprise. The vivid and new sounds from Motown artists made screaming dedicated fans all over the world. With the addicted fans, Motown artists raised the bad and opened the eyes of those who thought African Americans would never amount to anything. Although there still happened to be racism, and prejudice, African Americans managed to become recognized and well known for their abilities. Not only were the Motown artists extraordinary talented, but they also were unbelievably strong and persistent for going against all those people out there who discriminated on them. They took the criticisms continued and went on with what they loved to do. One of the most famous groups during the
In the 1960's, America was ready for a change. Black rhythm and blues known as Motown became popular. Bob