MoToWn
Ashley Pleger
In the 1960's an independent record company in
Detroit, Michigan began creating and marketing hit records better and in larger
volume than any record
company in the world. The name of this record company was Motown. The recording
techniques that were developed by Motown in the mid 60's were part of the
formula for the company's success. Even today, many of the recording techniques
used find their roots in this "Motown Sound" of the 60's.
Berry Gordy Jr. was born in Detroit Michigan on November 28, 1929. He was the 7th of 8 kids. He dropped out of school after junior year to become a pro boxer. He was drafted into war in 1951. In 1953 he returned home and married Thelma Colman and had three children with her. He also opened a jazz record store that year called the 3-D Record Store that was backed by his family. By 1955 the sore had gone bankrupt and Gordy was working for Ford. His break came in 1957 when Jackie Wilson recorded Reet Petite, a song he and his sister had written. He went onto write more songs and since he proved to be successful at this he began to produce.
Berry found a group known as the Miracles at a local talent show in Detroit. The Miracles featuring Smokey Robinson, went on to be a key factor of the Motown success. In 1960 a local girls group auditioned for Gordy. He was impressed but told them to go back and finish school and then come back. They came back in 1961 after graduation and were given the name The Supremes. Also in 1960 Mary Wells and a group named the Distants were signed to the label. Wells hit immediate success. The Distants were renamed to the Temptations and are one of the longest running music phenomenons of all time.
A young man who’d change the minds and music forever was also singed in 1960. Marvin Gaye made his biggest impression in the 70's. At the same time, Ronnie White a member of the Miracles, arranged an audition for an 11 year old blind singer named Stevland Morris. Gordy was so impressed he called the boy a “wonder” and signed him. Ten years later, Stevie Wonder said “When I came to motown I was an amateur. Berry tuned me into the artist I am today. Thank you Berry”.
Berry Gordy had established the foundation for the success of Motown for many years to come. With the Miracle, Four Tops, Marvelletes, Martha and the Vandellas, Supremes and Temptations he had six of the best vocal groups on record. Added were the solo singers, Marvin Gaye, Mary Wells, Stevie Wonder and Smokey Robinson. In 1973, Gordy resigned as the President of Motown Records to become the Chairman of the Board of Motown Industries.
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