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"Motown" redirects here. For the city, see Detroit, Michigan.
Motown Records

The classic Motown logo.
Parent company Universal Music Group
Founded 1959
Founder Berry Gordy
Distributing label The Universal Motown/Universal Republic Group
Genre Rhythm and blues
Soul
Pop
Hip hop
Country of origin United States
Official website http://www.motown.com

Motown Records, also known as Tamla Motown outside of North America, is a record label originally based in Detroit, Michigan. Universal Music Group (UMG is the largest Business group and family of Record labels in the Recording industry. Berry Gordy Jr (born November 28, 1929, Detroit Michigan) is an American Record producer, and the founder of the Motown Universal Motown Records Group Universal Records Motown Records Chamillitary Entertainment - founded by rapper Soul music is a Music genre that combines Rhythm and blues and Gospel music, originating in the United States. Pop music as a genre features a noticeable rhythmic element catchy melodies and hooks, a mainstream style and conventional structure Hip hop music, also referred to as rap music, is a Music genre typically consisting of a rhythmic vocal style called rap which is accompanied with The United States of America —commonly referred to as the In the Music industry, a record label can be a Brand and a Trademark associated with the Marketing of music recordings and Music Michigan ( is a Midwestern state of the United States of America. Founded by Berry Gordy Jr., the company was incorporated as Tamla Records on January 12, 1959 and changed its name to Motown Record Corporation in 1960 . Berry Gordy Jr (born November 28, 1929, Detroit Michigan) is an American Record producer, and the founder of the Motown Events 475 - Basiliscus becomes Byzantine Emperor, with a coronation ceremony in the Hebdomon palace in Constantinople The year 1959 ( MCMLIX) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1960 ( MCMLX) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.

Motown played a role in the racial integration of popular music, as it was the first record label owned by an African American to primarily feature African-American artists who achieved crossover success. Racial integration, or simply integration includes Desegregation (the process of ending systematic Racial segregation) Popular music is Music belonging to any of a number of musical styles that are accessible to the general public and are disseminated by one or more African Americans or Black Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have origins in any of the black populations of Africa Crossover is a term applied to Musical works or performers appearing on two or more of the Record charts which track differing musical tastes or genres In the 1960s, Motown and its soul-based subsidiaries were the most successful proponents of what came to be known as "The Motown Sound", a style of soul music with a distinct pop influence. The 1960s decade refers to the years from the beginning of 1960 to the end of 1969 Soul music is a Music genre that combines Rhythm and blues and Gospel music, originating in the United States. Pop music as a genre features a noticeable rhythmic element catchy melodies and hooks, a mainstream style and conventional structure

Motown has owned or distributed releases from more than 45 subsidiaries in varying genres, although it is most famous for its releases in the music genres of rhythm and blues, soul, hip hop and pop. A music genre is a categorical and typological construct that identifies musical sounds as belonging to a particular category and type of music that can be distinguished from other Hip hop music, also referred to as rap music, is a Music genre typically consisting of a rhythmic vocal style called rap which is accompanied with Motown Records left Detroit for Los Angeles in 1972, and remained an independent company until 1988, when Gordy sold the company to MCA. Los Angeles (lɑˈsændʒələs los ˈaŋxeles in Spanish) is the largest City in the state of California and the American West Year 1972 ( MCMLXXII) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1988 ( MCMLXXXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link displays 1988 Gregorian calendar) MCA Inc (or Music Corporation of America) was an American Corporation in the music and television businesses Now headquartered in New York City, Motown Records is a subsidiary of The Universal Motown/Universal Republic Group, itself a subsidiary of Universal Music Group. The City of New York Universal Motown Records Group Universal Records Motown Records Chamillitary Entertainment - founded by rapper Universal Music Group (UMG is the largest Business group and family of Record labels in the Recording industry.

Contents

History

"Hitsville USA": 1959 - 1972

The Hitsville U.S.A. building in Detroit, Michigan, which served as Motown's headquarters from 1959 until 1968.
The Hitsville U.S.A. building in Detroit, Michigan, which served as Motown's headquarters from 1959 until 1968. "Hitsville USA" was the nickname given to Motown Records ' first headquarters

Berry Gordy, Jr. got his start as a songwriter for local Detroit acts such as Jackie Wilson and The Matadors. Jack Leroy "Jackie" Wilson Jr ( June 9, 1934 &ndash January 21, 1984) was an American singer The Miracles (known from 1965 to 1972 as Smokey Robinson & the Miracles) is an American Rhythm and blues group from Detroit Michigan, notable Wilson's single "Lonely Teardrops," co-written by Gordy and Roquel Billy Davis, became a huge success; however, Gordy did not feel he made as much money as he deserved from this and other singles he wrote for Wilson. Roquel Billy Davis ( July 11 1932 - September 2 2004) of Detroit was an American Songwriter, Record He realized that the more lucrative end of the business was in producing records and owning the royalties.

In 1959, Billy Davis and Berry Gordy's sisters Gwen and Anna started Anna Records. Anna Gordy Gaye (born 1922 is an African-American Songwriter and Composer, and is better known as the eldest sister of Motown founder Davis and Gwen Gordy wanted Berry to be the company president, but Berry wanted to strike out on his own. Therefore, in 1959, he started Tamla Records, with an $800 loan from his family. The year 1959 ( MCMLIX) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Gordy originally wanted to name the label "Tammy" Records, after the popular song from the film Tammy and the Bachelor. " Tammy " is a popular Song. The music was written by Jay Livingston, the lyrics by Ray Evans. Tammy and the Bachelor is a 1957 Romantic comedy film and is the first of the four Tammy movies. When he found the name was already in use, he decided on Tamla instead.

Gordy's first signed act was The Matadors, a group he had written and produced songs for, who changed their name to The Miracles when Tamla signed them. The Miracles (known from 1965 to 1972 as Smokey Robinson & the Miracles) is an American Rhythm and blues group from Detroit Michigan, notable Miracles lead singer Smokey Robinson became the vice president of the company (and later named his daughter "Tamla" and his son "Berry" out of gratitude to Gordy and the label). William "Smokey" Robinson Jr (born February 19 1940 is an American R&B and soul Singer-songwriter, Record producer, Many of Gordy's family members, including his father Berry, Sr. , brothers Robert and George, and sister Esther, had instrumental roles in the company. By the middle of the decade, Gwen and Anna Gordy had joined the label in administrative positions as well.

Also in 1959, Gordy purchased the property that would become Tamla's Hitsville U.S.A. studio. "Hitsville USA" was the nickname given to Motown Records ' first headquarters The photography studio located in the back of the property was modified into a small recording studio and the Gordys moved into the second floor living quarters. Within a few years, Motown would occupy several neighbouring houses with administrative offices, mixing, mastering and rehearsal studios.

Among Tamla's early artists were Mable John, Barrett Strong and (on the Motown label) Mary Wells. Mable John (born November 3, 1930) is an American Blues vocalist who was the first female signed by Berry Gordy to Barrett Strong (born February 5 1941, West Point, Mississippi) is an American Singer and Songwriter. Mary Esther Wells ( May 13, 1943 &ndash July 26, 1992) was an American singer who sung a repertoire that included R&B Tamla's first release was Marv Johnson's "Come to Me" in 1959. Marvin Earl Johnson ( 15 October 1938 – 16 May 1993) was an American R&B and soul Singer, most Its first hit was Barrett Strong's "Money (That's What I Want)" (1959), which made it to #2 on the Billboard R&B charts; its first #1 R&B hit was "Shop Around" by the Miracles in 1960. " Money (That's What I Want " is a 1959 hit single by Barrett Strong for the Tamla label distributed by Anna Records The year 1959 ( MCMLIX) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. See Billboard (Turkish magazine Billboard is a weekly American Magazine devoted to the Music industry " Shop Around " is a 1960 single by The Miracles (credited as "The Miracles featuring Bill 'Smokey' Robinson " for the Tamla ( Year 1960 ( MCMLX) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. "Shop Around" peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100, and was Motown's first million-selling record. Also in 1960, Gordy launched Motown Records as a sister label. Because of the "Motown" name's association with "Motor City" Detroit, the blanket record company under which both Motown Records and Tamla Records operated was incorporated as "Motown Record Corporation". A year later, The Marvelettes scored Tamla's first US #1 pop hit, "Please Mr. Postman. The Marvelettes were an American singing Girl group on the Motown label " Please Mr Postman " was the debut single by The Marvelettes for the Tamla ( Motown) label notable as the first Motown song to reach the number-one " By the mid-1960s, the label, with the help of songwriters and producers such as Robinson, William "Mickey" Stevenson, Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, and Norman Whitfield, was a major force in the music industry. William "Mickey" Stevenson was a Songwriter and Record producer for the Motown Records group of labels from the early days of Brian Holland (born February 15, 1941 in Detroit Michigan) is an African American Songwriter and Record producer, best Lamont Dozier (born June 16, 1941) is an American Songwriter and Record producer. Norman Jesse Whitfield ( May 12, 1940  &ndash September 16, 2008) was an American Songwriter and producer, best

In the 1960s (from 1961 to 1971), Motown had 110 Top Ten hits, and artists such as Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross & The Supremes, The Four Tops, and The Jackson 5, were all signed to Motown labels. Year 1961 ( MCMLXI) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1971 ( MCMLXXI) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the 1971 Gregorian calendar. Record chart are a method of ranking Music according to Popularity during a given period of time Stevie Wonder (born Stevland Hardaway Judkins on May 13 1950 name later changed to Stevland Hardaway Morris) is an Marvin Pentz Gay Jr, known as Marvin Gaye ( April 2, 1939 – April 1, 1984) was an American Singer-songwriter Diana Ross (born March 261944 is an American twelve-time Grammy and Oscar -nominated singer Record producer and actress whose musical repertoire The Supremes were an American female singing group that first formed as a quartet called The Primettes The Four Tops are an American vocal Quartet, whose repertoire has included Doo-wop, Jazz, Soul music, R&B, Disco The Jackson 5 (also spelled The Jackson Five or The Jackson 5ive, and later known as The Jacksons) was an American popular music Family The company operated several labels in addition to the Tamla and Motown imprints. A third label, which Gordy named after himself, featured The Temptations and Martha and the Vandellas. The Temptations (sometimes abbreviated as The Temps or The Tempts) are a Grammy -winning vocal group that achieved fame as one of the most successful Martha and the Vandellas (known from 1967 to 1972 as Martha Reeves and the Vandellas) were among the most successful groups in the Motown A fourth, V. I. P. , released recordings by The Velvelettes and The Spinners, and a fifth, Soul, featured Jr. Walker & the All Stars and Gladys Knight & the Pips (who were the first act to have been successful before joining Motown, as 'The Pips' on Vee-Jay). The Velvelettes was an American singing Girl group, signed to Motown Records in the 1960s "The Pips" redirects here For the BBC pips, see Greenwich Time Signal. Vee-Jay Records was a Record label founded in the 1950s specializing in Blues, Jazz, Rhythm and blues and Rock and roll. Many more Motown-owned labels released recordings in other genres, including Workshop Jazz (jazz), Mel-o-dy (country), and Rare Earth (rock). Rare Earth is an American Rock band affiliated with Motown 's Rare Earth Record label (which was named after the band who were particularly Under the slogan "The Sound of Young America", Motown's acts were enjoying widespread popularity among black and white audiences alike.

In Britain, Motown's records were released on various labels: at first London (only the Miracles' "Shop Around"/"Who's Lovin' You" and "Ain't It Baby"), then Fontana ("Please Mr. London Records is a Record label headquartered in the United Kingdom, originally marketing records in the United States, Canada and Latin "Who's Lovin' You" is a Motown soul song written in 1960 by William "Smokey" Robinson. Fontana Records is a Record label which was started in the 1950s as a subsidiary of the Dutch Philips Records. Postman" by the Marvelettes was one of four), Oriole American ("Fingertips - Pt. 2" by Little Stevie Wonder was one of many), EMI's Stateside ("Where Did Our Love Go" by the Supremes and "My Guy" by Mary Wells were Motown's first British top-twenty hits), and finally EMI's Tamla-Motown ("Ain't That Peculiar" by Marvin Gaye among many others). " Fingertips " is a 1963 number-one hit single recorded live by "Little" Stevie Wonder for Motown 's Tamla label Stateside ($tateside Records is a British Record label which initially released licenced American recordings and is now a reissue label "Where Did Our Love Go" is a 1964 hit song recorded by The Supremes for the Motown label " My Guy " is a 1964 number-one hit single recorded by Mary Wells for the Motown label " Ain't That Peculiar " is a 1965 song recorded by American Soul musician Marvin Gaye for the Tamla (Motown label [1]

Developing the "Motown Sound"

Production process

Motown's music was crafted with the same ear towards pop appeal. The company specialized in a type of soul music it referred to with the trademark "The Motown Sound". A trademark or trade mark, represented by the symbols ™ and ®, or mark is a distinctive sign or indicator used by an individual The Motown Sound was typified by a number of characteristics: the use of tambourines to accent the back beat, prominent and often melodic electric bass guitar lines, distinctive melodic and chord structures, and a call and response singing style that originated in gospel music. The tambourine or Marine is a Musical instrument of the percussion family consisting of a frame often of wood or plastic with pairs of small metal jingles In Music, back beat (also backbeat) is a term applied both to a specific style of Rhythmic Accentuation with accent on even The electric bass guitar (also called electric bass, or simply bass; ˈbeɪs as in "base" is a Stringed instrument played primarily with the In Music, a melody (from Greek μελῳδία - melōidía, "singing chanting" also tune, voice, or This article describes musical chords in traditional Western styles In Music, a call and response is a succession of two distinct phrases usually played by different Musicians where the second phrase is heard as a direct Gospel music is Music that is written to express either personal or a communal belief regarding Christian life as well as (in terms of the varying music styles to In addition, pop production techniques such as the use of orchestral string sections, charted horn sections, and carefully arranged background vocals were also used. Complex arrangements and elaborate, melismatic vocal riffs were avoided; [2] Motown producers believed steadfastly in the "KISS principle" ("keep it simple, stupid") [3]

Berry Gordy used weekly quality control meetings, held every Friday morning, and veto power to ensure that only the very best material and performances the company came up with would be released. Melisma, in music is singing a single syllable of text while moving between several different notes in succession KISS redirects here See also. For other uses see Kiss (disambiguation. The test was that every new release needed to "fit" into a sequence of the top 5 selling pop singles of the week. As a result, several tracks which later became critical and commercial favorites were initially rejected by Gordy; the two most notable examples being a pair of Marvin Gaye songs, "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" and "What's Going On". " I Heard It Through the Grapevine " is a R&B / soul song written by Motown songwriters Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong What's Going On is a Studio album by soul musician Marvin Gaye, released May 21, 1971 on the Motown-subsidiary label In several cases, producers would re-work and re-re-work tracks in hopes of eventually getting them approved at a later Friday morning meeting, as producer Norman Whitfield did with "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" and The Temptations' "Ain't Too Proud to Beg". Norman Jesse Whitfield ( May 12, 1940  &ndash September 16, 2008) was an American Songwriter and producer, best " Ain't Too Proud to Beg " is a 1966 hit single by The Temptations for Motown Records ' Gordy label produced by Norman Whitfield and written

Many of Motown's best-known songs, such as all of the early hits for The Supremes, were written by the songwriting trio of Holland-Dozier-Holland (brothers Brian & Eddie Holland and colleague Lamont Dozier). The Supremes were an American female singing group that first formed as a quartet called The Primettes Brian Holland (born February 15, 1941 in Detroit Michigan) is an African American Songwriter and Record producer, best See Edward Holland for other people with that name Edward "Eddie" Holland Jr Lamont Dozier (born June 16, 1941) is an American Songwriter and Record producer. Other important producers and songwriters at Motown's Hitsville U.S.A. recording studio and headquarters included Norman Whitfield & Barrett Strong, Nickolas Ashford & Valerie Simpson, Frank Wilson, Motown artists Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder, and Gordy himself. "Hitsville USA" was the nickname given to Motown Records ' first headquarters A recording studio is a facility for sound recording. Ideally the space is specially designed by an acoustician to achieve the desired acoustic properties (sound Barrett Strong (born February 5 1941, West Point, Mississippi) is an American Singer and Songwriter. Nickolas Ashford (born May 4, 1942, in Fairfield South Carolina) and Valerie Simpson (born August 26, 1946 in Frank Wilson is an African American former Songwriter and Record producer for Motown Records. William "Smokey" Robinson Jr (born February 19 1940 is an American R&B and soul Singer-songwriter, Record producer, Marvin Pentz Gay Jr, known as Marvin Gaye ( April 2, 1939 – April 1, 1984) was an American Singer-songwriter Stevie Wonder (born Stevland Hardaway Judkins on May 13 1950 name later changed to Stevland Hardaway Morris) is an

The many artists and producers of Motown Records collaborated to produce numerous hit songs, although the process has been described as factory-like (such as the Brill Building). The Brill Building (built 1931 is an office building located at 1619 Broadway in New York City, just north of Times Square. The Hitsville studios remained open and active 22 hours a day, and artists would often be on tour for weeks, come back to Detroit to record as many songs as possible, and then promptly set back out on tour again.

The style created by the Motown musicians was a major influence on several non-Motown artists of the mid-1960s, such as Dusty Springfield and The Foundations. Mary Isabel Catherine Bernadette O'Brien OBE ( 16 April, 1939 &ndash 2 March, 1999) professionally known as Dusty Springfield The Foundations were a British soul band active from 1967 to 1970 In the United Kingdom, the Motown Sound became the basis of the northern soul movement. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located Northern soul is a type of mid-tempo and uptempo heavy-beat Soul music (of mainly African American origin that was popularized in Northern England from Smokey Robinson said the Motown Sound had little to do with Detroit:

People would listen to it, and they'd say, 'Aha, they use more bass. Or they use more drums. ' no way. When we were first successful with it, people were coming from Germany, France, Italy, Mobile, Alabama. From New York, Chicago, California. From everywhere. Just to record in Detroit. They figured it was in the air, that if they came to Detroit and recorded on the freeway, they'd get the Motown sound. Listen, the Motown sound to me is not an audible sound. It's spiritual, and it comes from the people that make it happen. What other people didn't realize is that we just had one studio there, but we recorded in Chicago, Nashville, New York, L. A. --almost every big city. And we still got the sound. [4]

The Funk Brothers

For more details on this topic, see The Funk Brothers. The Funk Brothers was the nickname of Detroit Michigan, Session musicians who performed the backing to most Motown Records recordings from 1959 until 1972

In addition to the songwriting prowess of the writers and producers, one of the major factors in the widespread appeal of Motown's music was Gordy's practice of using a highly select and tight-knit group of studio musicians, collectively known as "The Funk Brothers", to record the instrumental or "band" tracks of the Motown songs. The Funk Brothers was the nickname of Detroit Michigan, Session musicians who performed the backing to most Motown Records recordings from 1959 until 1972 Among the studio musicians responsible for the "Motown Sound" were keyboardists Earl Van Dyke, Johnny Griffith, and Joe Hunter; guitarists Joe Messina, Robert White, and Eddie Willis; percussionists Eddie "Bongo" Brown and Jack Ashford; drummers Benny Benjamin, Uriel Jones, and Richard "Pistol" Allen; and bassists James Jamerson and Bob Babbitt. Earl Van Dyke ( July 8, 1930, Detroit Michigan &ndash September 18, 1992) was an African American Musician, Johnny Griffith (John Ellis Griffith Jnr born 10 July 1936 in Detroit Michigan, died 10 November[[ 002]] in Detroit Michigan) was Joseph Edward Hunter ( November 19 1927 &ndash February 2, 2007) Born in Jackson Tennessee was an African-American musician known Joe Messina (born in Detroit Michigan on 13 December 1928) is an American Guitarist. Robert White (born 19 November 1936 in Billmyre, Harrisburg Pennsylvania, U Eddie "Chank" Willis (born 3 June 1936 in Grenada Mississippi) is an African-American musician Eddie "Bongo" Brown ( 13 September[[ 932]] in Clarksdale Mississippi and raised in Memphis Tennessee – 28 December 1984 Jack Ashford (born 1934 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is an African-American musician widely known as the percussionist for Motown Records ' William "Benny" Benjamin ( July 25 1925 - April 20 1969) nicknamed Papa Zita, was an American musician most notable as Uriel Jones (born 13 June 1934 in Detroit Michigan) is an African-American musician Richard "Pistol" Allen (born 12 August 1932 in Memphis Tennessee, died 30 June 2002 in Detroit Michigan) was James Lee Jamerson ( January 29, 1936 - August 2, 1983) was an American bassist Bob Babbitt (born Robert Kreinar in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania) is an American bassist, most famous for his work as a member of Motown Records The band's career and work is chronicled in the 2002 documentary film Standing in the Shadows of Motown. See also 2002 (disambiguation Year 2002 ( MMII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. Documentary film is a broad category of visual expression that is based on the attempt in one fashion or another to " Document " reality Standing in the Shadows of Motown is a 2002 Documentary film directed by Paul Justman

Much of the Motown Sound came from the use of overdubbed and duplicated instrumentation. Motown songs regularly featured two drummers instead of one (either overdubbed or in unison), as well as three or four guitar lines. [5] Bassist James Jamerson often played his instrument with only his index finger, and created many of the basslines apparent on Motown songs such as "You Can't Hurry Love" by The Supremes. A bass player (bassist is a Musician who plays a Double bass, Bass guitar, keyboard bass or wind James Lee Jamerson ( January 29, 1936 - August 2, 1983) was an American bassist The second Digit of a human Hand is also referred to as the index finger, pointer finger, forefinger, trigger finger, digitus " You Can't Hurry Love " is a number-one single recorded by The Supremes for the Motown label released during the summer of 1966 [5]

Artist development

Artist development was a major part of Motown's operations. The acts on the Motown label were fastidiously groomed, dressed and choreographed for live performances. Motown artists were advised that their breakthrough into the white popular music market made them ambassadors for other African American artists seeking broad market acceptance, and that they should think, act, walk and talk like royalty, so as to alter the less-than-dignified image commonly held by white Americans in that era of black musicians. Given that many of the talented young artists had been raised in housing projects and were short on social and dress skills, this Motown department was not only necessary, it created an elegant style of presentation long associated with the label. The artist development department specialized primarily in working with younger, less experienced acts; experienced performers such as Jr. Walker and Marvin Gaye were exempted from artist development classes. Marvin Pentz Gay Jr, known as Marvin Gaye ( April 2, 1939 – April 1, 1984) was an American Singer-songwriter

Many of the young artists participated in an annual package tour called the "Motortown Revue", which was popular first on the "chitlin circuit", and later around the world. The Motortown Revue was the name given to the package Concert tours of Motown artists in the 1960s The " chitlin' circuit " was the collective name given to the string of performance venues throughout the eastern and southern United States that were safe and acceptable The tours gave the younger singers a chance to hone their performance and social skills and also to learn from more experienced artists.

"Hitsville West" 1972 - 1998

After Holland-Dozier-Holland left the label in 1967 over royalty payment disputes, the quality of the Motown output began to decline, as well as the frequency with which its artists scored #1 hits. Year 1967 ( MCMLXVII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the 1967 Gregorian calendar. Norman Whitfield became the company's top producer, turning out hits for The Temptations, Marvin Gaye, and Gladys Knight & the Pips. In the meantime, Berry Gordy established Motown Productions, a television subsidiary which produced TV specials for the Motown artists, including TCB with Diana Ross & the Supremes and The Temptations, Diana! with Diana Ross, and Goin' Back to Indiana with The Jackson 5 (Which included other Motown recording artist Bobby Darin. de Passe Entertainment is an American Film and Television production company run by entertainment executive Suzanne de Passe. TCB was a 1968 Television special produced by Motown Productions and George Schlatter - Ed Friendly Productions (of Laugh-In Diana! is American singer Diana Ross ' first solo TV special which aired on ABC on April 18, 1971. Goin' Back to Indiana was a live / Soundtrack album by The Jackson 5 for Motown Records, taken from their September 16 "Motown" redirects here For the city see Detroit Michigan. Bobby Darin (born Walden Robert "Bobby" Cassotto, May 14 1936 &ndash December 20, 1973) was one of the most popular )

`Motown had established branch offices in both New York City and Los Angeles during the mid-1960s, and by 1969 had begun gradually moving some of its operations to Los Angeles. The City of New York Los Angeles (lɑˈsændʒələs los ˈaŋxeles in Spanish) is the largest City in the state of California and the American West The company moved all of its operations to Los Angeles after 1972, with a number of artists, among them Martha Reeves, The Four Tops, Gladys Knight & the Pips, and Motown's Funk Brothers studio band, either staying behind in Detroit or leaving the company for other reasons. The main objective of Motown's relocation was to branch out into the motion picture industry, and Motown Productions got its start in film by turning out two hit vehicles for Diana Ross: the Billie Holliday biographical film Lady Sings the Blues (1972), and Mahogany (1975). Diana Ross (born March 261944 is an American twelve-time Grammy and Oscar -nominated singer Record producer and actress whose musical repertoire Billie Holiday (born Eleanora Fagan; April 7 1915 – July 17 1959 was an American Jazz singer and songwriter Mahogany is a 1975 Feature film, produced by Motown Productions and released to theaters by Paramount Pictures on October Other Motown films would include Thank God It's Friday (1978), The Wiz (1978) and Berry Gordy's The Last Dragon (1985). Thank God It's Friday is a 1978 Film directed by Robert Klane and produced by Motown Productions and Casablanca Filmworks for Columbia The Wiz is a 1978 American Musical film produced by Motown Productions and Universal Pictures, and released by Universal on October For the mockumentary of the same name see The Last Dragon (Docudrama/Fantasy Berry Gordy's The Last Dragon is a 1985 Martial

Despite losing Holland-Dozier-Holland, Norman Whitfield, and a number of its other hitmakers by 1975, Motown still had a number of successful artists during the late 1970s and 1980s, including Lionel Richie and The Commodores, Rick James, Teena Marie and DeBarge. This article is about the Decade 1970-1979 For the Year 1970 see 1970. The 1980s was the decade spanning from January 1 1980 to December 31 1989. Lionel Brockman Richie Jr (born June 20 1949 is an Academy Award and Grammy award-winning American Singer, Songwriter, The Commodores were a highly successful Funk / soul band of the 1970s and 1980s Rick James (born James Ambrose Johnson Jr) ( February 1 1948 &ndash August 6 2004) was an American musician Teena Marie (born Mary Christine Brockert on March 5, 1956) is an American Grammy Award -nominated Singer / Songwriter DeBarge was an American Music group, whose repertoire included R&B, soul, Funk, and later gospel. By the mid-1980s, Motown was losing money, and Berry Gordy sold his ownership in Motown to Music Corporation of America (MCA) and Boston Ventures in June 1988 for $61 million. MCA Inc (or Music Corporation of America) was an American Corporation in the music and television businesses Year 1988 ( MCMLXXXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link displays 1988 Gregorian calendar) In 1989, Gordy sold the Motown Productions TV/film operations to Motown executive Suzanne de Passe, who renamed the company de Passe Entertainment and runs it to this day. Suzanne de Passe (born 1947 is an American Entertainment executive the CEO of Television production company De Passe Entertainment de Passe Entertainment is an American Film and Television production company run by entertainment executive Suzanne de Passe.

During the 1990s, Motown was home to successful recording artists such as Boyz II Men and New Edition member Johnny Gill, although the company itself remained in a state of turmoil. Boyz II Men is a four-time Grammy Award -winning American R&B / soul singing group from Philadelphia Pennsylvania. New Edition is an American R&B / Pop group formed in Boston Massachusetts in 1978 that was most popular during the 1980s Johnny Gill (born May 22, 1966 in Washington DC) is an R&B singer best known for his romantic ballads and as a member of New Edition A revolving door of executives were appointed by MCA to run the company, beginning with Berry Gordy's immediate successor, Jheryl Busby. Busby quarreled with MCA, alleging that the company did not give Motown's product adequate attention or promotion. In 1991, Motown sued MCA to have its distribution deal with the company terminated, and began releasing its product through PolyGram. PolyGram was the name from 1972 of the Major label recording company started by Philips as a holding company for its music interests in 1945 Polygram purchased Motown from Boston Ventures three years later. In 1994, Busby was replaced by Andre Harrell, the entrepreneur behind Uptown Records. Andre Harrell (born 1962 in Harlem, New York) is an American Entrepreneur and founder of the now defunct Record label, Uptown Uptown Records was an American Record label, founded by Andre Harrell in the late-1980s Harrell served as Motown's CEO for just under two years, leaving the company after receiving bad publicity for being inefficient. Danny Goldberg, who ran PolyGram's Mercury Records group, assumed control of Motown, and George Jackson served as president. Mercury Records is a Record label operating as a standalone company in the UK and as part of the Island Def Jam Music Group in the US and are both subsidiaries of

Universal/Motown: 1999 - present

Redesigned Motown logo.
Redesigned Motown logo.

By 1998, Motown had added stars such as 702, Brian McKnight, and Erykah Badu to its roster. Brian McKnight (born June 5 1969) is a Grammy-nominated American Singer, Songwriter, arranger producer, pop Erica Abi Wright (born February 26 1971 better known by her Stage name Erykah Badu is a Grammy -nominated American soul In December of 1998, PolyGram was acquired by Seagram, and Motown was folded into the Universal Music Group. For the rapper Seagram, see Seagram Miller The Seagram Company Ltd Universal Music Group (UMG is the largest Business group and family of Record labels in the Recording industry. Ironically, Seagram had purchased Motown's former parent MCA in 1995, as such Motown was in effect reunited with many of its MCA corporate siblings (Seagram had in fact, hoped to build a media empire around Universal, and started by purchasing PolyGram). Universal briefly considered shuttering the floundering label, but instead decided to restructure it. Kedar Massenburg, a producer for Erykah Badu, became the head of the label, and oversaw successful recordings from Badu, McKnight, Michael McDonald, and new Motown artist India.Arie. Kedar Massenburg is an American Record producer and Record label executive who was the president of Motown Records from 1997 to 2004 Michael McDonald (born February 12, 1952, in St Louis Missouri) is an American R&B / soul Singer and Songwriter IndiaArie (born India Arie Simpson on October 3 1975) is an American soul, R&B, and Neo soul Singer-songwriter

In 2005, Massenburg was replaced by Sylvia Rhone, former CEO of Elektra Records. Sylvia Rhone (born March 11 1952 in Philadelphia Pennsylvania began her music career in 1974 with Buddha Records. Elektra Records is a now-dormant American Record label owned by Warner Music Group (WMG and from 2004 on operating under WMG's Atlantic Records Motown was merged with Universal Records to create the Universal Motown Records Group, an umbrella division of Universal Music which oversees the releases and catalogs for Motown, Universal, Blackground, Republic, Cash Money, Casablanca, and other labels. Universal Motown Records Group Universal Records Motown Records Chamillitary Entertainment - founded by rapper Blackground Records is an American Record label, owned by entertainment attorney and artist manager Barry Hankerson and his son Jomo Hankerson Republic Records is a Record label subsidiary of The Universal Motown/Universal Republic Group. Cash Money Records is an Record label founded in 1991 by brothers Bryan "Baby" Williams and Ronald "Slim" Williams in New This article is about Casablanca the record label For other uses please see Casablanca (disambiguation. Motown's current roster includes R&B singers India.Arie, Erykah Badu, Mýa, Kem, and Yummy Bingham, pop singer Lindsay Lohan in 2008 signed with Motown, reggae singers Damian and Stephen Marley, and rappers Trick Trick and Nick Cannon. Contemporary R&B (also known as R&B, urban) is a Music genre of western Popular music (predominantly American and Canadian IndiaArie (born India Arie Simpson on October 3 1975) is an American soul, R&B, and Neo soul Singer-songwriter Erica Abi Wright (born February 26 1971 better known by her Stage name Erykah Badu is a Grammy -nominated American soul Mýa Marie Harrison, professionally known as Mýa or Mýa Harrison, is an American Grammy award Winning R&B and Kem Owens (born in Nashville Tennessee) professionally known as Kem, is an American R&B / soul singer Songwriter Elizabeth T Wyce Bingham aka Yummy is an American R&B / Hip hop singer Songwriter and music executive. Pop music as a genre features a noticeable rhythmic element catchy melodies and hooks, a mainstream style and conventional structure Lindsay Dee Lohan (born July 2 1986 is an American Actress, model and Pop music Singer. Reggae is a Music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s Damian Robert Nesta "Junior Gong" Marley (born July 21, 1978) is a three time Grammy -winning Reggae artist and is the second Stephen Robert Nesta "Raggamuffin" Marley (born April 20, 1972 in Wilmington Delaware) is an Jamaican musician and the son of reggae Rapping (also known as emceeing, MCing, spitting, or just rhyming) is the Rhythmic spoken delivery of Rhymes wordplay and Christian Mathis, better known as Trick-Trick, is an American rap artist from Detroit. Nicholas Scott "Nick" Cannon (born October 8 1980 is an American Actor and Rapper.

Diana Ross, Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder, and The Temptations had remained with the label since its early days (although both Ross and the Temptations each briefly recorded for other labels for several years). Ross left Motown from 1981 to 1988, but returned in 1989 and stayed until 2002. Robinson left the label briefly in 1999, and the Temptations in 2004. Wonder is today the only artist from Motown's "classic" period still on the label. Modern Motown releases feature a new stylized "M" logo for the label; reissues of classic Motown material continue to use the mod "M" logo first introduced in 1965. Mod (originally modernist, sometimes capitalised is a Subculture that originated in London in the late 1950s and peaked in the early to mid 1960s

Motown subsidiary labels

Major divisions

Secondary R&B labels

Alternate genre labels

Independent labels distributed by Motown

See also

Footnotes

  1. ^ DragonDiscs - Label Listings
  2. ^ Chin, Brian and Nathan, David (2000). Berry Gordy Jr (born November 28, 1929, Detroit Michigan) is an American Record producer, and the founder of the Motown The Funk Brothers was the nickname of Detroit Michigan, Session musicians who performed the backing to most Motown Records recordings from 1959 until 1972 "Hitsville USA" was the nickname given to Motown Records ' first headquarters de Passe Entertainment is an American Film and Television production company run by entertainment executive Suzanne de Passe. This is a list of singles released on one of the various labels owned by Motown Records that reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States. This is a list of artists signed to Motown Records or one of its many subsidiaries This is a list of notable Record labels Due to the large number of entries the list has been divided by the first character of the label's name See also Motown 1's is a collection of 25 #1 songs originally released by Motown Records, plus a newly recorded bonus track "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" performed This article discusses the Music of Detroit Michigan. World renowned for its Detroit Symphony Orchestra and music celebrities the area has a long and rich heritage "Reflections Of. . . " The Supremes [CD boxed set liner notes]. New York: Motown Record Co. /Universal Music.
  3. ^ Williams, Otis and Romanowski, Patricia (1988, updated 2002). Temptations. Lanham, MD: Cooper Square. ISBN 0-8154-1218-5. Page 157.
  4. ^ *Hirshey, Gerri (1994). Nowhere to Run: The Story of Soul Music. ISBN 0-306-80581-2
  5. ^ a b Justman, Paul. (2002). See also 2002 (disambiguation Year 2002 ( MMII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. Standing in the Shadows of Motown [DVD]. Standing in the Shadows of Motown is a 2002 Documentary film directed by Paul Justman Santa Monica, California: Artisan Entertainment. Artisan Entertainment was a privately held independent American Movie studio until it was purchased by Lionsgate & Universal Studios
  6. ^ http://www.diana-web.com/discography/diana/re-yesteryear.jpg
  7. ^ Mad Sounds Recordings

References

External links

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