Motown Memories

03/10/2024

Motown Memories

The Rise

In 1958 Barry Gordy Jr. had the fortune of meeting a local group called The Miracles and provided songwriting lessons to the leader William “Smokey” Robinson.

The ensuing partnership formed the foundation of Motown Records. Motown launched with the Tamla label and Marv Johnson’s “Come to Me”, but “Money (That’s What I Want”) was the company’s first national hit and was sang by Barrett Strong.

Co-wrote by Gordy, the song made him enough money to purchase a house on West Grand where a sign was hung above the front door which simply read “Hitsville U.S.A.”

n 1959 Berry Gordy Jr. borrowed $800 dollars from family members and created an American icon known as Motown Records. Embracing this cultural phenomenon was an audience of all genders and race which helped break down racial impediments and symbolized a new era in American music.

Motown’s artists brought to the 1960’s music scene a new. vibrant standard of excellence that to this day remains unrivaled.

Instantly recognizable, Motown brought the sounds of pure jazz together with gospel, pop and delightful rhythm producing a timeless sound.

For the next ten years this was Motown’s headquarters and the modified garage became the studio where Motown’s first No.1 R&B hit “Shop Around” was recorded peaking at No. 2 in the Pop Charts.

The Supremes and the Temptations honed their artisanship here, along with many others, including 11 year old Stevie Wonder. Smoky Robinson wrote many hits for such artists as Marvin Gaye. Martha and the Vandella’s, and Mary Wells to name a few.

The Run

In 1963 Motown would have it’s first No. 1 LP with The twelve Year Old Genius by Stevie Wonder.

America’s absorption of Motown’s sound became astonishing which led to the overseas market in the mid 1960’s. In the interval of 61′ to 71′ – 28 singles topped the Pop Charts while 163 hit the Chart,

This was due to the remarkable level of Quality Control maintained by Gordy and his staffers whose endorsement for the artist’s release was impeccable. As the company grew it seized the opportunity to get in the Donovan building on Woodward Ave. in downtown Detroit.

Inside the house on West Grand you would find the Funk Brothers House Band which provided the supernatural sound for Motown, along with a rehearsal hall, finance department, a recording studio that had access around the clock, and areas for learning the trade from crowd pleasing to media relations.

Evolving with the times was not a hard feat for Motown, as the late sixties and early seventies provided a explosive atmosphere in which hits like “Cloud Nine” by the Temptations gave Motown it’s first Grammy and 1971’s “What’s Going On” to this day is a mega hit from artist Marvin Gaye.

Stevie Wonder kept Motown rolling in the seventies with four noteworthy albums “Talking Book”1972, “Innervisions” 1973, “Fulfillingness’ First Finale”1974, and “Songs In The Key of life” 1976. In all Stevie grabbed 15 Grammys during the decade.

Other artist playing a role in keeping Motown alive were such as The Commodores, now solo artists Diana Ross, and Smokey Robinson.

During this time Motown moved it’s headquarters to L.A. and launched it’s movie production venture with Lady Sings the Blues starring Diana Ross and earning her a Oscar nomination.

The 1980’s saw acts such as Rick James bring the sound of funk to Motown and solo artist Lionel Ritchie released his debut album “Lionel Ritchie” in 1982.

1983 brought Motown a TV special celebrating 25 years in the music industry and in the same year “The Big Chill“ linked to the generation which shot Motown’s catalog business through the roof.

The Rest

In 1985 Esther Gordy Edwards founded the iconic museum and to this day it remains one of Michigan’s top tourist attractions. People from all over the globe travel here to stand in Studio A where legendary artists cut their teeth and timeless music was recorded. Stocked with a variety of artifacts, the museum strives to educate all people but especially the young whose future knowledge will help carry on this magnificent treasure of sound into the years to come.

until next time-