motown
TRANSCRIPT
Motown Motown
Berry GordyBerry Gordy
• Hits the pop charts with his
song “Reet Petite”
• Same year he quits his
upholstery job
• Jan. 1958 he launches
Motown( originally Tamla)
• 1960 settles in Detroit
• Hits the pop charts with his
song “Reet Petite”
• Same year he quits his
upholstery job
• Jan. 1958 he launches
Motown( originally Tamla)
• 1960 settles in Detroit
“That’s the only name I can think of that expresses what I want it to be - a hip name for a factory where hits are going to be built” -
Berry Gordy
Social ContextSocial Context• Racial Integration of popular music
• Civil Rights Movement
• Most were only exposed to popular music through records or 45rpm
• Artists recieved backlash - turned down from white hotels when touring.
• Young generation used music to rebel against senseless wars and inequality
• Racial Integration of popular music
• Civil Rights Movement
• Most were only exposed to popular music through records or 45rpm
• Artists recieved backlash - turned down from white hotels when touring.
• Young generation used music to rebel against senseless wars and inequality
The Motown SoundThe Motown Sound• Gospel, pop, R&B, Jazz, Doo-woop, and country that was
created and performed by black artists.
• melodic electric bass-guitar lines; blaring horn sections
• Call and Response originating from Gospel music
• KISS principal “Keep it simple, stupid.”
• The Funk Brothers
• Overdubbing (Duplicating Instrumentation)
• Simple love songs with simple stories
• Gospel, pop, R&B, Jazz, Doo-woop, and country that was
created and performed by black artists.
• melodic electric bass-guitar lines; blaring horn sections
• Call and Response originating from Gospel music
• KISS principal “Keep it simple, stupid.”
• The Funk Brothers
• Overdubbing (Duplicating Instrumentation)
• Simple love songs with simple stories
PerformancePerformance
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are needed to see this picture.
• Maxine Powell created a “finishing school” for all the acts
• “Good enough to perform for kings”
• Cholly Atkins was brought in to teach all the acts their moves
• The Four Tops
• Maxine Powell created a “finishing school” for all the acts
• “Good enough to perform for kings”
• Cholly Atkins was brought in to teach all the acts their moves
• The Four Tops
Smokey RobinsonSmokey Robinson• Wrote over 1,000 songs, earning the title “Mr. Motown”
• With Gordy from the beginning
Marvin GayeMarvin Gaye
• Tammi Terrell - died from brain tumor
• Fueled by new independence from Anna Gordy “Let’s Get it On” - 1973
• The hit caused him to switch the focus from his politically charged songs
• A classic Motown single, begining with the three great wah-wah notes that throw back to a vintage Fifties melody
• Tammi Terrell - died from brain tumor
• Fueled by new independence from Anna Gordy “Let’s Get it On” - 1973
• The hit caused him to switch the focus from his politically charged songs
• A classic Motown single, begining with the three great wah-wah notes that throw back to a vintage Fifties melody
The Supremes The Supremes
• Fueled the crossover to a white audience
• 1967 renamed Diana Ross & The Supremes
• Only act that was able to take on The Beatles and Beach Boys
• Fueled the crossover to a white audience
• 1967 renamed Diana Ross & The Supremes
• Only act that was able to take on The Beatles and Beach Boys
• The Supremes had 12 number one hit singles between 1964-1969
Diana Ross“Women had been the inspiration of my life since childhood. They were what inspired me to do everything- create, make money, win.” - Berry
Gordy
Diana Ross“Women had been the inspiration of my life since childhood. They were what inspired me to do everything- create, make money, win.” - Berry
Gordy
• Gordy’s favoritism caused a large rift to form in the once family like company
• Fueled The Marvellettes to drop from the label
• Desire to make her a huge superstar
• Success of The Supremes dropped after she left
• “Most successful female music artist in history” - Billboard Magazine
The TemptationsThe Temptations
• The first to earn a grammy with the song “Cloud Nine”
• R&B, doo-wop, funk, disco, and soul
• Plagued by interchanging members
• Each member had a chance to be ‘lead’
• Popularized the Motown style
• The first to earn a grammy with the song “Cloud Nine”
• R&B, doo-wop, funk, disco, and soul
• Plagued by interchanging members
• Each member had a chance to be ‘lead’
• Popularized the Motown style
Stevie WonderStevie Wonder
• Steveland Morris
• “We can’t keep calling him the eighth wonder of the world”
• Joined Motown at the age of eleven after the performance at Apollo Theatre
• Fingertips (Part 2) - Youngest in history to top Billboard
• Steveland Morris
• “We can’t keep calling him the eighth wonder of the world”
• Joined Motown at the age of eleven after the performance at Apollo Theatre
• Fingertips (Part 2) - Youngest in history to top Billboard
The Jackson 5The Jackson 5• First large act out of
Motown’s new headquarters in LA
• First four major singles all topped the Billboard Charts
• Crossed over to the white audience of Teen Idols
• First large act out of Motown’s new headquarters in LA
• First four major singles all topped the Billboard Charts
• Crossed over to the white audience of Teen Idols
• Replaced Supremes in main marketing target
• 1971 - Motown chose to start Michael Jackson’s solo career
Heading WestHeading West
• After the ’67 Riots in Detroit, Gordy looked to expand west - mainly Los Angeles
• “I’m Gonna Make You Love Me” - teamed up the two hottest acts
• Distracted by Hollywood, tried to take on creating movies staring Diana Ross - Mahogany and Lady Sings the Blues
• 1988 Motown was sold to MCA for $61 million
• After the ’67 Riots in Detroit, Gordy looked to expand west - mainly Los Angeles
• “I’m Gonna Make You Love Me” - teamed up the two hottest acts
• Distracted by Hollywood, tried to take on creating movies staring Diana Ross - Mahogany and Lady Sings the Blues
• 1988 Motown was sold to MCA for $61 million