Motown

Motown Record Company, L.P., also known as Tamla-Motown outside of the United States, is a record label specializing in the musical genres of R&B, pop, soul music, and hip-hop music. The label was originally based out of Detroit, Michigan ("Motor Town"), and is named for the city's association with the automobile industry. Motown was the first record label owned by an African American to become a widespread international success, and played an important role in the integration of popular music.

History

Berry Gordy, Jr. got his start as a songwriter for local Detroit acts such as Jackie Wilson and the Matadors. In 1959, he started his own record label, Tamla Records; his first signed act was The Matadors, who changed their name to The Miracles. Miracles lead singer Smokey Robinson became the vice president of the company, and many of Gordy's family members, including his sister Gwen and his father Berry Sr. had instrumental roles in the company.

Related Topics:
Jackie Wilson - 1959 - The Miracles - Smokey Robinson

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Also in 1959, Gordy purchased the property that would become Motown's Hitsville U.S.A. studio and offices. A photographer's studio was modified into the administrative offices for the label, with a large recording studio built downstairs in the basement.

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Among Motown's early artists were Mabel John, Mary Wells, and Barrett Strong. The label's 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. A year later, The Marvelettes scored the label's first US #1 pop hit, "Please Mr. Postman." By the mid-1960s, the label, with the help of songwriters and producers such as Robinson and Holland-Dozier-Holland, was a major force in the music industry.

Related Topics:
Mabel John - Mary Wells - Barrett Strong - Money (That's What I Want) - 1959 - Billboard - Shop Around - 1960 - The Marvelettes - Please Mr. Postman - Holland-Dozier-Holland

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In the 1960s (from 1961 to 1971), Motown had 110 Top 10 hits and artists such as Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross & The Supremes, The Temptations, The Four Tops, The Jackson 5, and Gladys Knight & the Pips were all signed to Motown Records. By the late 1960s the label was billing itself as "The Sound of Young America", with its acts enjoying widespread popularity among black and white audiences alike.

Related Topics:
1961 - 1971 - Top 10 - Stevie Wonder - Marvin Gaye - Diana Ross - The Supremes - The Temptations - The Four Tops - The Jackson 5 - Gladys Knight & the Pips

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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. Even so, Motown still boasted a roster of successful artists during the 1970s and 1980s, including Lionel Richie and The Commodores, Rick James, Teena Marie and DeBarge. Motown relocated from Detroit to Los Angeles in 1972 and attempted to branch out into the motion picture industry, turning out films such as Lady Sings the Blues, Mahogany, The Wiz, Thank God It's Friday and The Last Dragon.

Related Topics:
1967 - 1970s - 1980s - Lionel Richie - The Commodores - Rick James - Teena Marie - DeBarge - Los Angeles - 1972 - Motion picture - Lady Sings the Blues - Mahogany - The Wiz - Thank God It's Friday - The Last Dragon

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Berry Gordy sold his ownership in Motown to MCA and Boston Ventures in June 1988 for $61 million. Today a subsidiary of Universal Music, Motown is still active as a record label, and has been home to artists such as Boyz II Men, Brian McKnight, Erykah Badu, Johnny Gill (ex-New Edition) and India.Arie. Stevie Wonder is still signed to Motown to this day, making him the only act from the "classic years" still on the label.

Related Topics:
MCA - 1988 - Universal Music - Boyz II Men - Brian McKnight - Erykah Badu - Johnny Gill - New Edition - India.Arie - Stevie Wonder

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