Berry Gordy Jr. by Anya and Kayla

Birthday

hoaglanda — 2013-04-19 13:34:01 UTC

Berry Gordy Jr. was born in 1929 in Detroit, Michigan.

High School

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Berry Gordy dropped out of high school in the eleventh grade to become a professional boxer, in hopes of becoming rich quick.

Motown Start

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In 1959 Berry borrowed $800 from his family to create the Motown Record Company.

Smokey Robinson and The Miracles

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In 1957 Berry discovered The Miracles and began building a portfolio of successful artists. Robinson was made a vice-president of the Motown label.

The Next Decade

hoaglanda — 2013-04-29 13:39:03 UTC

Over the next decade after it was established, Motown started to recruit artists and bands to record. Some of them included Martha and the Vandellas, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, The Temptations, The
Four Tops, Diana Ross and the Supremes, Gladys Knight and the Pips, The Jackson
5, Stevie Wonder, and Marvin Gaye.

Moving to L.A

hoaglanda — 2013-04-29 13:49:55 UTC

Around 1967, Berry Gordy started thinking about moving Motown Records to Los Angeles in hopes of hitting the big screen or musicals in bordway . A year later he made the switch, losing a few artists on the way.

Motown Museum

hoaglanda — 2013-04-29 13:57:46 UTC

The Motown Museum was founded by Esther Gordy Edwards in 1985. It is located on West Grand Boulevard in Detroit, Michigan.

Four Tops

hoaglanda — 2013-04-29 14:05:11 UTC

The Four Tops stuck together and went 41 years without any member changes: 1956-1997

The original members were Lawrence Roquel Payton, Jr., Lewis Ronald McNeir, Abdul “Duke” Fakir and Theopolis Peoples III.

Diana Ross & The Supremes

hoaglanda — 2013-05-01 13:30:58 UTC

When The Supremes formed, the members took turns singing lead. In 1962, Motown president Berry Gordy made Diana Ross the sole lead singer.

Stevie Wonder

hoaglanda — 2013-05-01 13:31:57 UTC

Wonder's 1980s hits include "I Just Called to Say I Love You" and "Ebony and Ivory." He was included into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989.

Martha and the Vandellas

hoaglanda — 2013-05-01 13:41:33 UTC

Martha Reeves took Van Dyke Ave in Detroit and added it to the first name of her favorite singer, Della Reese, to come up with their group name, The Vandellas. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995.

Jackson 5

audettek — 2013-05-01 13:43:04 UTC

"I'll Be There & Feelin' Alright"

Berry Gordy

hoaglanda — 2013-05-01 13:44:09 UTC

Holding the record, "Where did our Love Go" by Diana Ross and The Supremes.

New Beginings

hoaglanda — 2013-05-01 13:47:05 UTC

Gordy sold Motown Records to MCA and Boston Partners in 1988, ending Motown’s era as an independent company.

The Temptations vs Four Tops

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Motown to Broadway

hoaglanda — 2013-05-01 13:54:23 UTC

Motown is coming to Broadway in March 2013.

Motown the Musical Opening Night

hoaglanda — 2013-05-01 13:56:45 UTC

Jackson 5

hoaglanda — 2013-05-01 13:59:20 UTC

Before he pursued his solo career, Michale Jackson was included in a group called the Jackson 5 with his other siblings. Their top songs as a group include "I want you back", and "ABC".

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The Temptations

hoaglanda — 2013-05-06 23:23:00 UTC

"My Girl" was written by Smokey Robinson and Ronald White, of the Miricales, for The Temptations. It is now The Temptation's signiture song.

Gladys Knight and the Pips

hoaglanda — 2013-05-06 23:29:45 UTC

"Midnight Train to Georgia"
is a 1973 number-one hit single by Gladys Knight and the Pips, their second
release after departing Motown Records
for Buddah Records.

Marvin Gaye

hoaglanda — 2013-05-06 23:40:44 UTC

His hits included "How Sweet it is (To be Loved by You)" and "I Heard it Through the Grapevine" and duet recordings with Mary Wells and Tammi Terrell, later earning him the title "Prince of Motown".

The Marvelettes

audettek — 2013-05-09 13:39:14 UTC

The Marvelettes were an all-girl group who achieved popularity in the early to mid-1960s. One of their hit songs was "Please, Mr. Postman".

Mary Wells

audettek — 2013-05-09 13:52:48 UTC

Wells auditioned for Berry Gordy's Tamla Records as a songwriter, but instead
received a contract to be a performer. "Bye Bye Baby," a song written by Wells, and was recorded in Gordy's new label, Motown Records.

The Contours

hoaglanda — 2013-05-13 13:31:12 UTC

Billy Gordon, Joseph Billingslea, Jr, Billy Hoggs, Billy Rollins, and Hubert Johnson were the original members of The Contours. A few weeks after being established, Rollins was replaced with Leroy Fair.

Berry Gordy Fun Facts

hoaglanda — 2013-05-13 13:56:20 UTC

He brought Black Popular music into millions of White americans homes.

He actually stared as a songwriter.

His first production was the 1972 Paramount release "Lady Sings the Blues," the story of Billie Holiday starring Diana Ross.

When Gordy's service in the army ended in 1953, he returned to Detroit and used the money he had saved to open a record store called the Three-D Record Mart.

Jermaine Jackson

audettek — 2013-05-15 13:28:21 UTC

Jermaine's solo career throughout the late 70s and early 80s was fairly successful. His 1980 album "Let's Get Serious" was nominated for a Grammy Award.

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Diana Ross

audettek — 2013-05-21 13:39:22 UTC

"Ain't no Mountain High Enough"

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