Motown Artists by Renato Tolentino [STUDENT]

Bobby Taylor and the Vancouvers

renato2457249 — 2025-02-11 19:46:30 UTC

This band was signed to Motown in 1965. Bobby Taylor & the Vancouvers were all form Canada, but moved to San Francisco. Their first song " Does your mama know about me?" was released in 1968, and brought up the topic of interracial dating.

Barrett Strong

renato2457249 — 2025-02-13 19:03:41 UTC

The voice behind Motown’s first hit, “Money (That’s What I Want),” was Barrett Strong. Through his sister’s friend, Jackie Wilson, Barrett Strong was able to arrange a meeting with Berry Gordy. After they met and Barrett showed him some of his original songs, Berry Gordy signed him to Motown’s Tamla label in April 1959.

Edwin Starr

renato2457249 — 2025-02-13 19:28:07 UTC

The singer born as Charles Edwin Hatcher quickly earned his stage name ‘Starr.’ Already an established performer, he had an extensive discography prior to Motown, with his single “Agent Double-O Soul” (1965) breaking into the top 20 of US pop charts.

The Isley Brothers

renato2457249 — 2025-02-21 18:23:30 UTC

Since the 1950s, the Isely Brothers have been persistence to their work making music from Doo-Wop to Rock. Brothers O’Kelly Jr, Ronald, Vernon, and Rudolph Isley started their music career in Cincinnati, Ohio, Preforming gospel music and songs in churches across their city.

The Jackson 5

renato2457249 — 2025-02-21 18:35:39 UTC

In 1968, Bobby Taylor from (Bobby Taylor & The Vancouvers) discovered 5 talented young brothers from Gary, Indiana and showed them to Motown. Their audition impressed president Berry Gordon who signed the Jackson 5 briefly after their audition And the Jackson 5 soon exploded into Pop and R&B charts in 1969.

Marvin Gaye

renato2457249 — 2025-02-21 18:43:53 UTC

In the 1950s, Marvin Gaye joined Motown as a drummer and after a stint with Harvey and the Moonglows, he did it all as a Balladeer, Musician, and one-half of the most famous vocal duo of R&B History with Tammi Terrell.

Stevie Wonder

renato2457249 — 2025-02-21 19:52:23 UTC

Steveland Judkins Morris was only 11 years old when Motown signed him a contract in 1961. Gifted and talented in music and he did it all. He sang, he played multiple different instruments and wrote music head of its time.

Kim Weston

renato2457249 — 2025-02-24 17:39:55 UTC

Kim Weston has been performing since the age of three. Through her church, she began her music career with the traveling gospel group the Wright Specials. While the group signed to Motown’s gospel label Divinity in 1960, Kim Weston left the group before signing. Following disputes with the group, she took a year hiatus from performing.

The Originals

renato2457249 — 2025-02-26 17:29:17 UTC

The Originals, comprised of Hank Dixon, Freddie Gorman, Walter Gaines, C.P. Spencer, and Joe Stubbs. United in 1965 as backup singers in Motown Records. They were backup singers until working on their own music with Marvin Gaye as their producer and their next single "Baby I’m For Real” Broke in popularity reaching in charts.

The Supremes

renato2457249 — 2025-02-26 17:33:48 UTC

The Supremes emerged as Motowns leading female artists. Starting with Florence Ballard, Diane Ross, Mary Wilson and Betty McGlown, who was later replaced by Barbara Marti. Signed into Motown in 1961 and would reach reach worldwide success as a trio reaching several top ten singles.

Rare Earth

renato2457249 — 2025-02-26 17:36:49 UTC

Rare Earth is a multi-platinum selling band that is credited for being Motown’s first highly successful rock act and bringing in a brand new sound for the company. The original five members—Gil Bridges (saxophone), Rod Richards (guitar), Pete Rivera (drums), John Persh (Parrish) (bass guitar) and Kenny James (keyboard)-signed to Motowns Rare Earth Label.

The Temptations

renato2457249 — 2025-02-26 17:40:22 UTC

The Temptations were made when the Distants were merged with the Primes and discovered another singing group was using the name they selected for the group—the Elgins— and a new moniker was needed. Original members included Elbridge (Al) Bryant, Melvin Franklin, Eddie Kendricks, Otis Williams and Paul Williams. David Ruffin replaced Al Bryant soon after Motown signed the group.

The Spinners

renato2457249 — 2025-02-26 17:44:55 UTC

Forming in 1954 under the name Domingos, they quickly attracted the producer Harvey Fuqua who signed the group to his Chicago-based Label Tri-Phi Records and changed the groups names into The Spinners. The Spinners contained 5 members, Pervis Jackson, Billy Henderson, George Dixon, Henry Fambrough, and Bobby Smith.

Chris Clark

renato2457249 — 2025-02-28 19:46:05 UTC

Chris Clark spent much of her early life trying to find the right genre. Experimenting with rock, folk, and what she called ‘hippie’ music; she eventually found her voice in soul music. After auditioning for Motown’s Hal Davis in California, Chris was sent to Detroit to audition for Berry Gordy. Berry, however, was not sold until she sang, acapella, an Etta James song he had co-written titled, “All I Could Do Was Cry.”

The Velvelettes

renato2457249 — 2025-02-28 19:48:13 UTC

A drive from Kalamazoo to Detroit in a snowstorm to audition for Motown paid off for five college and high school students when Motown signed The Velvelettes as recording artists in 1962. Founded by Western Michigan students Bertha Barbee and Mildred Gill, the group’s roster also included Betty Kelley (who later joined the Vandellas), Mildred’s younger sister Carolyn (aka Cal) Gill and Bertha’s cousin Norma Barbee.