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Emerging out of the turbulent civil rights period in the United States, the majority of the black minority population finally found a means by which to express their voice to the world through music. This music would originate from two extremely different music studios located in opposite regions of the United States.
Detroit, Michigan was the northern city where the company Motown was birthed by Berry Gordy on January 12, 1959. His vision was for the company to produce black artists to bridge the gap between white and black segregated music markets and audiences. He dreamed about making an entity that would appeal to both the wider white pop music audiences as well as the narrower black Rhythm and Blues one. To obtain this objective, he
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Love songs, which appealed to the emotions of both races, were the easiest way to crossover and enter into the hearts of people no matter where they lived or what culture they came from. After the initial favorable entrance into consumers hearts, the music was morphing into issues the Black community was dealing with. An example of an artist starting with fluffy and easily palatable songs at the beginning of their career and then progressing to music with lyrics that express social issues would be Diane Ross and the Supremes. They had number one pop hits with upbeat crossover love songs that appealed to the masses. They were polished with previous experience as "The Primettes" a female singing group in Detroit, Michigan in 1959. The Supremes' members attended Motown's in house finishing school and Artist Development Department. There, they took their lessons seriously and projected a more refined and glamorous appearance than black singers before that time They heavily depended on professional make up artists, higher end fashion styles for costumes and dance classes to perfect their choreography dance routines. The woman who ran the finishing school taught social …show more content…
It was called specifically "The Motown Sound". This sound was designed with pop appeal in mind, the back beat usually being complemented with tambourines and electric guitar to go along with structured chords and singing habits borrowed from gospel music. To ensure all music fit this criteria, Berry Gordy held quality control meetings every Friday morning and used veto power to ensure that only the best material and performances would be released. Motown, more specifically Gordy, was not only very controlling over the song writing process, artist development and music production but he also managed to have a hand selected group of professional musicians known as the "Funk Brothers" play and record the background instrumental tracks of the individual and group artists. Motown music was precisely managed, controlled produced and commercialized with the goal of reaching wider and wider audiences and markets than any single, organic or original artist or band ever
“We stuck to who we were at Motown, and the world came around.” Berry Gordy, the founder of Motown records relayed at the Occidental College’s 125th commencement ceremony in 2007. Motown was “the new voice of America” due to its great impact and influence on the music industry and society. Numerous events were happening in America at that time and Berry Gordy identified several of these factors to target the music of Motown and its artists to young audiences in specific ways. There were various social, musical and cultural factors that were critically important and of these factors, Gordy identified the segregation and the civil rights movement, the music and cultural aspects of the black community at that time.
Motown is the sound that changed America. No other record company in history had more than 180 number 1 hit songs worldwide and counting. Motown just recently celebrated their 50th anniversary of the company’s founding. Marvin Gaye, Temptations, Jackson 5, and many much brought together racially divided country and segregated society around the world. In this essay I first will tell you more information about Motown and where it got its name from, I then will tell you about Marvin Gaye and his history dealings with Motown, next I will talk about Stevie Wonder and explain his life and how he became a part of Motown, and lastly I will talk about Jackson 5 and talk about how they became a group and their dealings with Motown.
Though many whites saw Motown as another form of pop music of the time African American saw it as a way to make decent money and to let their voice and opinions become heard, it offered them some way of freedom. Motown helped break down some racial barriers during this era. Motown forced America to confront its own feelings about race, community, intolerance, justice and reality. It was another way for African American voices to be heard on a much greater scale both national and international. Motown artist could appeal to whites their image was positive and tasteful. It paved the way peaceful integration by forcing a common ground for races though music in a time of social injustice. His artist crossed over the charts in a heavily whites dominated the
Promoted by new, independently owned record labels and radio stations marketed to blacks, R&B also captured the imagination of young white audiences and led directly to the popularity of rock and roll. During the early 1950, more white teenagers started to become aware of R&B and also purchased the music, for example: forty percent of 1952 sales at Dolphins of Hollywood record shops came from the whites. In the early 1960s, British R&B developed it often brought African American service men stationed in Britain during the Cold war, or merchant seamen visiting ports such as London, Liverpool, New castle on Tyne and Belfast. The British R&B bands produced music which was very different in tone form that of African American artists, often with more emphasis on guitars and sometimes with great energy. In the 1980s a new style of R&B developed known as “Contemporary R&B”, It combines element of Rhythm and Blues, Soul, Funk, Pop and Dance. Soul music dominated the U.S R&B chart on the 1960s, and many recordings crossed over into the pop charts in the U.S, Britain and elsewhere. By 1968, the soul music genre had begun to splinter, some soul artiste developed Funk music. By the early 1979s, soul music had been influenced by Psychedelic Rock and other genres leading to Psychedelic Soul. The
"Motown Music - The Sound that Changed America - Motown Museum Home of Hitsville U.S.A.." Motown
Throughout America’s history there have been countless influential leaders that have proudly been American. Those have held positions of politicians, soldiers, and . Kanye Omari West has opened the eyes of today's generation and still continues to shape American history. His musical influence has transformed the lives of countless people. Inspiring many to stand up and fight for what they believe in is something Kanye West continues to do even today.. Also, opening the eyes of many to racial injustice towards African American citizens. I’ll further elaborate my claim in the following paragraphs using historical evidence.
The founder of Motown records was Berry Gordy. He founded the company in 1959. The label was located in Detroit Michigan. It got shortened to Motown because Detroit was known for the nickname of the motor and town. The music that Motown created, symbolized coming-of-age and celebration and how it is timeless and how it was still important to most people. Berry Gordy wanted to create a sound that anyone would like. Most of the music and artists
Berry Gordy's "Motown" had the largest impact on music on behalf of its direction and redefinition. Berry Gordy's "Motown" impact music through cutting across divisions of race, region, and class. According to Schloss, Joseph G. et al., "unlike the music of earlier black-owned record companies, Motown's music was not directed primarily at black audiences." Gordy is characterized
Berry Gordy Jr. was born in Detroit, Michigan in 1929 to middle-income parents. Gordy had dropped out of high school after his junior year. He had gotten drafted into the Army in 1951 to fight the Korean War. He created Motown in Detroit, Michigan with an $800 loan from his family. Gordy was a former boxer and an automobile worker before he created Motown (was called Tamla Records) out of his house. Gordy was a songwriter also, he wrote songs for Smokey Robinson, Jackie Wilson and Marv Johnson for 10 years before to Motown’s inception. Berry Gordy met Smokey Robinson in 1959 when Robinson was in high school and Gordy recorded Robinson’s group ,The Miracles, and voilà, Motown was born.
Motown created a sound that varied from blues, soul and pop that affected millions of people around the world. The ability to overcome the racist of America was the biggest struggle in becoming one of the world’s famous Black American recording producers. The songs created by Motown’s artists describe the struggle of racism, love and even hate. Marvin Gave sang about how things had changed for Black Americans in “what’s going on” the temptation sang “just my Imagination” like the music coming from the windows in Tin Pan Alley of New York Pop music came from the window in Huntsville, Alabama.
Motown took the world over by surprise. The vivid and new sounds from Motown artists made screaming dedicated fans all over the world. With the addicted fans, Motown artists raised the bad and opened the eyes of those who thought African Americans would never amount to anything. Although there still happened to be racism, and prejudice, African Americans managed to become recognized and well known for their abilities. Not only were the Motown artists extraordinary talented, but they also were unbelievably strong and persistent for going against all those people out there who discriminated on them. They took the criticisms continued and went on with what they loved to do. One of the most famous groups during the Motown era was the Temptations. With their numerous hits, success, and even some failures, The Temptations strove there way into their fans hearts and earned their names in Motown History.
He pushed his sons including Michael into forming a group called the Jackson five. Their group quickly arose from playing local talent shows to landing a contract with the renowned Motown label at the end of 1968. During the early '70s the group became well-known, with "baby", Michael as the lead singer of the group. This talent dragged on for decades and gradually getting better and better, Michael taking the lead and as the main source of income for the family for proving and presenting his talent to many music labels and organizations throughout the years.
After being established as the most successful black-owned music business of all time Motown Records became one of the most enduring independent record label in the history, it was established in a row of houses in Detroit, known as Hitsville USA. The success of Motown arose from Berry Gordy’s great business mind and additionally the sound that played in his head. Berry Gordy mixed together a group of professional musicians who specialized in their instruments, well known as the Funk Brothers who played essentially on every record that came out of Hitsville USA during its famous “Golden Decade” (1962 – 1971). The result of this risky combination came to life from Berry Gordy’s desired sound for Motown Records “we started to hear it from the Funk Brothers, the powerful beat, the clever wordplay, the emphasis on hooks and bright, hot production. It was not quite pop, not quite soul, but distinct, compelling, and bristling with energy” (Gordy, 1994). Apart from the music and sound, the business structure of
Upon his induction in 1988, Motown’s founder was given the following tribute: “Gordy endeavored to reach across the racial divide with music that could touch all people, regardless of the color of their skin. Under this tutelage, Motown became a model of black capitalism, pride and self expression and a repository for some of the greatest talent ever assembled at one company. Motown’s stable of singers, songwriters, and musicians took the concept of simple, catchy pop songs to a intensity. After Motown, black popular music would never again be dismissed as a minority taste. Aesthetically no less than commercially, Motown’s achievements will likely remain unrivaled and unstoppable”.