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. Motown is a reflection …show more content…
He was born six weeks early with retinopathy of prematurity. It’s an eye disorder which was exacerbated when he receives too much oxygen in an incubator, leading to his blindness. Before the age of 10, he taught himself how to play the harmonica, piano, and drums. Stevie Wonder was discovered by Ronnie White of the Motown band the Miracles as age 11. He then auditioned for Berry Gordy which was the founder of Motown and he signed him to a record deal. In 1962, they renamed Stevie to Little Stevie Wonder. His commitment to his gifted, he was faced with the difficulty of staying on the topic relevant to what he was known for singing. He grew from a bot to a man, and his voice matured into a tenor. In 1971, Stevie Wonder negotiated a new contract with Motown which gave him a lot of control over his records. Over the course throughout the years, he had four outstanding albums. Stevie Wonder created some of the most indelible songs in popular music history. His album Talking Book offered two number one hits. Next was the album Innervision The record featured two socially conscious number one R&B charts. His first finale release of Fulfillingness was inspired after he survived a bad car accident that left him in a coma. He had two number one hits both the pop and R&B on this album as well. After this Stevie Wonder has created many more albums with a lot more number one hits. With Stevie’s …show more content…
The group ranged from ages nine to fourteen. They group was brought to Berry Gordy’s attention by Bobby Taylor of the Vancouver. Berry Gordy fell in love with Michael. He sang his songs with so much feeling and inspiration and pain. It was like he had gone through everything he was singing about. Right off top, they exploded onto the pop and R&B charts in the 1969 with “I Want You Back”. Diana Ross played a big part in the Jackson 5’s debut. She allowed them to be an opening act for herself and the Supremes concert in Los Angeles, California in 1969. A few day later the group was on their way to stardom. Four chart-topping releases followed over the next eleven month with songs “ABC”, “The Love You Save”, and “I'll Be There”. That made Jackson 5 only group to have its first four records reach number 1 on the charts. This group captured the hearts of young people and a lot of other people ranging from different ages with their talent and charm. It was the youngest Michael in the group that was the lead singer and who stood out the most to the people. Years later, Berry Gordy recalled the group as a determination to succeed in his autobiography. He wrote their hard work was unconditional, and they were willing to sweat to
Berry Gordy and his two younger sisters conducted Motown’s artists to precise training, however, the training did not include what most people would see as a fit for record labels. The artists were not just trained as singers, but as young men and young ladies, and as entertainers. They were taught to tailor themselves, how to walk, how to speak, and how to use a salad fork, this to Berry Gordy was highly important for the success of Motown Records, as he comments “to dress neatly and conservatively, to speak without an accent, to defer with respect to others, these are the signs of refinement and the path to achievement for many blacks in this decade” (Gordy, 1970). Gordy also saw the importance of stage presence when performing; the artists were trained not just to hit notes with perfection but how to handle a microphone, and how to move with beauty on-stage so that the artist were respected with the highest regard. Motown’s vision was to have its artists performing in theatres and stadiums, not too just hear themselves on radio stations but also on television and movies, and conclusively the artists did. Gordy’s motto was “someone will walk into Hitsville as a nobody and walk out as a star” to keep this reoccurring Gordy was the one who accepted through
This paper will be an updated version of my last paper which talked about a portion of Barry Gordy's background, Diana Ross and the Supremes, the Four Tops, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, the Temptations and their start at Motown. How Motown was the first American music label owned by an African-American, the first music label to successfully market black artists to white mainstream audiences. How Motown was responsible for discovering, mentoring, and perfecting a lot of American popular music's most influential and successful artists and the best albums and artists and what new artists have entered Motown.
His Beginnings: Growing up on Detroit's Lower side, Gordy's greatest loves were boxing and jazz. By the time he graduated from Northeastern high school in 1948, Gordy was able to place boxing 1st. however once winning fifteen Golden Gloves matches, his career as a boxer was inhibit once he was drafted to fight in the Korean War. After the war, Gordy was too old to continue in boxing, thus he turned to his alternative love, opening a record store specializing in jazz. Sadly, Gordy had failed to notice that blacks in Motown weren’t particularly fascinated by jazz. They wished to listen to rock 'n' roll. Gordy's 3-D Record outlet went bankrupt after only 2 years.
The Jackson 5 would managed by their father Joseph, who began to book their performances. The group began performing at many clubs and bars eventually gaining attention from recording labels. In 1968, The Jackson 5 signed with Motown records. As the group progressed, Michael caught the eyes of most viewers with his amazingly smooth and soft melodic voice. His ability to capture so much emotion while he sang is what made him seem mature for his age, and interesting to watch. The Jackson 5 quickly climbed the charts producing number one hit singles, including "ABC", “I Want You Back“, "Never Can Say Goodbye", "I 'll Be There", "Got To Be There" and “The Love You Saved". Although the group dominated the charts, Michael became a victim to child abuse at the hands of his father. This would cause Michael to remain scarred for the remainder of his adult
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
Hank Williams Jr as we know him was born Hank Randall Williams, born in small town Shreveport, Louisiana, on May 26, 1949. Hank Jr was only three when his father Hank died, but that did not stop his music dream. At just the age of 8 Hank Jr began singing his dad songs on stage. “Williams made his stage debut at the age of 8 and his first appearance at Nashville's famed Grand Ole Opry at age 11. At age 15, Williams had his first Top 5 hit on the country charts. " (http://www.biography.com/) Even though his father was gone, Hank Jr helped carry on his legacy through music. His mother being his biggest supporter, helped him along the way.
Throughout history, and even today, music has shaped America’s culture, society, and even politics. One of the most outstanding and enduring musical movement has been from African American artists, ranging from bebop to jazz to hip-hop to rap. During the 1920’s , jazz artists stepped into the limelight and began their impact on American and even world history. Louis Armstrong was one of the most influential leaders during the Harlem Renaissance and his jazz legacy and impact of American history is everlasting. A master of his craft, Armstrong and his music heavily influenced America’s white and black populations from the 1920’s and up until his death.
"Motown Music - The Sound that Changed America - Motown Museum Home of Hitsville U.S.A.." Motown
Motown is not only a nickname for a town, it is also a record label that really got the ball rolling for the crossover in the blending of music, the Civil Rights movement and even culture as we see it today. It may have had its downsides, but many can agree it worked out alright.
The most important thing that music and art effected was the population of Detroit. The music of Motown and the art changed the culture of Detroit. As the population grew so did its diversity. Detroit’s music and art scene brought in many different ethnicity adding to its great culture. As these ethnicity began to flow into Detriot their heritage began to be present in Detroit. The different ethnicity could be seen in the food, the buildings, entertainment, and language, make Detroit a melting pot of
According to Schloss, "Gordy had an uncanny ability to surround himself with first-rate musical talent in all areas of the record." His passion for control brought him a group of people, who are loyal to him and were talented, thus, his network was able to help Motown's music to become popular. In addition, Gordy's diverse audiences had shaped Motown's music into a form of rebellion, which was against the social norm that people of color speak up for their rights. Therefore, not only "his entire Motown organization had the ability to create a black music aimed right at the commercial mainstream that somehow never evoked the feeling, or provoked the charge, of having sold out (Schloss)," was also able to "give a definite African American slant to the pop-flavored songs that were characteristic of Motown (Schloss)." In result, "the sound of young America" was the work Gordy's "Motown" had contributed to the music industry.
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.
Music nurtured the African American tradition and their struggle towards equality in the same century.... ... middle of paper ... ... Greensboro, N.C.: Morgan Reynolds Pub. Carter, D. (2009).
Powell, A. (2007). The Music of African Americans and its Impact on the American Culture in the 1960’s and the 1970’s. Miller African Centered Academy, 1. Retrieved from http://www.chatham.edu/pti/curriculum/units/2007/Powell.pdf