5 w's
Who? Motown was a record label owned by Berry Gordy.
What?They were one of the main sources that ended the segregation their music brought the races together.
When? the record label was from 1950-2005.
Where? In Detroit, Michigan than later relocated in Los Angeles, and lastly placed it New York City as the Headquarters of Motown.
Why? To create equality between races and to give the black race a chance to be heard.
Who? Motown was a record label owned by Berry Gordy.
What?They were one of the main sources that ended the segregation their music brought the races together.
When? the record label was from 1950-2005.
Where? In Detroit, Michigan than later relocated in Los Angeles, and lastly placed it New York City as the Headquarters of Motown.
Why? To create equality between races and to give the black race a chance to be heard.
BIOGRAPHY
Motown is an American record company founded by Berry Gordy, Jr. in 1959 in Detroit, Michigan in the United States. It had many very inspiring artists such as Diana Ross & the Supremes, Smokey Robinson & the Miracles, Stevie Wonder, the Temptations, the Four Tops, Marvin Gaye, Michael Jackson & the Jackson 5, the Marvelettes, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Lionel Richie & the Commodores, Teena Marie, their music communicated and brought together a racially divided country and segregated society, around the world, touching all people of all ages and races.. The music they had consisted of R&B inspired rhythms and blues. The music provided the foundation for rock 'n' roll in the 1950s, and, as racial attitudes relaxed, black performers such as Chuck Berry, the Coasters, and Chubby Checker attracted large audience. It was not until the 1960s that black performers in general received unrestricted radio play. Because Detroit had been known as the “Motor City,” Gordy, in tribute to what he felt was the down-home quality of the warm, soulful people he grew up around, used “town” in place of “city,” which gave him the idea “Motor Town” and a great name for his company and new label—Motown. Motown, of course, stands for more than just the historic music. The label reflected of the hard work of dedicated individuals overcoming obstacles to achieve success. Berry Gordy always learned from all his experiences and applied them to his business. The time he spent working on the assembly line at Detroit’s Lincoln-Mercury automobile plant he put to good use: “Every day I watched how a bare metal frame, rolling down the line would come off the other end, a spanking brand new car. What a great idea! Maybe, I could do the same thing with my music. Create a place where a kid off the street could walk in one door, an unknown, go through a process, and come out another door, a star.” That small thought that came to him while running up and down that assembly line became a reality we now know as “Motown.”
Today, Motown is not only the greatest pop music hit factory ever heard, but an institution, a state of mind, a way of life, a style, the “Sound of Young America.” The unique, inspiring music brought together pop and soul, white and black, old and young, and continues to this day. Anyhow, because of race or social background, teenage girls look up to Diana Ross and teenage boys pretended to be Smokey Robinson. With multi-platinum artists ranging from the Miracles, Temptations, Four Tops and Supremes to Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, and Jackson 5, the house that Gordy built had and has no competition. After having pop radio embrace Motown artists, Berry Gordy want something more like television and movies. He booked his artists on popular shows such as American Bandstand and The Ed Sullivan Show. After delighting national audiences with repeat performances on these shows, The Supremes were the first R&B act to play the country’s most distinguished night club, New York’s Copacabana, which paved the way for other R&B acts into the top cabaret circuits around the world. Motown was the first African-American-owned record label to reach widespread national acclaim. Motown broke down racial prejudice by becoming the most successful independent record company in history and the most successful African-American-owned business in America. In the late 80′s and 90′s all of Motown’s major artists were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Upon his own 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. The Motown recording label achieved many great things that didn't only involve trophies and recognition, but respect, the uniting of black and white. 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. After Motown, Black popular music would never again be dismissed as a minority taste… no less than commercially, Motown’s achievements will likely remain unstoppable.
Today, Motown is not only the greatest pop music hit factory ever heard, but an institution, a state of mind, a way of life, a style, the “Sound of Young America.” The unique, inspiring music brought together pop and soul, white and black, old and young, and continues to this day. Anyhow, because of race or social background, teenage girls look up to Diana Ross and teenage boys pretended to be Smokey Robinson. With multi-platinum artists ranging from the Miracles, Temptations, Four Tops and Supremes to Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, and Jackson 5, the house that Gordy built had and has no competition. After having pop radio embrace Motown artists, Berry Gordy want something more like television and movies. He booked his artists on popular shows such as American Bandstand and The Ed Sullivan Show. After delighting national audiences with repeat performances on these shows, The Supremes were the first R&B act to play the country’s most distinguished night club, New York’s Copacabana, which paved the way for other R&B acts into the top cabaret circuits around the world. Motown was the first African-American-owned record label to reach widespread national acclaim. Motown broke down racial prejudice by becoming the most successful independent record company in history and the most successful African-American-owned business in America. In the late 80′s and 90′s all of Motown’s major artists were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Upon his own 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. The Motown recording label achieved many great things that didn't only involve trophies and recognition, but respect, the uniting of black and white. 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. After Motown, Black popular music would never again be dismissed as a minority taste… no less than commercially, Motown’s achievements will likely remain unstoppable.