Motown Music and Radio Stations

Listento the Best in Motown Music and Radio.
 

The Motown Legends:   » Teena Marie Music   » Michael Jackson Music   » The Jackson 5 Music   » Diana Ross Music     » Stevie Wonder Music   » Lionel Richie Music   » Marvin Gaye Music    » Temptations Music

One of the most influential and entertaining forms of music to come up during the 1950’s and 1960’s was the Motown sound. Coming quite literally off of the factory floor of the Ford Motor company in Detroit Michigan, this Motown sound and style of music helped break down racial barriers and turn the famous motor city into music city. Many artists today owe their success to Berry Gordy and the Motown record label. Artists such as Stevie Wonder, Dianna Ross, Lionel Ritchie and even Michael Jackson all owe a large part of their successes to the pioneering efforts of this fantastic Motown label that was ahead of its time. This music is ageless in its style, providing the forerunners for many of today’s top rap and soul artists.

The history of Motown records begins with the man himself, Mr. Berry Gordy. He was born in Georgia but his family soon moved to Detroit, Michigan. The segregation laws in the southern states made life very difficult for many African-American families, so many moved to the industrialized north for jobs and better opportunities.

Music may have seemed an odd choice for this young man who originally started out as a professional boxer. After he retired from boxing he was drafted into the army where he did two years of service. He achieved his high school diploma while serving in the army and was honorably discharged in 1953. His musical taste soon kicked in after leaving the army. Gordy opened a jazz record store but unfortunately it failed after only two years in business. It was after the collapse of the record store that Gordy went to work for the Ford motor company as an assembly line worker.

Most found the assembly line dull and tedious. However it paid well, which drew people to it. But Gordy found something about this environment inspirational. Somehow he managed to write songs and create, while working for Ford. Gordy constantly submitted his songs to magazines and music companies. One day his efforts paid off. Artist Jackie Wilson ended up purchasing and recording four of Berry Gordy’s songs. These songs brought modest but respectable success to Gordy and helped him become recognized as a songwriter.

Later, Berry Gordy would go on to do much bigger and better things. He helped find and produce some of the most famous musical acts of our time on his Motown label, and began one of the largest and most successful record labels in the business.