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... to fade just as big band had. R&B was being promoted many famous bandleaders like Louis Jordan and Lionel Hampton. The creation or rhythm and blues was what eventually brought about many small independent labels. Companies like Columbia, Decca, Peacock Records, and Vee Jay Records helped pioneer the R&B movement by supporting great up and coming artists. They seized the opportunity to make profits off of music that was then considered radical and unconventional.
The main reason why the larger companies did not record many of these artists was because they were African American. The records produced by these smaller independent companies were known as "race records. " The underground sound of race records was penetrating the mainstream of society with the help of black radio, which became prominent after World War II. It gave black listeners great clout as consumers and made it possible for black record company owners to market their songs directly to its growing audience. All of these numerous changes in American society paved the way for someone like Berry Gordy to form a company like Motown. Changes in society continued to take place in 1954 and with the Brown V. the Board of Education case.
It abolished the segregation of American schools and helped to upgrade the conditions of many inner-city schools. This played a major role in the success of Motown Records because the majority of Berry Gordy's acts came out of the Detroit Public School system, which had one of the nations top musical programs at the time. The death of Tin Pan Alley was also a major factor in Motown's success because it allowed artists or labels to write their own music. The foundation of Motown rested on the fact that they were able to write their own music, thus staying independent and black owned. A Company like Motown would be able to thrive because it would be able to keep all of the money it earned and put it back into the company so that it could cultivate more talent. Therefore it would have the potential to have a long live and be very successful.
One of the most critical ingredients to the success of Motown was unquestionably the song writing. Motown records had some of the best songwriters in the business, besides Smokey Robinson and Berry Gordy there was the famous team of Holland and Dozier. They consisted of Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, and Eddie Holland who wrote and produced the Supremes' mid- 1960 's hits. There were also famous songwriters Sylvia Moy, Norman Whitfield, Mickey Stevenson, and Ivy Joe Hunter.
All of his songwriters were also producers. Gordy and his huge songwriting staff created what is known as the "Motown sound, " a ballad based blend of traditional black harmony and gospel music with the lively beat of rhythm and blues. Since Gordy's business was small he had to run it different from other companies. The studio on West Grand Blvd. also served the purpose of a finishing school and an academy of popular arts. Gordy found a lot of his talent out of high school and most of them had little or no experience in actually performing for large crowds or being on television.
His staff of coaches was known as the "Motown U Pros, " Chilly Atkins headed them. These coaches taught the artists etiquette, choreography, and how to handle fame. With the combination of opportunity, raw talent, and world-renowned song writing Motown easily took it's place as the top record company of the 60 's. Times and tastes changed as the 60 's became the 70 's and Motown eventually decided to move its operation from Detroit to Los Angeles, following the trend of many musicians who migrated West. Although the company didn't have as strong of an impact in the 70 's it was still a formidable enterprise. Motown still had heavy weight acts like The Jackson 5, Rick James, The Commodores, Lionel Richie, and Marvin Gaye.
Gordy also made the move into the filmmaking industry with popular movies like, "Lady Sings the Blues, " starring Diana Ross. In 1988 Berry Gordy decided to sell Motown to MCA for $ 61 million dollars because he found it difficult to compete with multinational conglomerates that began to dominate the industry. Later Motown was sold to PolyGram 1993. Although Gordy is no longer making records, he still has a hand in Motown-related projects as well, including a television miniseries and a Broadway musical. As for Motown records today, the label boasts a less substantial roster than in its glory years, but it still includes some very impressive acts such as Stevie Wonder, Johnny Gill, Queen Latifah, Jason Weaver, and Boyz II Men.
Boyz II Men's single "End of the Road" set records in 1992 by remaining at number one on the Billboard charts for 13 weeks, longer than any other song since the pop charts began. Berry Gordy headed one of the most successful black-owned companies in the United States. By 1972 Berry Gordy was the richest black man in America with an annual income in excess of $ 10 million dollars. By 1982, the company boasted revenues of $ 104 million, and Motown acts had recorded 110 number one hits on the American pop charts. Gordy was honored with a lifetime achievement award at the American Music Awards in 1975 and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988.
Gordy was given a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame in 1996 and people even wanted to name the section of West Grand Boulevard in front of the Motown Museum (Hitsville USA) after Berry Gordy. Motown records helped bring black performers and black music to the mainstream popular music charts. Motown started at a time when the country as a whole was optimistic about the future. The election of JFK, and the growing popularity of MLK Jr.
and his message, fostered a sense that blacks were soon to enter a world of equality through the front door. This feeling was particularly felt in Detroit, as Motown became a success and crossed over into white audiences as well. To this day the "Motown sound" still continues to influence pop music. Sources "Motown Record Company, L. P. , " Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia 2000 web > 1997 - 2000 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
Gordy, Berry, Jr. "Encyclopedia Online. web > [Accessed 25 March 2000 ] web > web reviews / gerald early. html web > web Kline / celeb 40 /Motown. htm web > web berry. html
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Research essay sample on Berry Gordy Father Of The Motown Sound
