motown records

creation

founder

barry gordy, jr.

birth

jan. 12, 1959, as tamla records, in detroit, michigan

incorporation

april 14, 1960, as motown record corporation (aka, the “motor town” → motown [not exactly  rocket science, is it?])

motown records today

headquarters

new york city

corporate structure

universal music group (parent)

universal motown republic group (subsidiary)

universal motown (formerly motown records, subsidiary)

website

www.motown.com

importance of motown records

• crucial to the racial integration of popular music.
• first record label not only owned by an african american man, but which also featured african american artists, who achieved crossover success.
• during the sixties, motown & its subsidiaries focused on soul music were the most successful advocates of what would be known as “the motown sound,” a style of soul music blended with distinct pop influences.
• “motown has owned or distributed releases from more than 45 subsidiaries in varying genres.”
• best known for r&b, hip hop, pop, and soul releases.
• motown was and independent label until gordy sold it to mca and boston ventures on june 28, 1988.

just a few of the artists who have recorded for
motown records during their careers

motown records had three major divisions, or subsidiaries:  motown records, tamla records, and gordy records.  here are some of the artists who recorded for those divisions.

motown records (1960)

since it was founded, motown was, and is, the company’s main label for mainstream, r&b, soul, and hip hop music.  in 1982, the motown, tamla, & gordy labels combined numbering systems.

notable artists include, but are not limited to:  mary wells; diana ross & the supremes; the four tops; the jackson 5; boyz ii men, the commodores, and erykah badu.

slogan:   “the sound of young america.”

tamla records (1959)
the company’s original label

a primary subsidiary for mainstream r&b/soul music.the label’s numbering system was combined with those of motown and Gordy in 1982, and the label was merged with motown in 1988.

notable artists include, but are not limited to:  smokey robinson & the miracles; marvin gaye; stevie wonder; and the marvelettes.

slogan:  “the sound that makes the world go ’round.”

gordy records (1962)

also a primary subsidiary for mainstream r&b/soul music. it was originally known as miracle records (slogan: “if it’s a hit, it’s a miracle”), the name was changed in 1962 to avoid confusion with the miracles singing group. the label’s numbering system was combined with those of motown and tamla in 1982, and the label was merged with motown in 1988.

notable artists include, but are not limited to:  the temptations; martha reeves & the vandellas; the contours; edwin starr, rick james; and debarge.

slogan: “it’s what’s in the grooves that counts”

(all information from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motown_Records)

does all this talk of motown record have you dying to sing (or to learn how to sing) some of this fantastic music?   if so, please come visit us at the

motown ensemble
thursdays, at 7pm
4544 n. lincoln ave., room b-4
if the room is a rockin’, don’t bother knockin.  just come on in!