“Motown was about music for all people - white and black, blue and green, cops and the robbers. I was reluctant to have our music alienate anyone” - Berry Gordy
(Berry Gordy)
Berry Gordy was born as Berry Gordy Jr. on November 28th 1929 in Detroit, Michigan, USA.
(Gordy as a teenager)
In 1957 Gordy wrote a song for Jackie Wilson “Reet Petite”. Gordy also wrote “Lonely Teardrops” for Jackie Wilson.
(Gordy (Right) and Jackie Wilson (Center))
He also wrote “All I Could do is Cry” for Etta James. Also in 1957 Gordy discovered the Miracles. In 1959 Gordy created the labels “Tamla” and “Motown”.
(Gordy in 1959)
In 1960 he merged the two labels to make “Motown Record Corporation”. Also in 1960 he signed Mary Wells.
(Gordy in 1960)
In 1961 he signed the Marvelettes. Throughout the 1960’s Gordy signed the Supremes, Marvin Gaye, The Temptations, the Four Tops, Gladys Knight & the Pips, the Commodores, Martha & the Vandellas, Stevie Wonder and the Jackson 5.
(Gordy (Center Right) with Diana Ross (Left), Michael Jackson (Center Left) and Marlon Jackson (Right))
In 1972 he moved the label to Los Angeles, CA. Also in 1972 he produced the movie Lady Sings the Blues.
(Gordy (Left) with Diana Ross (Center) and Billy Dee Williams (Right))
In 1975 he produced the movie Mahogany. In the 1980’s Gordy signed Lionel Richie as a solo artist and Rick James. In 1985 he produced the movie The Last Dragon.
(Gordy (Right) and Vanity (Left))
In 1988 Gordy sold Motown to MCA records for $61 million. Also in 1988 Gordy was inducted into the Rock and Roll hall of fame.
(Gordy in 1988)
In 1994 Gordy published his autobiography To Be Loved. In 1998 Gordy was inducted into the Junior Achievement U.S. Business Hall of Fame.
(Gordy (Left) with Diana Ross (Right))
In 2013 Gordy received the Songwriters Hall of Fame's Pioneer Award. Also in 2013 Gordy developed “Motown: The Musical”.
(Gordy (Right) with Smokey Robinson (Left))
In 2016 Gordy received the National Medal of Arts from President Obama.
(Gordy (Left) with President Obama (Right))
Today he turns 87 years old and we would all like to say happy birthday Berry Gordy.
Books by Berry Gordy
- To Be Loved (1994)
Videos of Berry Gordy
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hUzQxZMwzA “Berry Gordy on MOTOWN: THE MUSICAL”
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGeXES5ACC8 “Berry Gordy, Smokey Robinson Speak; Stevie Wonder Sings At "Motown The Musical" In Detroit”
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6uxaeb50jc “MOTOWN FOUNDER BERRY GORDY INTERVIEW”
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vibRwe8iCk “Michael Jackson Memorial Service - Berry Gordy Eulogy”
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Pn5hAFsuxg “Berry Gordy On Marvin Gaye/ MoTown 50th Anniversary”
(P.S. sorry for the late post)
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