Page 13 - Florida Sentinel 2-22-19

FLORIDA SENTINEL
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2019
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Berry Gordy, Jr., borrowed $800 and founded the record label Tamla Records. The company came into existence on January 12, 1959 and was located in Detroit, Michigan.
At the time, Gordy had no idea that the label would be successful that it changed music in America. He incor- porated the label under the name of Motown, using the combined words of motor and town on April 14, 1960.
The first act the label signed was the Matadors. However, he changed their name to the Miracles to avoid confusion with another group. Their
first #1 hit was Shop Around. It be- came Tamla’s first million-selling record. A year later, the Marvellettes produced the label’s first U. S. number one pop hit with “Please Mr. Post- man.”
Other early groups on the label in- cluded: Mable John, Eddie Hol- land, and Mary Wells.
Between 1961 and 1971, Motown had 110 top 10 hits. Some of the artists during that period included: the Four Tops, the Supremes, Miracles, and the Jackson 5.
Meanwhile, artists such as Stevie
Wonder, Marvin Gaye, the Mar- vellettes, and the Miracles continued releasing hits on the Tamla label. A third label named Gordy featured the Temptations, the Contours, and Martha & the Vandellas. the V.I.P. label produced hits from the Velvelettes, the Spinners, the Monitors, and Chris Clark.
A fifth label, Soul, featured the hits of Jr. Walker & the All Stars, Jimmy Ruffin, Shorty Long, the Originals and Gladys Knight & the Pips.
The Motown label became the most
successful record label of soul music. Its net worth totaling $61 million.
After the riots in 1967, the company relocated to Los Angeles, where it ven- tured into the film and television pro- duction. In 1994, it was sold to PolyGram and later sold again to MCA Records’ successor, Universal Music Group when it acquired PolyGram in 1999.
In 2018, Motown was inducted into Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame class at the Charles H. Wright Museum. Mo- town legend Martha Reeves ac- cepted the award on behalf of the label.
Celebrating Its Anniversary:
Residents Talk About 60 Years Of Motown
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
On January 12, 1959, Berry Gordy, Jr., founded a record label named Tamla Records. On April 14, 1960, he incorporated the label as Mo- town Record Corporation.
An African American owned and operated record label, it is credited with play- ing an important role in racial integration. The label cele- brated its first hit to top the “Hot 100” on December 11, 1961, with “Please Mr. Post- man,” by the Marvelettes.
The label went on to intro- duce such artists as Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross and the Supremes, the Jackson 5, the Temptations, Smokey Robinson and the Mira- cles, and Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight and the Pips, just to name a few. It is also known for the many of those artists, such as Smokey Robinson and Ashford & Simpson, writing hit after hit. Many of those artists went on to make the transition from songwriters to performing artists.
In recognition of the an- niversary, “The Grammys' Salute The Legendary Motown Records' 60th Anniversary” was taped on February 12th, in Los Angeles. An air date has not been an- nounced.
The event will feature such notables as: Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross, Boyz II Men, Chloe x Halle, Tori Kelly, John Legend, Ne-Yo and more.
Some readers revisited their childhood and young adult memories of the “Sound of Motown.”
Mrs. Bonnye Crews said, “Mo-
town
melodies are
so inter-
twined with
my youth,
today it's al-
most impossible to hear the songs of old and not remember Young Jr. High, Hillsborough High, WTMP, Afros, Walker's Lake, Rogers Park, Middleton and Blake, the dances, the friendships, the love, and even the hurt. My favorite singers were the Jackson 5.”
Mrs. Chloe Coney said, “Happy 60th
birthday
Motown. As
a teenager,
the sounds
of Motown
was all those
of us in West Tampa heard at Gay Papa Miles dances. We danced and sang the evening away with good music. My fa- vorite song is the Tempta- tions’ My Girl!”
Danny Green said, “I re- member great music in 60s and 70s, real music back in the day. At the con- cert, you got a chance to see a lot of groups performing at the same time. My favorite group was the Temptations. That's real soul music that will never
die.”
Rev. Karen Jackson Sims said,
“Growing up in Lansing, Michigan, Motown was part of the heart and
soul of our community. I re- member their music coming on the car radio or playing on the record player and how up- lifted we felt.
“Summertime was literally
“Dancing in the Street,”
and everybody had their own Motown act they performed for school talent shows and while we gathered outside. My favorite group ... Let’s just say I still remember the moves to “Stop In The Name Of Love,” and there were many nursing home residents who probably were saying, “Baby, please stop, in the name of love....” Diana, Mary and Flo we weren’t.”
Rufus Lewis said, “Gor- don Parks
played a
small part as
a landlord up
in Harlem,
New York, in
the movie
Shaft that Richard Roundtree starred as a bad Black private detective and Isaac Hayes’ music was used.
“Diana Ross and the Supremes with Mary Wilson and Florence Ballard were hot during the 60s. Mary Wells had some great songs during that era: “Two Lovers,” "You Beat Me To The Punch,” “My Guy,” “Laughing Boy,” and “Your Old Standby.” Smokey Robinson and a lot more outstanding singers came out of Motown. Motown is Classic.”
Tyrone Keys said, “Mar- vin Gaye song --- “What's Going On,” --- came out in 1971, the 1st year of integration in my hometown of Jackson, Mississippi, as kids were being
bused across town into the un- known and Ali had taken a stance
against the war.
“This song too described
what was going on, timeless are the lyrics. ‘There's too many of you crying; there's far too many of you dying, you know we've got to find a way to bring some lovin' here today; we don't need to escalate, you see, war is not the answer; for only love can conquer hate; Picket lines and picket signs; don't punish me with brutality, talk to me- so you can see...”
Ross Anderson said, “I grew up lis- tening to Motown and the Temp- tations is my all time favorite group. “Just My Imagina- tion (Running Away With Me),” and “Papa Was A Rollin’ Stone” are all time
classics.
“Motown brought every-
one together --- west coast, east coast, the south and north --- all grooving to the same tune, the tunes of love, respect and harmony.”
Dr. Sam Wright said, “Motown was
the best
ever! I
danced to
those tunes
like no
other. I was
enamored with many groups, but favored the Jackson
5 and The Supremes.” Billy Wheeler said, “As a child of the 60s, Mo- town was paramount in the soundtrack of my life. When I think Motown, I think excellence... their production, writing, artists and overarch- ing vision lifted, united, en- couraged, enlightened and definitely entertained the masses. Motown helped change the world. And proof is, the legacy and the music are
alive today.”
Ms. Sherna Blair Rich
said, “Mo- town Records has born and produced so much talent and profes-
sionalism from
American community (and be- yond) over the course of 60 years that I am hard pressed to select my favorite Motown song and/or group.
“From this enterprise, its music and lyrics gave rise to a profound definition of Black- ness as to how we exist and how we love. Motown became our national expression of who we are and what we do. Mo- town was our soul-to-soul, our freedom, and our pain.
“So, as I try to think about my favorite Motown song and/or group, I am reminded of Jada Pinkett Smith and Tommy Davidson’s movie, “Woo,” because the Sound of Motown indeed lifts my spirits and “takes me there” to an- other place, another time, and another me. ‘Woo! Happy Birthday, Motown!’”
the Black