Motown Records: The Story of Berry Gordy and How He Founded the Legendary Label
Berry Gordy Jr. founded Motown Record Corporation on January 12, 1959, in Detroit, Michigan. Before establishing what would become one of the most successful record labels in history, Gordy was a former boxer and assembly line worker at the Lincoln-Mercury plant.
The company started with an $800 loan from his family's savings club, known as the Ber-Berry Co-operative. Gordy initially named the company Tamla Records, but soon established Motown Record Corporation as the parent company, with "Motown" being a portmanteau of "Motor Town" - a nickname for Detroit.
Gordy's vision was to create a record label that would produce music for all people, regardless of their race. He implemented a production line approach similar to what he had experienced in the auto industry, developing raw talent into polished performers through an intensive artist development program.
Under his leadership, Motown launched the careers of numerous legendary artists including:
Diana Ross & The Supremes Smokey Robinson & The Miracles Marvin Gaye Stevie Wonder The Jackson 5 The Temptations
The label's first major hit came in 1960 with "Shop Around" by The Miracles, and this success established Motown as a force in the music industry. Gordy's business acumen and ear for talent helped create what became known as the "Motown Sound," a distinctive style that crossed racial barriers and achieved mainstream success.
Berry Gordy remained at the helm of Motown until 1988, when he sold the company to MCA and Boston Ventures for $61 million. His creation of Motown fundamentally changed popular music and played a significant role in the racial integration of popular music.
Today, Motown is part of the Universal Music Group, but Berry Gordy's legacy as its founder remains a pivotal chapter in music history. In recognition of his contributions, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988.
