Otis Redding B. 9/9/41 D. 12/10/67 Often called the “King of Soul” Next to James Brown, was the most popular black entertainer of the mid ‘60s Influenced by Little Richard & Sam Cooke –Member of Richard’s back-up band The Upsetters First hit was These Arms of Mine (#20 R&B, 1963) Wrote most of his own hits –Mr. Pitiful (#41, 1965), (Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay (#1, 1968), Respect (#21, 1965), I’ve Been Loving You Too Long (#21, 1965) opened his own label, Jotis, before his death appearance at the Monterey Pop Festival introduces his music to white rock fans 12/10/67 – died in a plane crash in Wisconsin 12/10/67 – died in a plane crash in Wisconsin (Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay is the 1 st posthumous #1 single ever 1989 – Inducted into RRHoF 1999 – Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award

Hitsville U.S.A. Started as Tamala Records, funded by $700 loan from Barry Gordy’s father-in-law –Gordy had worked for Ford –Initially a record distributor –Late 1960 – Tamala released its first single “Shop Around” (#2, 1960) by Smokey Robinson & the Miracles Motown Records began as a blue- trimmed white house in Detroit, MI –Recording studio was in what had been the living room As society was moving more towards integration, the music industry was becoming more segregated

Teen-idols, surfers, folkies, British bands were all white Soul singers’ primary acceptance was in purely black markets –Gordy wanted to bring a style of “black” music to the forefront in both black and white markets Finally Gordy found a successful formula and micro-managed every aspect of a performer w/ no variation –The “look” –Sound –Moves –Songwriting Some performers/groups found this a bit constrictive By the end of 1967, Motown records sold more albums than any other label

Smokey Robinson Motown’s 1 st major success –Label’s 1 st Top 5 hit –1 st 1,000,000 seller Served as leader of The Miracles until 1972 Over 4,000 songs to his writing credit –John Lennon, George Harrison & Bob Dylan all list him as an inspiration –A primary song writer for both the Temptations and Marvin Gaye Served as vice-president of Motown – inducted into the RRHoF as a solo artist

Marvin Gaye B. 4/2/39 D. 4/1/84 Started recording in 1958, signed w/ Motown in 1961 From Washington DC, not Detroit like most Motown acts Started as a drummer for the Miracles, Martha & the Vandellas and Stevie Wonder June 1961 – released his first album (it sold poorly) 1962 – first real hit Stubborn Kind of Fellow Later claiming to be unenthusiastic about his early Motown work, still charted 39 Top 40 hits ( )

Gaye is one of the only Motown artists to gain total control of his music (Stevie Wonder is the other) Due to personal issues (family, drugs, money, mental & physical health) his work greatly suffered near the end of his life Shot to death by his father after an argument in 1984 Nominated for 8 Grammys before finally winning one 1983 Some of the most memorable pop songs of the 60s, 70s, & 80s Inducted into the RRHoF