Motown: The Sound of Integration MUSH 261 Chpt. 6
Motor City Motown Detroit, Michigan “Motor City” Ford Assembly Line Brings African American workers to Detroit for work opportunities desegregation African Americans brought with them their music –Dixieland –Jazz
Detroit Michigan: Motor City
Game Changers: Events Civil Rights Movement Brown vs. Board of Education 1954: Topeka, Kansas “Separate but equal is inherently unequal.”
Game Changers: The People Rosa Parks : Montgomery, Alabama Refused to give up her bus seat to a white man and was arrested. Led to the Montgomery Bus Boycott Martin Luther King Jr. 1963: “I Have A Dream” speech More public awareness of the Civil Rights Movement
Rosa Parks
Martin Luther King Jr.
The Beginning: Berry Gordy Born 1929 in Detroit, Michigan Dropped out of high school to become a boxer Drafted by the Army for the Korean War Returned home in 1953 & opened a jazz record store Worked on an assembly line writing songs as he worked
Berry Gordy
Berry Gordy Cont. Submitted songs to magazines, singers, contests Co-wrote “Reet Petite” which was recorded by Jackie Wilson in 1957 Began producing and recording his own artists: the Five Stars the Miracles (with Smokey Robinson) Establishes Tamla Records which became Motown Records
Reet Petite: Jackie Wilson
Tamla/Motown
Motown Records Played a huge role in Racial Integration of Popular Music First record label to be owned by an African American First to feature mostly African American artists who gained crossover success
The Motown Sound A style of soul music stemmed from sacred Gospel music Use of tambourine along with drums Prominent/melodic bass line played by electric bass Call and Response singing style originating from Gospel music Orchestration with strings and horns
Motown Records
The Marvelettes The Marvelettes Began in 1961 as quintet called Casinyets (“Can’t Sing Yet”) Lankaster, Michigan Came in fourth place in a school variety show and were then allowed to audition for Motown Records. They were offered a deal right away. Berry Gordy renamed them the Marvelettes. “Please Mr. Postman” became a #1 Billboard hit 14 weeks after its release.
The Marvelettes
The Temptations “My Girl”- First hit in 1964 Signed to the Motown label for over 40 years Sold over 22 million albums by 1982 Always feature 5 African American vocalist/dancers Recognizable for their choreography and stage suits Said to be as influential to soul as the Beatles were to rock.
The Temptations
The Classic Five The "Classic Five" lineup of the Temptations, circa –Melvin Franklin –Eddie Kendricks –Otis Williams –Paul Williams –David Ruffin.
The Temptations
Motown Music Groups Marvin Gaye Smokey Robinson and the Miracles Stevie Wonder The Jackson 5 The Supremes –“Dreamgirls” movie based on the story of the Supremes!
Smokey Robinson and the Miracles
Stevie Wonder
The Jackson 5
The Supremes
Marvin Gaye
Motown