Berry Gordy and the the Motown Sound

I decided before we get too far away from Detroit, that I must share about our Motown experience. I highly recommend a visit to the Motown Museum, the former home of Berry Gordy, founder and legend behind Motown Records. Actually, Motown Records bought 7 houses in a row and one across the street for the business as it grew.

The studio was open 24/7 and bursted with energy and creativity. Many of the artists, including Smokey Robinson and Diana Ross, lived in the neighborhood. If they got inspired at 2am, they could come over and work on a song.

Motown Records was a family operation. Berry Gordy’s parents instilled a work ethic in their children. All adults were expected to work (many were entrepreneurs) and to contribute weekly to the Ber-Berry Co-op, a family savings fund. Berry borrowed $800 from the fund to start Motown records with his sister Esther Gordy Edwards.
Photo from Berry Gordy’s autobiography, Berry Gordy: To Be Loved.
This is Studio A where many a record were recorded. Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, the Funk Brothers snd countless others made hits on this Steinway piano.
Stevie Wonder recording in Studio A
As times changed, the music changed too. Black Forum, 1970-1973., was a label used for “the presentation of the ideas and voices of the worldwide struggle of Black People to create a new era.”

Imagine a world without the Supremes, Smokey Robinson,Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Lionel Richie, the Temptations and the Four Tops. You’ve just imagined a world without Berry Gordy and Motown Records.

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