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Detroit, Michigan
The story of
Motown Records is remarkable on several levels. Foremost is the music; a staggering quantity of soul classics came out of its studios, mostly in the 1960s, and remains among the most familiar and widely loved rock from pop's most competitive decade. It was also the first black-owned company to become a major player in the record industry, and indeed one of the biggest black-owned companies in America, playing a sometimes overlooked role in demonstrating that African-Americans could develop thriving and influential business corporate enterprises. More than any other concern, it brought African-American entertainers into the US mainstream, its sound so simultaneously gritty and melodic that it could not be ignored by radio and television stations biased against black musicians. There was also its innovative approach to record-making itself, building a team of singers, musicians, producers, songwriters, even choreographers that complemented and pushed each other. Not to be overlooked are the performers themselves, constituting an amazing an umbrella of talent as ever existed under the aegis of an independent label. The Motown saga is not without its tragic aspects; artists prematurely put out to pasture, dissension within the ranks of what was portrayed to the public as one big happy family, and its eventual abandonment of Detroit, the city that had nurtured most of its first-rate talent. Its legacy thrives today not in the Motor City, but within millions of fans all over the globe who continue to revere the Motown sound, which was responsible for dozens of hits that have become timeless pop standards.**Source: Music USA ~ The Rough Guide
Marv Johnson
Smokey
Robinson & the Miracles
Mary Wells
Born 5/13/43 in Detroit. Diagnosed with throat cancer August 1990;
died 7/26/92. At age 17 presented "Bye Nye Baby", a song she
had written for Jackie Wilson, to Wilson's producer, Berry Gordy, Jr.
Gordy signed her to his newly formed label, Motown. Wells was the first
artist to have a Top 10 and #1 single for that label. Married for a time
to Cecil Womack (of Womack and Womack).
Martha & the Vandellas
Detroit group organized by
Martha Reeves (b: 7/18/41) in 1962 with Annette Beard and Rosaline Ashford.
Reeves had been in The Del-Phis, recorded for Checkmate. Worked at Motown as
A&R secretary, sang backup. Vandellas did backup on several of Marvin Gaye's
hits. Beard left group in 1964, replaced by Betty Kelly (former member of The
Velvelettes). Group disbanded from 1969-71; reformed with Martha and her sister
Lois Reeves and Sandra Tiley in1971. Martha Reeves went solo in 1972. Lois
joined Quiet Elegance. Group inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in
1995.
The
Marvelettes
Group from
Inkster High School, Inkster, Michigan. Formed in 1960 by Gladys Horton, with
Georgeanna Marie Tilman Gordon (married Billy Gordon of the Contours). Wanda
Young (married Bobby Rogers of The Miracles), Katherine Anderson and Juanita
Cowart. Young and Horton both sang lead. Cowart left in 1962. Gordon left in
1965; died on 1//6/80 of lupus. Horton left in 1967, replaced by Anne Bogan
(later a member of Love, Peace & Happiness and New Birth). Disbanded in
1969. Also recorded as The Darnells.
Gladys Knight & the Pips
Atlanta
family group, The Pips, formed in 1952. Consisted of Gladys (b:5/28/44), her
brother Merald "Bubba" Knight and sister Brenda, and cousins William
and Eleanor Guest. Named "Pips" for their manager, cousin James
"Pips" Woods. First recorded for Brunswick in 1958. Brenda and
Eleanor replaced cousins Edward Patten and Langston George in 1959. Langston
left group in 1962 and group has remained a quartet with the same members ever
since. Hosted their own variety television show in July 1975. Due to legal
problems, Gladys could not record with the Pips from 1977-80. Gladys was a
cast member of the TV series Charlie & Co. Gladys
went solo in 1989. Group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in
1996.
The Supremes
Vocal group
from Detroit, formed as the Primettes in 1959. Group consisted of lead singer
Diana Ross (b:3/26/44), Mary Wilson (b:3/6/44), Florence Ballard (b:6/30/43;
d:2/22/76 of cardiac arrest) and Barbara Martin. Recorded for LuPine in 1960.
Signed to Motown's Tamla label in 1960. Changed name to The Supremes in 1961;
Martin left shortly thereafter. Worked as backing vocals for Motown until 1964.
Backed with Marvin Gaye on "CAN I GET A WITNESS". Ballard discharged
from group in 1967, replaced by Cindy Birdsong, formerly with Patti LaBelle's
Blue Bells. Ross left in 1969 for solo career, replaced by Jean Terrell.
Birdsong left in 1972, replaced by Lynda Lawrence. Terrell and Lawrence left in
1973. Mary Wilson re-formed group with Scherrie Payne (sister of Freda Payne)
and Cindy Birdsong. Birdsong left again in 1976, replaced by Susaye Greene in
1978, Wilson toured England with Karen Ragland and Karen Jackson, but lost
rights to the name "Supremes" thereafter, inducted into the Rock and
Roll Hall of Fame in 1988.
The Temptations
Vocal
group formed in Detroit in 1960. Consisted of
Eddie Kendricks (d:10/5/92 of lung cancer , age 52), Paul Williams
(d:8/17/73), Melvin Franklin (d:2/23/95, age 52), Otis Williams (not to be
confused with the same-named member of the Charms) and Elbridge Bryant, who
was replaced by David Ruffin in 1964. Originally called the Primes and Elgins,
first recorded for Miracle in 1961. Ruffin (d:6/1/91; age 50, cousin of Billy
Stewart), replaced by Dennis Edwards (ex-Contours) in 1968. Kendricks and Paul
Williams left in 1971, replaced by Ricky Owens (ex-Vibrations) and Richard
Street. Owens was replaced by Damon Harris. Harris left in 1975, replaced by
Glenn Leonard. Edwards left group, 1977-79, replaced by Louis Price. Ali-Ollie
Woodson replaced Edwards from 1984-87. Currently, Otis Williams is the only
original member with the group. Billed as the "Emperors of Soul."
Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989.
Four Tops
Detroit
vocal group form in 1953 as the Four Aims. Consisted of Levi Stubbs (lead
singer), Renaldo "Obie" Benson, Lawrence Payton and Abdul
"Duke" Fakir. First recorded for Chess in 1956, then Red Top and
Columbia, before singing with Motown in 1963. Group has had no personal
changes since its formation. Stubbs was the voice of Audrey II (the voracious
vegetation) in the 1986 movie Little Shop of Horrors.
Group inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990.
Jr. Walker & the All Stars
R&B
band formed in South Bend, Indiana, in 1961 by Walker (b: Oscar G. Mixon
6/14/31 in Arkansas; d: 11/23/95); known as Autry DeWalt II). Included Walker
(sax, vocals), Willie Woods (guitar), Vic Thomas (organ) and James Graves
(drums). First recorded for Harvey in 1962. Graves died in a car crash in
1967. Walker contributed sax solo to Foreigner's 1981 hit "Urgent",
appeared in 1988 movie
Tapeheads. His son Autry
DeWalt,
Jr. (drums) joined the band in 1983.
Marvin Gaye
Born
Marvin Pentz Gay, Jr., on 4/2/39 in Washington D.C. Fatally shot by his
father after a quarrel on 4/1/84 in Los Angeles. Sang in his father's
Apostolic church. In vocal groups the Rainbows and Marquees. Joined
Harvey Fuqua in the re-formed Moonglows.
To Detroit in 1960. Session work as a drummer at Motown; married
to Berry Gordy's sister Anna, 1961-75. First recorded under own name to
Tamla in 1961. In seclusion for several months following the death of Tammi
Terrell in 1970. Problems with drugs and the IRS led to
his moving to Europe for three years. Inducted into the Rock and Roll
Hall of Fame in 1987.
Stevie Wonder
Born
Steveland Morris on 5/13/50 in Saginaw, Michigan. Singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist/producer.
Blind since birth. Signed to Motown in 1960, did backup work.
First recorded in 1962, named "Little Stevie Wonder" by Berry
Gordy, Jr. Married to
Syreeta
Wright from 1970-72. Near-fatal accident on 8/16/73. Winner of 17
Grammy Awards. In the movies, Bikini Beach and Muscle
Beach Party. Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in
1989.
Brenda Holloway
Born 6/21/46 in
Atascadero, California. Singer/songwriter. Later a backup singer for
Joe Cocker.
The Contours
Group formed in Detroit; Billy
Gordon, Billy Hoggs, Joe Billingslea, Sylvester Potts, Huey Davis (guitar) and
Hubert Johnson (d:7/11/81). Dennis Edwards, a member in 1967, joined The
Temptations in 1968. Gordon was married to Georgeanna Tilman of The
Marvelettes. Johnson was the cousin of Jackie Wilson.
Jimmy Ruffin
Born 5/7/39 in
Collinsville, Mississippi. Brother of David Ruffin. Backup work at
Motown in the early 60s. First recorded for Holiday in 1961.
Tammi Terrell
Born Tammy Montgomery
(b: 1/24/46) in Philadelphia. Died of a brain tumor on 3/16/79. First
recorded for Wand in 1961. Worked with the James Brown Revue. Tumor
diagnosed after collapsing on stage in 1967. Married briefly to boxer
Ernie Terrell (brother of Jean Terrell of The Supremes).
Kim Weston
Born Agatha
Natalie Weston in Detroit. Sang in gospel groups. Discovered by
Eddie Holland. Worked as a stage actress in New York City. Had youth
theater workshop in Detroit.
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