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What are Your Top 5 Motown bands?
- Teena Marie (Gordy Records)
- Mary Jane Girls (Gordy Records)
- Carrie McDowell (Motown Records)
- Brian McKnight (Motown Records)
- MC Trouble (Motown Records)
- Michael McDonald
- Misa (Motown Records)
- Debelah Morgan (Motown Records)
Who were some of the performers on Motown?
Performers like Michael Jackson, Smokey Robinson, and Stevie Wonder are just some of the voices that were on Motown's lineup. However, there was only one who could be called, "The Prince of Motown" and "The Prince of Soul," as told by Sungenre – Marvin Gaye. Gaye's voice and music not only shaped the sound of Motown but music in general.
What are some songs made by Motown?
What Makes Motown Successful
- Motown Struggles. with Motown. ...
- The Controversy-Out Of Detroit. ...
- Berry Gordy's Famous Motown. ...
- Motown Accomplishments. ...
- The History Of Motown Music. ...
- Berry Gordy: The Founder Of Motown. ...
- Infamy: The Legend Of Motown. ...
- Difference Between Motown Vs. ...
- Motown's Role In The Civil Rights Movement
What was the name of the studio band at Motown?
The band’s name was Motown’s regular backup band. From 1959 till the company’s departure to Los Angeles in 1972, The Funk Brothers are a group of brothers who are known for were the superb but nameless studio band responsible for the instrumental accompaniment on many Motown albums.
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Which is the name given to the in house band at Motown Records during the 1960s?
the Funk BrothersMotown had an extraordinary house band (known as the Funk Brothers) made up of some of the best nightclub and bar musicians in Black Detroit, including Earl Van Dyke on keyboards, Benny Benjamin and Uriel Jones on drums, and James Jamerson on bass.
How many of the original Funk Brothers are still alive?
While Motown recordings utilized many musicians, the film focused on 13 players, of whom five were already dead. Just four Funk Brothers are alive now. Jones is survived by his wife, June, and three children.
Who were the musicians in the band that created the Motown sound?
Among the studio musicians responsible for the "Motown Sound" were keyboardists Earl Van Dyke, Johnny Griffith, and Joe Hunter; guitarists Ray Monette, Joe Messina, Robert White, and Eddie Willis; percussionists Eddie "Bongo" Brown and Jack Ashford; drummers Benny Benjamin, Uriel Jones, and Richard "Pistol" Allen; and ...
How many Funk Brothers were there?
In actuality, there are 13 Funk Brothers as identified in the film Standing In The Shadows Of Motown, as well as 13 members identified by both NARAS for the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, and recognized by the recent Star on the Hollywood Walk of fame.
Was Smokey Robinson a member of the Funk Brothers?
Nevertheless, Motown producers such as Norman Whitfield, Frank Wilson, Marvin Gaye, and Smokey Robinson steadfastly continued to record in Detroit.
Was Stevie Wonder part of the Funk Brothers?
The group performed with Diana Ross, The Supremes, Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, The Four Tops, The Temptations, Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight and The Pips, The Jackson Five, and many more.
Who was Motown's most successful act?
Diana Ross and The SupremesDiana Ross and The Supremes were the most successful group or artist in Motown's history by at least one measure — their 12 Billboard No. 1 singles. The trio's run of hits started with 1964's "Where Did Our Love Go" and stretched into the early 1970s.
What was the biggest contributor to what would become known as the Motown sound?
The studio musicians of Motown's house band; included the bass player James Jamerson, the drummer Benny Benjamin, and the keyboardist Earl Van Dyke who were among the most important contributors to the Motown sound.
Who were two artists who were able to work at Motown as singers and producers?
Motown Story: Berry Gordy, Diana Ross Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye - Rolling Stone.
Who played guitar for Motown?
He did session work at Anna Records and later became one of the three core guitarists at Motown, along with Joe Messina and Eddie Willis. There, he performed primarily as a rhythm guitarist and played lead guitar when particular melodies needed his distinct tone....Robert White (guitarist)Robert WhiteYears activemid-1950s–1980sLabelsMotown8 more rows
Who was the bass player for the Funk Brothers?
James Jamerson1959 – 1972Bob Babbitt1966 – 1972The Funk Brothers/Bassists
What was Motown's studio called?
In 1959, Gordy formed his first label, Tamla Records, and purchased the property that would become Motown's Hitsville U.S.A. studio.
What was the name of the group that recorded Motown?
In 1959, not long after recording Robinson’s group, the Miracles, for New York-based End Records and establishing Jobete Publishing Company, Gordy began Motown Records (its name derived from Detroit’s nickname, “Motor City”). A number of factors came together to make Motown’s success possible at this time. First, after World War II, big-band swing, the dominant popular dance music in the United States during the Great Depression, became passé. Big musical units were no longer economically feasible. Jazz had been taken over by a new group of Young Turk stylists; calling themselves beboppers, they were inclined to play music for listening rather than dancing.
What is the name of the Motown record company?
See Article History. Alternative Titles: Hitsville, Motown Record Corporation. Motown, in full Motown Record Corporation, also called Hitsville, recording company founded by Berry Gordy, Jr., in Detroit, Michigan, U.S., in January 1959 that became one of the most successful Black-owned businesses and one of the most influential independent record ...
What was the role of Motown in the 1960s?
During the 1960s Motown became one of the reigning presences in American popular music, along with the Beatles.
What were the factors that made Motown so successful?
First, after World War II, big-band swing, the dominant popular dance music in the United States during the Great Depression, became passé. Big musical units were no longer economically feasible.
When was Motown a success?
Motown enjoyed its greatest success between 1965 and 1968, when it dominated the Billboard charts. Although the company was never quite the force in the 1970s that it was in the ’60s (having lost several key performers), it was still a formidable enterprise with the Jackson 5, the Commodores, Wonder, and Ross.
Where is the Motown studios?
Motown studios, identified by the “Hitsville U.S.A.” banner, West Grand Boulevard, Detroit, Michigan.
Who was in the house at Hitsville?
Motown’s roster included several successful solo acts, such as Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder (a star as both a child and an adult), and Mary Wells.
Where is Motown from?
Record label originally from Detroit , Michigan. For the musical style associated with the label, see Motown (music style). For other uses, see Motown (disambiguation). For the city nicknamed Motown, see Detroit. This article needs additional citations for verification.
What is the Motown name?
Its name, a portmanteau of motor and town, has become a nickname for Detroit, where the label was originally headquartered. Motown played an important role in the racial integration of popular music as an African ...
How did Motown production work?
The Motown production process has been described as factory-like. The Hitsville studios remained open and active 22 hours a day, and artists would often go on tour for weeks, come back to Detroit to record as many songs as possible, and then promptly go on tour again. Berry Gordy held quality control meetings every Friday morning, and used veto power to ensure that only the very best material and performances would be released. The test was that every new release needed to fit into a sequence of the top five selling pop singles of the week. Several tracks that later became critical and commercial favorites were initially rejected by Gordy, the two most notable being the Marvin Gaye songs " I Heard It Through the Grapevine " and " What's Going On ". In several cases, producers would rework tracks in hopes of eventually getting them approved at a later Friday morning meeting, as producer Norman Whitfield did with "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" and The Temptations' " Ain't Too Proud to Beg ".
What was the role of Motown in the 1960s?
In the 1960s, Motown and its subsidiary labels (including Tamla Motown, the brand used outside the US) were the most of the Motown sound, a style of soul music with a mainstream pop appeal. Motown was the most successful soul music label, with a net worth of $61 million. During the 1960s, Motown achieved 79 records in the top-ten of the Billboard Hot 100 between 1960 and 1969.
How many top 10 hits did Motown have?
From 1961 to 1971, Motown had 110 top 10 hits. Top artists on the Motown label during that period included the Supremes (initially including Diana Ross ), the Four Tops, and the Jackson 5, while Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, the Marvelettes, and the Miracles had hits on the Tamla label.
How many records did Motown have in the 1960s?
During the 1960s, Motown achieved 79 records in the top-ten of the Billboard Hot 100 between 1960 and 1969. Following the events of the Detroit Riots of 1967, and the loss of key songwriting/production team Holland–Dozier–Holland that year over pay disputes, Gordy moved Motown to Los Angeles, California.
What labels did Motown release?
In the United Kingdom, Motown's records were released on various labels: at first London (only the Miracles' "Shop Around"/" Who's Lovin' You " and "Ain't It Baby"), then Fontana ("Please Mr. Postman" by the Marvelettes was one of four) and then Oriole American (" Fingertips " by Little Stevie Wonder was one of many).
Where is the Motown house in Detroit?
Yet it is the groups of Motown who have largely defined the sound and soul sent around the world from “Hitsville U.S.A.” at 2648 West Grand Boulevard, Detroit: The Miracles , The Marvelettes , Martha & The Vandellas , The Supremes , Jr. Walker & The All Stars , The Isley Brothers , The Temptations, and the Four Tops. And later, based in California, the likes of the Jackson 5 and the Commodores.
When did Motown start recording?
As Motown developed from three-track to eight-track recording in January 1965 , the mixing and matching became easier. And as the company began to assemble albums to replicate the torrid success rate of its singles output, the depth of its songwriting talent became even more essential.
Where did our love go Diana Ross?
Diana Ross ‘ eternal ache in ‘Where Did Our Love Go,’ the honey-and-sandpaper of The Temptations ‘ ‘My Girl,’ and the sanctified call-and-response of the Four Tops ‘ ‘I Can’t Help Myself’ are subliminally programmed into half the hit records you’ve ever heard, or seen on The X Factor or American Idol.
Who was Gordy's son?
Then, as a budding songwriter, he placed hits into the hands of a mass-appeal Motor City son, Jackie Wilson, who had gone solo from Billy Ward’s Dominoes.
Did Motown have a snakepit?
Without the occupants of the “Snakepit,” as the studio was dubbed, Motown simply could not have sustained the quality and quantity of its output. The hits couldn’t have kept on coming. Of course, Berry was shrewd enough to seek additional insurance for his company’s prime assets.
Who were the backing musicians for Motown?
While most of Motown's backing musicians were African American, and many originally from Detroit, the Funk Brothers included white players as well, such as Messina (who was the featured guitarist on Soupy Sales 's nighttime jazz TV show in the 1950s), Brokensha (originally from Australia), Coffey, and Pittsburgh-born Babbitt.
Where was Motown recorded?
During the mid- to late-1960s, one-fifth of Motown records began utilizing session musicians based in Los Angeles, usually covers and tributes of mainstream pop songs and showtunes. By 1970, an increasing number of Motown sessions were in Los Angeles instead of Detroit, notably all the Jackson 5 's hit recordings.
What is the Funk Brothers?
As discussed above, the name "The Funk Brothers" was a loosely applied designation. The National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences recognizes 13 musicians as official "Funk Brothers", but the name is often casually used as a catch-all designation to cover any musician who played on a Motown record.
How many Funk Brothers are in the Hall of Fame?
These 13 members were identified by NARAS for the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and were recognized with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame . In 2007, the Funk Brothers were inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum .
Where did the name Funk Brothers come from?
In the Standing in the Shadows of Motown documentary, Joe Hunter states that the name "The Funk Brothers" came from Benny Benjamin. Hunter states that Benjamin was leaving the studio (known as the "Snake Pit", due to all the cable runs out of the ceiling) after session work, paused on the stairs, turned and said to his fellow musicians, "You all are the Funk Brothers." The band was then informally named.
When did the Funk Brothers leave Motown?
The Funk Brothers were dismissed in 1972 , when Berry Gordy moved the entire Motown label to Los Angeles; a development some of the musicians discovered only from a notice on the studio door. A few members, including Jamerson, followed to the West Coast, but found the environment uncomfortable.
What are the most popular songs of Motown?
Among their hits are " My Girl ", " I Heard It Through the Grapevine " , " Baby Love " , " I Was Made to Love Her " , " Papa Was a Rollin' Stone " , " The Tears of a Clown ", " Ain't No Mountain High Enough " , and " Heat Wave " . Some combination of the members played on each of Motown's 100-plus U.S. R&B number one singles and 50-plus U.S. Pop number ones released from 1961 to 1972.
What is Motown music?
Emanating from Detroit, aka Motor City, the Motown sound forever transformed the landscape of soul and pop music . For the last 60 years, guided by the vision of founder Berry Gordy, Motown’s music has transcended generations and left an indelible imprint upon culture all over the world. While the label created superstars like Diana Ross And The Supremes, Four Tops, The Temptations, Gladys Knight And The Pips and a plethora of others, the major forces behind the tremendous success of “Hitsville USA” were the songwriters and producers who worked behind the scenes to give the world “The Sound Of Young America.”
Who wrote the songs for Motown?
It could be argued that Holland-Dozier-Holland are the most prolific songwriting and production team in pop music’s long history. Over the course of five years, from 1962 to 1967, the trio wrote, arranged and produced many of the compositions that helped to establish the Motown sound. Lamont Dozier and Brian Holland served as the composers and producers for each song, while Eddie Holland wrote the lyrics and arranged the vocals. The result was Motown magic.
What songs did Mary Wells sing with the Temptations?
Additionally, he’s also responsible for ‘ My Guy ’, which Mary Wells took to the top of the charts; ‘The Way You Do The Things You Do’, ‘My Girl’, ‘Since I Lost My Baby’ and ‘Get Ready’, all gifted to The Temptations; and ‘Ain’t That Peculiar’, which became Marvin Gaye’s second No.1.
What band did Lionel Richie play in?
Lionel Richie came to Motown as a member and primary writer/producer of the funk band Commodores, and was as comfortable writing ballads (‘Just To Be Close’, ‘Easy’, ‘Three Times A Lady’) as he was funk hits (‘Brick House’, ‘Lady (You Bring Me Up)’, ‘Too Hot Ta Trot’).
Who is the poet of Motown?
Bob Dylan called him “America’s greatest poet”, and William “Smokey” Robinson has been the poet laureate of Motown since the beginning. As the lead vocalist of The Miracles, Smokey composed some Motown’s best-known early material, including ‘ Shop Around ’ , which became the label’s first million-selling hit record, ‘You’ve Really Got A Hold on Me’, ‘I Second That Emotion’ and ‘Baby, Baby Don’t Cry’, as well as co-writing the group’s only No.1 hit during their Robinson years, ‘The Tears Of A Clown’. All in all, Smokey composed 26 Top 40 hits for The Miracles. Additionally, he’s also responsible for ‘ My Guy ’, which Mary Wells took to the top of the charts; ‘The Way You Do The Things You Do’, ‘My Girl’, ‘Since I Lost My Baby’ and ‘Get Ready’, all gifted to The Temptations; and ‘Ain’t That Peculiar’, which became Marvin Gaye’s second No.1. Even later in his career, with hits like ‘Quiet Storm’ and ‘Crusin’’, his pen was still poetic. Smokey remains an ambassador and undoubtedly one of the key architects of the Motown sound.#N#Check out: ‘My Guy’
Who drove the Motown machine?
The engine that drove the Motown machine was made up of the songwriters and producers who worked behind the scenes to create the Motown sound.
Who were the stars of Hitsville USA?
While the label created superstars like Diana Ross And The Supremes, Four Tops, The Temptations, Gladys Knight And The Pips and a plethora of others, the major forces behind the tremendous success of “Hitsville USA” were the songwriters and producers who worked behind the scenes to give the world “The Sound Of Young America.”.
Overview
Motown subsidiary labels
In order to avoid accusations of payola should DJs play too many records from the original Tamla label, Gordy formed Motown Records as a second label in 1960. The two labels featured the same writers, producers and artists.
Many more subsidiary labels were established later under the umbrella of the Motown parent company, including Gordy Records, Soul Records and VIP Rec…
History
Berry Gordy's interest in the record business began when he opened a record store called the 3D Record Mart, a shop where he hoped to "educate customers about the beauty of jazz", in Detroit, Michigan. (The Gordys were an entrepreneurial family.) Although the shop did not last very long, Gordy's interest in the music business did not fade. He frequented Detroit's downtown nightclu…
Motown Sound
Motown specialized in a type of soul music it referred to with the trademark "The Motown Sound". Crafted with an ear towards pop appeal, the Motown Sound typically used tambourines to accent the back beat, prominent and often melodic electric bass-guitar lines, distinctive melodic and chord structures, and a call-and-response singing style that originated in gospel music. In 1971, Jon Landau wrote in Rolling Stone that the sound consisted of songs with simple structures but sophi…
Artist development
Artist development was a major part of Motown's operations instituted by Berry Gordy. The acts on the Motown label were fastidiously groomed, dressed and choreographed for live performances. Motown artists were advised that their breakthrough into the white popular music market made them ambassadors for other African-American artists seeking broad market acceptance, and that they should think, act, walk and talk like royalty, so as to alter the less-than …
British (pre-Tamla Motown) labels
• London American Records issued the releases for Motown from 1960 to 1961.
• Fontana Records issued the releases for Motown from 1961 to 1962.
• Oriole American Records issued the releases for Motown from 1962 to 1963.
See also
• Album era
• Hitsville USA
• Motown discography
• Music of Detroit
Further reading
• Jon Fitzgerald (January 1995). "Motown Crossover Hits 1963–1966 and the Creative Process". Popular Music. Cambridge University Press. 14 (1): 1–11. doi:10.1017/s0261143000007601. JSTOR 853340.
• Nelson George (2007) [first published 1985]. Where Did Our Love Go?: The Rise & Fall of the Motown Sound. University of Illinois Press. ISBN 9780252074981.