Berry Gordy: The Man Who Founded Motown Records and Changed Music Forever
Berry Gordy Jr. founded Motown Record Corporation on January 12, 1959, in Detroit, Michigan, with just an $800 loan from his family. Originally named Tamla Records, Gordy later incorporated it as Motown Record Corporation, drawing inspiration from Detroit's nickname "Motor City."
As a former boxer and assembly line worker at the Lincoln-Mercury plant, Gordy brought his factory experience to the music industry. He created a systematic approach to producing hits, similar to the automotive assembly lines he knew well. This "assembly line" method of making music would become Motown's signature strategy.
Before founding Motown, Gordy worked as a songwriter, penning hits for Jackie Wilson. This experience, combined with his entrepreneurial spirit, convinced him that owning a record label would be more profitable than just writing songs for others.
The label started in a modest two-story house at 2648 West Grand Boulevard, which Gordy dubbed "Hitsville U.S.A." This building served as both recording studio and headquarters during Motown's early years, and it's now the Motown Museum.
Under Gordy's leadership, Motown discovered and developed legendary artists including:
Diana Ross & The Supremes Smokey Robinson & The Miracles Marvin Gaye Stevie Wonder The Jackson 5 The Temptations
Berry Gordy's vision was to create music that would appeal to both black and white audiences, helping bridge racial divides through what he called "The Sound of Young America." His strategy proved successful, as Motown became the most successful black-owned business in America during the 1960s.
Gordy remained at the helm of Motown until 1988, when he sold the company to MCA and Boston Ventures for $61 million. Today, Motown operates as a subsidiary of Universal Music Group, but Berry Gordy's legacy as its founder remains an integral part of American music history.
The record label he created revolutionized popular music and helped launch the careers of numerous iconic artists, while breaking down racial barriers in the American music industry. Gordy's founding of Motown represents one of the most significant achievements in music business history.