Berry Gordy Jr.

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Motown founded by Berry Gordy Jr, a man that from a young age loved and enjoyed music. Through Gordy’s childhood, being a young man having failures, bringing up a music business, and moving on in life. Gordy went on to live his dream, and changing music history that will forever be remembered. Berry Gordy Jr., born 28 November 1929, at Harper Hospital in Detroit, Michigan, United States of America. Gordy is the seventh child of eight Gordy children. Father, Berry “Pops” Gordy Sr., operating several businesses being a plastering contractor, worked for carpentry business, general store, and a printing shop, mother, Bertha Fuller Gordy was an entrepreneur, and started an insurance agency, and supported a variety of businesses. Gordy’s grandfather
Tamala Records, which Gordy actually came up with from the film Tammy. Tamala, formed inside his home where he made records on the first floors, a recording studio in the garage, a control room in the kitchen, office suit downstairs and his wife Raymona would sleep on the second floor. Located at 2684 West Grand Boulevard, a run-down area in Detroit, trying to carry out a dream. During this time there were only two African American owned labels in America located in Chicago both devoted to rhythm, gospel, and blues music. Gordy had a dream for a kid to walk in the door unknown, but walk out the door as a star. Even though his family had little faith in him because as his siblings took after their father and were doing well in life, telling him his dream was “stupid”. But Gordy began to draw in young talent creating amazing performers, songwriters, and producers around Detroit. As his family was important Gordy brought family in to help him run his business. Wanting to break the “black” label, Gordy hired a white man, for the head of sales, with connections to do business with distributors and pop radio stations, as people resented that Gordy felt it was not about the color of your skin, it was about the best person for the job. In need for Motown to grow to be the best and with that Gordy
While in California Berry Gordy produced Lady Sings the Blues in1 972, with having budget issues, the film was still successful, having five Academy Award nominations. Afterwards, Gary started working on other films, having less time to pay attention to the musical part in Motown. In 1970’s Stevie Wonder, did renew his contract, receiving 23 million dollars, and new artist signed such as DeBarge, and the Commanders who featured Lionel Richie and Rick James. As new artist signed old artist were becoming restless, but also Motown contract terms did not favor them. As performers could be charged for studio time, songwriters were hired as employees, meaning the artist did not have ownership in their own work. Gordy gets defensive because Motown opened doors for many people, though not helping artist from feeling used, the songwriting team was responsible for a lot of Motown's hits, leading to a lawsuit in 1968. 1970’s, Gladys Knight, Pips, Four Tops, and Temptations left Label. The Jackson five moved to CBS. in 1981, Ross was with Gordy having a child together, but later that year it was identified that she had left the label, and they were no longer

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