Berry Gordy, Jr. (b. November 28, 1929, Detroit, Michigan) is an American record producer, and the founder of the Motown record label and its many subsidiaries. Image File history File links Berry-gordy-and-smokey-robinson. ... William Smokey Robinson, Jr. ... November 28 is the 332nd day (333rd in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1929 (MCMXXIX) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Nickname: Motto: Speramus Meliora; Resurget Cineribus (Latin for, We Hope For Better Things; It Shall Rise From the Ashes) Location in Wayne County, Michigan Coordinates: Country United States State Michigan County Wayne County Settled 1701 Incorporation 1806 Government  - Type Strong Mayor-Council  - Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick Area  - City  143. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Rhythm and blues (or R & B) is a musical marketing term introduced in the United States in the late 1940s by Billboard magazine. ... For other uses, see Soul music (disambiguation). ... For popular forms of music in general, see Popular music. ... In the early years of the phonograph in the late 19th century, the music industry was dominated by the publishers of sheet music. ... A songwriter is someone who writes the lyrics to songs, the musical composition or melody to songs, or both. ... In the music industry, a record producer (or music producer) has many roles, among them controlling the recording sessions, coaching and guiding the musicians, organizing and scheduling production budget and resources, and supervising the recording, mixing and mastering processes. ... A Television producer oversees the making of television penis programs. ... A musical instrument is a device constructed or modified with the purpose of making music. ... A short grand piano, with the top up. ... Piano, a well-known instance of keyboard instruments A keyboard instrument is any musical instrument played using a musical keyboard. ... Harry Belafonte singing, photograph by C. van Vechten Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, which is often contrasted with speech. ... This does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Motown Records, also known as Tamla-Motown outside of the United States, is a record label originally based out of Detroit, Michigan (Motor City), where it achieved widespread international success. ... The Corporationâ„¢ was a collective of songwriters and record producers assembled in 1969 by Motown label head Berry Gordy to create hit records for the labels new act, The Jackson 5. ... Diana Ross (born Diane Ernestine Earle Ross[1] on March 26, 1944) is an American singer and actress, whose musical repertoire spans R&B, soul, disco, and pop. ... William Smokey Robinson, Jr. ... November 28 is the 332nd day (333rd in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1929 (MCMXXIX) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Nickname: Motto: Speramus Meliora; Resurget Cineribus (Latin for, We Hope For Better Things; It Shall Rise From the Ashes) Location in Wayne County, Michigan Coordinates: Country United States State Michigan County Wayne County Settled 1701 Incorporation 1806 Government  - Type Strong Mayor-Council  - Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick Area  - City  143. ... In the music industry, a record producer (or music producer) has many roles, among them controlling the recording sessions, coaching and guiding the musicians, organizing and scheduling production budget and resources, and supervising the recording, mixing and mastering processes. ... Motown Records, Inc. ... This does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

Biography

Early years

Berry Gordy, Jr. (actually Berry Gordy III)^{[citation needed]} was the seventh of eight children born to the middle class family of Berry Gordy, Sr.( Berry Gordy II)^{[citation needed]}, and Bertha Fuller Gordy, who had relocated to Detroit from Milledgeville, Georgia in 1922. Gordy was brought up in a tight-knit family with strong morals. Milledgeville is a city in Baldwin County in the U.S. state of Georgia. ... Year 1922 (MCMXXII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar). ...

His father was the grandson ( Berry Gordy I)^{[citation needed]} of a slave in Georgia and was lured to Detroit by the many job opportunities for blacks that booming automotive businesses like Ford offered. The strict parenting of the Gordy family paid off.

Berry Gordy's older siblings were all prominent black citizens of Detroit. Berry, however, dropped out of high school in the eleventh grade to become a professional boxer in hopes of becoming rich quick, a career he followed until 1950 when he was drafted by the United States Army for the Korean war. Professional boxing bout featuring Ricardo Domínguez (left, throwing a left uppercut) versus Rafael Ortiz Boxing, also called prizefighting or pugilism is a sport and martial art in which two participants of similar weight fight each other with their fists in a series of one to three-minute intervals called... 1950 (MCML) was a common year starting on Sunday. ... The United States Army is one of the armed forces of the United States and has primary responsibility for land-based military operations. ... Combatants United Nations:  Republic of Korea,  Australia,  Belgium,  Luxembourg,  Canada,  Colombia,  Ethiopia,  France,  Greece,  Luxembourg,  Netherlands,  New Zealand,  Philippines,  South Africa,  Thailand,  Turkey,  United Kingdom,  United States Medical staff:  Denmark,  Australia,  Italy,  Norway,  Sweden Communist states:  Democratic People’s Republic of Korea,  Peoples Republic of China,  Soviet Union Commanders...

After his return from Korea in 1953, he married Thelma Coleman. He developed his interest in music by writing songs and opening the 3-D Record Mart, a record store featuring jazz music. The store was unsuccessful and Gordy sought work at the Lincoln-Mercury plant, but his family connections put him in touch with Al Green, owner of the Flame Show Bar talent club, where he met Jackie Wilson. 1953 (MCMLIII) was a common year starting on Thursday. ... For other article subjects named Jazz see jazz (disambiguation). ... 2002 Ford Fiesta in the UK. The Ford Motor Company (sometimes nicknamed Fords or FoMoCo, (NYSE: F) is an automobile maker founded by Henry Ford in Detroit, Michigan, and incorporated on June 16, 1903. ... Jackie Wilson Jack Leroy Jackie Wilson (June 9, 1934 – January 21, 1984) was an American soul and R&B singer, born in Detroit, Michigan. ...

In 1957 Wilson recorded "Reet Petite," a song Gordy had co-written with his sister Gwen and Billy Davis, which became a modest hit. Wilson recorded four more songs co-written by Gordy over the next two years. 1957 (MCMLVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Motown records

Gordy reinvested his songwriting successes into producing. In 1957 he discovered Smokey Robinson and The Miracles and began building a portfolio of successful artists. In January 1959 Gordy founded an R&B label called Tamla Records, which produced Marv Johnson's first hit, "Come To Me." At Robinson's encouragement, Gordy created Motown on December 14, 1959. Barrett Strong's "Money (That's What I Want)," besides appearing on Tamla, charted on Gordy's Anna label from February 1960. The Miracles' hit "Shop Around" peaked nationally at #1 on the R&B charts in late 1960 and at #2 on the pop charts in early 1961 and established Motown as an independent company worthy of notice. Motown Records, Inc. ... Motown Records, Inc. ... 1959 (MCMLIX) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Barrett Strong (born February 5, 1941 in West Point, Mississippi) is an African-American singer and songwriter. ... Money (Thats What I Want) is a 1959 hit single by Barrett Strong for the Tamla label, distributed by Anna Records. ... Anna can refer to a variety of people, objects, and ideas. ... 1960 (MCMLX) was a leap year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1960 calendar). ... The Miracles (known from 1965 to 1972 as Smokey Robinson & the Miracles) are an American R&B/soul group from Detroit, Michigan, notable as the first successful group act for Berry Gordys Motown Records. ... Shop Around is a 1960 single by The Miracles (credited as The Miracles featuring Bill Smokey Robinson) for the Tamla (Motown) label. ... Rhythm and blues (or R & B) is a musical marketing term introduced in the United States in the late 1940s by Billboard magazine. ... 1961 (MCMLXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (the link is to a full 1961 calendar). ...

Unlike most producers of the time, Gordy did not cultivate Caucasian artists, although right from the start some white artists were signed, such as Nick and the Jaguars, The Valadiers, Debbie Dean and Connie Vandyke. He did however have several white employees at Hitsville USA. He promoted African-American artists— but carefully controlled their public image, dress, manners and choreography for crossover appeal. This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Languages Predominantly American English Religions Protestantism (chiefly Baptist and Methodist); Roman Catholicism; Islam Related ethnic groups Sub-Saharan Africans and other African groups, some with Native American groups. ...

His gift for identifying musical talent, along with the careful management of his artists' public image, made Motown a national success. Over the next decade he signed such artists as Mary Wells, The Supremes, Marvin Gaye, The Temptations, The Four Tops, Gladys Knight and The Pips, The Commodores, The Velvelettes, The Marvelettes, Martha & the Vandellas, Stevie Wonder and The Jackson 5. Mary Esther Wells (May 13, 1943 – July 26, 1992) was an American soul, R&B, and pop singer. ... The Supremes were a Motown all-female singing group. ... Marvin Gaye (born Marvin Pentz Gay, Jr. ... The Temptations (often abbreviated as The Tempts or The Temps) are an American Motown singing group whose repertoire has included doo-wop, soul, psychedelia, funk, disco, R&B, and adult contemporary. ... The Four Tops are an American Motown musical quartet, whose repertoire has included doo-wop, jazz, soul music, R&B, disco, adult contemporary, and showtunes. ... Gladys Maria Knight (born May 28, 1944 in Atlanta, Georgia) is an American R&B/soul singer and actress. ... For the BBC pips, see Greenwich Time Signal. ... The Commodores was a highly successful soul/funk band in the 1970s. ... The Velvelettes were an American singing girl group on the Motown label. ... The Marvelettes was an American singing girl group on the Motown label. ... Martha & the Vandellas were an American Motown group of the 1960s. ... Stevie Wonder (born Steveland Hardaway Judkins on May 13, 1950, name later changed to Steveland Hardaway Morris),[1] is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer. ... The Jackson 5 (also spelled The Jackson Five or The Jackson 5ive, abbreviated as J5, and later known as The Jacksons) was an American popular music quintet from Gary, Indiana. ...

In 1968 Gordy moved to Los Angeles, California, and expanded Motown's offices there, following the riots in Detroit. In June 1972 he relocated the entire Motown Records company to LA, and the following year he reorganized the company into Motown Industries, an entertainment conglomerate that would include record, movie, television and publishing divisions. 1968 (MCMLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Monday. ... Flag Seal Nickname: City of Angels Location Location within Los Angeles County in the state of California Coordinates , Government State County California Los Angeles County Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa (D) Geographical characteristics Area     City 1,290. ... Official language(s) English Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Area  Ranked 3rd  - Total 158,302 sq mi (410,000 km²)  - Width 250 miles (400 km)  - Length 770 miles (1,240 km)  - % water 4. ... The riot featured on the cover of the August 4, 1967 edition of Time magazine. ... 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ... Film is a term that encompasses individual motion pictures, the field of film as an art form, and the motion picture industry. ...

In the 70's Gordy produced the successful film Lady Sings the Blues starring Diana Ross. The film also starred Richard Pryor, and introduced Billy Dee Williams. The studio rejected Williams after several screen tests, but Gordy, known for his gut-feeling tenacity, won out and Williams became a star. Ross was nominated for an Academy Award. Berry Gordy soon after produced and directed Mahogany, also starring Diana Ross. In 1985, he produced the cult martial arts film The Last Dragon, which starred martial artist Taimak and one of Prince's girls Vanity. Lady Sings the Blues is a 1972 biographical film which tells the story of blues singer Billie Holliday. ... Diana Ross (born Diane Ernestine Earle Ross[1] on March 26, 1944) is an American singer and actress, whose musical repertoire spans R&B, soul, disco, and pop. ... Richard Franklin Lennox Thomas Pryor III (December 1, 1940 – December 10, 2005) was an American comedian, actor, and writer. ... Billy Dee Williams (born William December Williams Jr. ... Although he never won an Oscar for any of his movie performances, the comedian Bob Hope received two honorary Oscars for his contributions to cinema. ... Mahogany is a 1975 feature film, directed by Berry Gordy, produced by Motown Productions and released to theaters by Paramount Pictures. ... 1985 (MCMLXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Hawaiian State Grappling Championships. ... For the docudrama of the same name, see The Last Dragon (docudrama) Berry Gordys The Last Dragon is a 1985 martial arts parody film, featuring a predominantly Black cast, produced by then-Motown Records CEO Berry Gordy and directed by Michael Schultz. ... Taimak (born Taimak Guarriello on June 24, 1964) is an American actor and martial artist. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Vanity 6 was a female vocal trio assembled by Prince in the early 1980s. ...

Gordy sold his interests in Motown Records to MCA and Boston Ventures in June 1988 for $61 million. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990 and published an autobiography, To Be Loved, in 1994. The Music Corporation of America was a United States based corporation in the music business. ... 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at sunset. ... MCMXC redirects here; for the Enigma album, see MCMXC a. ... 1994 (MCMXCIV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated as the International Year of the Family and the International Year of the Sport and the Olympic Ideal by United Nations. ...

Personal life

Gordy, who has been married and divorced several times, has seven children: Hazel Joy, Berry, Kennedy, Kerry, Rhonda, Stefan and Terry James. Rhonda Ross Kendrick is the daughter of Gordy and his most successful female Motown artist, Diana Ross. Kennedy Gordy is better known as the Motown musician Rockwell. Gordy's daughter Hazel was once married to Jermaine Jackson. He recently bought a retirement home in Palm Desert, California in the "Big Horn". On May 20, 2007 He received an honorary degree from Occidental College as a Doctor of Philosophy. He also delivered the Commencement address Rhonda Ross Kendrick Rhonda Ross Kendrick (born Rhonda Suzanne Silberstein on August 14, 1971 in Los Angeles, California) is an American actress. ... Diana Ross (born Diane Ernestine Earle Ross[1] on March 26, 1944) is an American singer and actress, whose musical repertoire spans R&B, soul, disco, and pop. ... Rockwell (born Kennedy Gordy (which he has since changed to Kenneth Gordy) on March 15, 1964 in Detroit, Michigan) is an African-American R&B performer for the Motown label. ... For the NBA player also named Jermaine Jackson, see Jermaine Jackson (basketball) Jermaine LaJaune Jackson, now Muhammad Abdul Aziz (born December 11, 1954), is an American Grammy Award-winning singer, bass guitarist, former member of The Jackson 5 and brother of American pop stars Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson. ... Palm Desert is a city in Riverside County, California, in the Coachella Valley (Palm Springs area), approximately 11 miles east of Palm Springs in the Coachella Valley. ...

Trivia

• His publishing company, Jobete was named after his three oldest children, Hazel Joy, Berry and Terry.
• Although he was named "Berry Gordy, Jr.", Gordy is technically "Berry Gordy III", because his paternal grandfather was also named Berry Gordy. His son is correctly named Berry Gordy IV.
• Gordy is referenced in the KLF's "The Manual," as an example of one who understood the "Golden Rules" of Pop music.
• Gordy has an honorary Doctorate in the fine arts from Michigan State University, received at the 2006 spring commencement ceremony, where he was the speaker.
• The character "Curtis Taylor Jr." from the Broadway musical Dreamgirls and its film adaptation is based upon Gordy.
• Gordy is referenced in a Kids in the Hall skit from Season One as having taken a character to the Grammys in her dream.

Dreamgirls is a Broadway musical, which opened on December 20, 1981 at the Imperial Theatre on Broadway. ... Dreamgirls is a 2006 Academy Award-winning American musical film jointly produced and released by DreamWorks Pictures and Paramount Pictures. ... The Kids in the Hall was a Canadian sketch comedy group, consisting of comedians Dave Foley, Kevin MacDonald, Bruce McCulloch, Mark McKinney and Scott Thompson. ... Grammy Award The Grammy Awards (originally called the Gramophone Awards), presented by the Recording Academy (an association of Americans professionally involved in the recorded music industry) for outstanding achievements in the recording industry, is one of four major music awards shows held annually in the United States (the Billboard Music... For other uses, see Soul music (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Soul music (disambiguation). ... African American music (also called black music, formerly known as race music) is an umbrella term given to a range of musical genres emerging from or influenced by the culture of African Americans, who have long constituted a large ethnic minority of the population of the United States. ... Gospel music refers to the religious music that first came out of African-American churches in the first quarter of the twentieth century or, more loosely, to both black gospel music and to the religious music composed and sung by predominately white Southern Gospel artists. ... Blues is a vocal and instrumental form of music based on the use of the blue notes and a repetitive pattern that typically follows a twelve-bar structure. ... Rhythm and blues (also known as R&B or RnB) is a popular music genre combining jazz, gospel, and blues influences — first performed by African American artists. ... Deep Soul is a musical style of R&B music, coined by Dave Godin. ... Southern soul is a style of music that falls within the larger soul music and r&b Music genres. ... Blue-eyed soul is a term used to describe R&B or soul music performed by white people. ... The Motown Sound is a style of soul music with distinctive characteristics, including the use of tambourine along with drums, bass instrumentation, a distinctive melodic and chord structure, and a call and response singing style originating in gospel music. ... White Soul was a style (as opposed to genre) of popular music in vogue in the late 1960s and early 1970s. ... The Verve see A Northern Soul This article does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Psychedelic soul is a concept used to categorize music that featured elements of psychedelic rock and soul/funk music. ... Chicago soul is a form of soul music that arose during the 1960s in Chicago. ... Philadelphia (or Philly) soul, sometimes called the Philadelphia Sound, is a style of soul music characterized by lush instrumental arrangements often featuring sweeping strings and horns. ... Memphis soul is stylish, funky, uptown soul music that is not as hard edged as Southern soul. ... Neo soul (also known as nu soul) is a musical genre of the late 1990s and early 2000s that fuses contemporary R&B, 1970s style soul, classical music, jazz, and elements of alternative-hip hop. ... Funk is an African American musical style. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Hip hop soul is the second major subgenre of contemporary R&B. The term generally describes a style of music that blends soulful R&B singing and raw hip hop production. ... This article does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... This is a list of soul musicians. ... Motown Records, also known as Tamla-Motown outside of the United States, is a record label originally based out of Detroit, Michigan (Motor City), where it achieved widespread international success. ... Stax Records is an American record label, originally based out of Memphis, Tennessee. ... Girl group UC3 sing The Star-Spangled Banner for U.S. troops in Afghanistan A girl group is a musical group featuring several young female singers who generally harmonize together. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

External Links

• Boxing Record
• History of Rock bio
• Rock and Roll Hall of Fame bio
• The Motown Story information on Barry Gordy