Page 4 - Abacoa Community News November '23

Page 4, Abacoa
A Brief History Of Motown

Above the front Chill – with an amazing Motown soundtrack Ain’t Too
windows of Motown Proud To Beg. By 1988, Gordy had had enough; he sold
Records’ Detroit the company to MCA, which in turn sold it to Polygram,
headquarters was a which in turn was bought by Universal.
sign that read “Hitsville
U.S.A.” Placed there by So, What Is The Sound Of
Motown founder Berry
Gordy soon after his Motown?
company moved into the
modest home at 2648 W. Mot o wn soun d,
Grand Blvd. an upbeat, often
Founded on Jan. 12, 1959, Motown quickly became pop-influenced style
another Detroit factory, where the Big Three assembled of rhythm and blues
and produced automobiles. Motown assembled and characterized by
produced soul, R&B, and pop classics that gave us all compact, danceable
something we just could not get enough of – joyous, arrangements. For many
sad, romantic, mad, groovin’, movin’ music! music fans, the Motown
A former boxer and automobile worker, Berry Gordy Sound is the defining
was a nascent songwriter when, at the urging of Smokey sound of the 1960s pop,
Robinson, a songwriter 10 years younger than Gordy, R&B, and soul music. • A strong, steady four-beat drum tempo
he decided to establish Motown Records and in 1960, The distinctive musical style – all tambourines, driving • Frequent use of strings and horns
Gordy officially incorporated Motown Records under the bass lines, and gospel-influenced vocal harmonies – • Pop vocal stylings embellished with gospel-
Motown Record Corporation name. The two had become became synonymous with the Detroit studio where the influenced chorals
friends years earlier and Robinson, who was the lead songs were recorded and the stars who sang them. Rooted • Complex chord changes and sophisticated melodies
singer of a band called The Miracles, produced, wrote, in personal expression, their music resonates with self- The Motown Sound owes some of its uniqueness to
and sang several of Motown’s most memorable hits – assertion. the reverb effect created by pumping tracks through the
including the label’s first smash song, Shop Around, the Motown launched dozens of musical careers and label’s echo chamber, in the days before computers and
first record that sold more than one million copies. The changed pop music history. To describe what kind of synthesizers! To enhance this sound, Motown producers
Motown corporation became very popular and achieved music Motown is, it is vital to mention the unique, funky, would use such studio trickery as two drummers instead of
spectacular success for a small record company. The soul and R&B that gave us many, many, new and amazing one, as many as four guitars, and frequent overdubbing of
music label enjoyed this quick success with the release artists, among them: Martha and the Vandellas, Marvin both vocals and instruments, plus mixing that emphasized
of Money (That’s What I Want) by Barrett Strong, its first Gaye, Gladys Knight and the Pips, the Jackson 5, Diana treble for a crisp sound over AM radio. Even if you
hit. A year later, Please Mr. Postman, by The Marvelettes, Ross and the Supremes, the Temptations, Stevie Wonder, couldn’t put your finger on it, when a Motown song came
was the label’s first No. 1 song. It would not be the last. Smokey Robinson and The Miracles, and The Four Tops. on, you knew it.
In 1964 an “Artist Personal Development Department” All became part of what would come to be known as the Today Motown lives on strong! Pop on one of
was added making Motown the first record label to run its Motown Sound. the numerous greatest hits albums or The Big Chill
own “charm school” to teach artists how to perform. This Like other notable recording studios of the ’60s, soundtrack and recall the glory of Motown. The music
provided help to talented but inexperienced young singers Motown had a house band that backed up nearly every doesn’t sound 50 years old at all!
to develop presentation styles that would endear them to single song the label released from 1959 to 1971. The
audiences. Motown artists, many under the tutelage of Funk Brothers, as the dozen or so professional (and largely
Maxine Powell, learned to walk, talk, think and act like unsung) musicians were known, included bassist James
royalty. Jamerson and percussionist Jack Ashford. In the early to
mid-1960s especially, the Funk Brothers gave Motown’s
records their signature sound characteristics, including:

N2 Nation – Motown And More!

Abacoa Amphitheater – band and the incredible vocal talent of female favorite
Consisting of four male vocalists, a full five-piece
Saturday, Nov. 18, 7:30 p.m. vocalist Felecia, N2 Nation is known to get audiences
on their feet and dancing late into the night.
Get ready for some Motown magic! The N2 Nation
Motown tribute band is a high energy, audience pleaser
show.
Over the next decade, the sheer number of chart- This dynamic singing group and live band takes you
topping artists, musicians, and groups produced by back to the many memories of the magic of Motown.
Motown defied comprehension. It is rumored that Gordy You will hear hits by the Temptations, The Four Tops,
modeled his hit factory after the Detroit car assembly line Aretha Franklin, Anita Baker, The Supremes, Smokey
that he knew so well: Make a good product, then make Robinson, Marvin Gaye, Lou Rawls and many, many
something similar, and make it quick. more.
Great melodies, lots of tambourines and hand clapping, N2 Nation has performed throughout Palm Beach
blaring horns, interplay between the lead singer and his or County, including at the 2014 West Palm Beach
her backup vocalists, driving bass lines and foot-slapping Mayor’s Ball, the Wellington Amphitheater and the
drum parts. In his still essential Motown history Where former B.B. King’s Blues Club.
Did Our Love Go? Nelson George writes, “Motown
chief engineer Mike McClain built a miniscule, tinny-
sounding radio designed to approximate the sound of a
car radio. The high-end bias of Motown’s recordings can
be partially traced to the company’s reliance on this piece
of equipment.” They knew people would be listening on
their car stereos and on their transistor sets and they were
going to do what it took to make their songs sound good
and memorable. Why should a financial
Throughout the ’60s, Motown produced a catalog of
songs that cannot be rivaled. You’ve Really Got a Hold review be at the top
On Me, Heat Wave, Dancing in the Street, Tracks of My
Tears, Where Did Our Love Go, My Guy, My Girl, Baby of your list?
Love, Reach Out, I’ll Be There, I Can’t Help Myself,
Get Ready, Stop! In the Name of Love, The Way You Do There may be opportunities for your investments
the Things You Do, and so on. They were simple love to be working harder for you. Let’s work together
songs that told simple stories, often in joyously happy to make sure your financial strategy is optimized.
or heartbreakingly sad ways. Contact us today for a complimentary review.
From 1961 to 1971, Motown Record Corporation
produced 110 Top 10 hits. As the ’70s rolled in 1970, Sally S Stahl, AAMS™
Gordy looked west towards Los Angeles. How could such Financial Advisor
a large entertainment company as his not be involved in 1851 W Indiantown Rd Ste 106
movies and television? Gordy, distracted by Hollywood, Jupiter, FL 33458
released two films starring Diana Ross – Mahogany 561-748-7600
and the Billie Holiday biopic Lady Sings the Blues. The Sally.Stahl@edwardjones.com
’80s brought Rick James and Lionel Richie and The Big