Motown is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group. Founded by American record executive Berry Gordy Jr., as Tamla Records on January 12, 1959, it was incorporated as Motown Record Corporation on April 14, 1960. Its name, a portmanteau of motor and town, has become a nickname for Detroit, the center of the automotive industry in the United States, where Motown was originally headquartered. Motown played a vital role in the racial integration of popular music as an African American-owned label that achieved crossover success with white audiences. In the 1960s, Motown and its main subsidiary labels (including Gordy, Soul) were the most prominent exponents of what became known as the Motown sound, a style of soul music with a mainstream pop-influenced sound and appeal. Motown was the most successful soul music label, with a net worth of $61 million in 1988.
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Artists on Motown
Queen Latifah
b. 1970 · American rapper, singer and actress
Sammy Davis Jr.
1925–1990 · American entertainer (1925–1990)
The Pointer Sisters
1969– · American family R&B vocal group
Wayman Tisdale
1964–2009 · American basketball player and smooth jazz bass guitarist…
Chrisette Michele
b. 1982 · American singer
Ernie Watts
b. 1945 · American jazz musician
Junior Walker
1931–1995 · American saxophonist (1931-1995)
Steve Reid
1944–2010 · American musician (1944-2010)
Brenda Holloway
b. 1946 · American soul singer
Connie Haines
1921–2008 · American singer (1921-2008)
Label profile
The legendary Motown label was founded on January 12, 1959 and incorporated as Motown Record Corporation on April 14, 1960 by Berry Gordy, Jr., who merged his two successful imprints, Tamla (whose first release was Marv Johnson's "Come to Me" on January 21, 1959) and Motown (first release was the Miracles' "Bad Girl" on September 6, 1959). It was one of the most successful independent record companies in history. Its stable of hit-making artists such as The Miracles, The Supremes, The Temptations and many, many others, along with a talented staff of musicians and songwriters, collectively created the "Motown Sound," a world famous hybrid of soul, doo-wop, rhythm & blues and pop. Its motto was "The Sound of Young America".
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In July 1983 it was announced that Motown would begin distribution with MCA Distribution, with "the transferring of the Motown line from independent distribution expected to begin July 15". After a court case decided in their favor in mid-August, they began immediately distributing Motown product in the last week of August. Motown releases that list MCA Distribution are from 1983 throu
Profile from Discogs (CC0)