Motown

Change in attitude toward Black music

• frequent crossover in mid-60’s so Billbpaord stopped tracking r&b for a while

Black impact grew on pop charts

Musical trends mirrored national attitudes on race

Berry Gordy Jr.

songwriter and producer

founded Motown Records in 1969 | adapted Brill Building production approach

• bring in specialists in charge of songwriting and production

aimed for mainstream Black music that appealed to white ppl

Motown

in Detroit | prod. originals and covered Broadway musicals

• Quality Control

  • employed skilled musicians, the Funk Brothers

  • Gordy Jr. encouraged internal competition

• Artist Development

  • wanted artists to project sophistication

  • hired choreographer and a finishing school teacher to work with artists

Girl Groups

The Supremes

• 1959 | worked with Holland-Dozier-Holland

• series of successful singles

Martha and the Vandellas

• many hits, like “Heat Wave”

• more soul

The Supremes’ “Baby Love”

#1 in ‘64 | simple verse | builds with added instruments, creates dense texture |

Guy Groups

The Temptations

• known for athletic dance moves

• written and produced by Smokey Robinson and Norman Whitfield

The Four Tops

• more experienced than other Motown groups

• hits with Holland-Dozier-Holland

The Temptations “The Way You Do the Things You Do”

#11 in ‘64 | piano, horns, backup vocals | shuffle in 4’s | unevenly divided beat

Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder

Marvin Gaye

• pop and dance-oriented r&b

• soloist with duet partners

Stevie Wonder

• signed at 11, first hit at 13

• brief career stall, charted again by 1966