Motown

1. Motown Dana Drolet Carson Coffey Morgan Charette 12/4/12

2. Motown Motown was founded in 1960 by Berry Gordy Jr. It was a Detroit record label that developed groups who expressed soul music. Motown was influenced by R&B and pop, also by gospel music. Berry launched the first record label in 1960 in Detroit, Michigan. It was the first record company to be operated by African-Americans. Motown had an impacting influence on African American civil rights and segregation. Leading to the arrest of Rosa Parks and the death of Martin Luther King who committed their lives for the human rights that were deserved. Over time, Motown became the largest independent record company in the United States.

3. Facts • Motown is commonly known as Motown Sound. • Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated on April 4th, 1968. This was an important date of the progression of Motown because both MLK & the musicians were trying to reach the goal of racial equality. • Motown Sound stated in Detroit. • Some of Motown bands were “Blinky”, “The Andantes”, and “Choker Campbell”. • The Beatles were influenced by Motown and recorded four Motown track covers.

4. A Jackson 5 compilation album containing hit songs from 1969 to 1975. The Jackson 5, performing “ABC” on The Ed Sullivan Show. The album cover of Jackson 5’s second album ABC, released through Motown Records. The Jackson 5, (clockwise from top left): Tito Jackson, Jermaine Jackson, Jackie Jackson, Michael Jackson, and Marlon Jackson.

5. Jackson 5 • Michael Jackson started singing in the Jackson 5 at age 5. • The Jackson 5 had their own animated cartoon. • They sold 5 million copies worldwide on their first album, Diana Ross Presents The Jackson 5 • They were the first group in history to have four number one hits in a row. • Some of their greatest hits were “A Change is Gonna Come”, “A Fool for you”, and “ABC”.

6. Why did Motown end? Motown died out when the Civil Right movement began. Motown music was formed around African American’s who were trying to sell music to white people without them getting freaked out by them. In Motown music, the musicians were all the same genre, type, all looked the same. When the civil rights movement came along it wasn’t really necessarily to please the whites anymore so Motown kind of slowed down and eventually died out.

7. Bibliography • The Jackson 5, The Love You Save. http://www.williesimpson.com/tag/the-jackson-5. 7-21-11. 12-10-12. • 10..Things You’ll Never Know About Motown. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1104205/10-things-knew--Motown.html. 1-2-09. 12-10-12. • The Motown Story. http://www.bsnpubs.com/motown/gordystory.html. 6-8-12.12-10-12.