1960s Motown

1960s Motown

Motown came into existence in 1959, we take a look at how it all developed in the 1960s to become the greatest soul studio in the world.

To Listen to the Rock’n’Roll Unravelled Show
LIVE on Radio KPHR
18 August: 4.00 pm MTN, 11.00 pm UK

Motown in the 1960s

Berry Gordy Jr formed Motown in 1959 with an $800 loan. he was very much he driving force behind the company and also wrote and produced many of the songs recorded my Motown Artists.

Come To Me by Marv Johnson was the first record from the company was on the Tamla Label.

The Motown company released records on various labels including, Tamla, Motown, Soul, Gordy, Workshop Jazz and Rare Earth. In the UK the early singles were marketed on other labels, such as Stateside. This was until Stop in the Name of Love by the Supremes was released on the Tamla Motown Label in April 1965.

The soul music of Motown was a natural extension of the R&B of the 1940s and ’50s. In fact, many of the artists, such as The Temptations, The Four Tops and Marvin Gaye had R&B and doo wop backgrounds.

The Marvelettes gave Motown its first American #1 with Please Mr Postman.

The 1960 was a fabulous decade for Motown, with some of the greatest soul music ever heard.

To Listed to other Rock’n’Roll Unravelled Shows
and other podcasts by Derek Shelmerdine