The music, the magic, the memories of motown berry. Jan 09, 2019 sixty years ago, berry gordy set up the hit factory of motown. After reading this book, the reader may start to question whether berry gordy was the genius some claim he was or was he merely a shrewd, manipulative high school drop out. Throughout the opening pages of gerald posners motown, one thing is made repeatedly and perfectly clear. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that.
Motown founder berry gordy from his book to be loved. The couple lasted just six years as they split in 1959. The music, the magic, the memories of motown pianovocalchords only 3 left in stock order soon. See all books authored by berry gordy, including to be loved. Motown the musical is the real story of the oneofakind sound that hit the airwaves in 1959 and changed our culture forever. Her tellall book, berry, me, and motown, published in 1990, accused gordy of not giving her sufficient credit or money and helped deepen the chill between her, gordy and the motown family. Motown was a phenomenon, and the book gives us some insight into the building blocks and maelstrom that it was. Raynoma gordy singleton, former wife of motown producer berry gordy, was the coproducer and creative wizard behind the success of the supremes, marvin gaye, stevie wonder, and many other stars. Apr 19, 2020 in 2016, ales teamed with british writer adam white for motown. The hollanddozierholland moniker is as synonymous with motown s success as berry gordy jr. He undeniably created a forum for some of the most durable and memorable pop. Dec 04, 2016 raynoma gordy singleton, who played a vital role in the early days of motown as the business partner and second wife of berry gordy jr. He is the founder of the motown record corporation 1959, a record label and its subsidiaries.
Through motown, he developed the majority of the great rhythmandblues. He had three children with coleman named hazel joy gordy born on august 24, 1954, berry iv gordy born on october 1955, and terry james gordy born on august 1956. Aint too proud musical s derrick baskin with umg vp harry weinger, atps original cast album producer scott m. Sep 26, 2019 berry gordy is the greatest record man in american music history. Motown the musical is a biographical musical with a book by berry gordy and music and lyrics by various songwriters from the motown catalog. By this point it was becoming clear to motown s inner circle that gordy was lavishing all his focus and attention on ross at the expense of the rest of the supremes and all of the labels other acts. Buy berry, me, and motown unabridged by singleton, raynoma gordy, singleton, raynoma gordy isbn. In 1994 he wrote his autobiography, to be loved, and it is that book that forms the basis of his most recent project, a stage production, motown. To be loved by berry gordy meet your next favorite book. Motown songwriters hollanddozierholland tell their.
Wilson, who still performs live in venues around the world, has been helping promote a yearlong celebration marking the 50th anniversary of motown records, the detroit label founded by berry gordy that spawned such acts as the temptations, the four tops, smokey robinson and the miracles, martha reeves and the vandellas, stevie wonder, mary. One of the more than 50 musical numbers from the 60s, 70s and 80s in motown. Berry gordy, musical visionary and the driving force behind motown records, chronicles his amazing success and lasting impact on. This book reveals the dramatic story of raynomas rightful place in motown history.
The music, the magic, the memories of motown a tribute to. Berry gordy biography, age, parents, siblings, wife, songs. His label motown is more than just a company that made records, but it was a cultural and social revolution, and who better to tell the story than the man who built it, berry gordy jr. By larry buford william mickey stevenson showed up at hitsville a. The sound of young america longtime motown man barney ales recalls how a trip to the movies with berry gordy led to the supremes buttered popcorn. The music, the magic, the memories of motown 1994, and on the history of his founding and running of the motown record label, and his personal and professional relationships with motown artists such as diana ross, smokey robinson, marvin gaye.
The musical is a jukebox musical that premiered on broadway in april 20. Motown records, the sound of young america during its 1960s heyday, was a throwback to the powerful hollywood movie studios of the 1930s and 1940s, running all aspects of its artists careers. Raynoma mayberry was born on march 8, 1937, in detroit, michigan. A substantive, reasonably candid memoir from the founder of detroits legendary motown records, creator of the soundtrack of the 60s. Oh he compliments them for being a part of the motown success story this book is nothing more. Published in 1994 by warnerbooks, book and mylar protected dust jacket are fine. To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up. Berry gordys most popular book is standing in the shadows of motown. Inspired by a desire to reclaim her rightful place in motown history, to which her many creative and administrative contributions have been all but erased, the author, who cofounded the company with gordy some 30 years ago and continued to work there in various capacities until the early 1980s, presents a riveting inside look at how the motown sound was created and ultimately decimated, and in doing so she tells startling family secrets, as well as a funky and fingersnapping story. The musical, loved it, found out it was based on berry gordys autobiography. Motown for an audition one day with an officiallooking briefcase and a big, easy grin.
Berry gordy s book has some interesting moments, but is basically more spin than anything else. The music, the magic, the memories of motown, was released in 1994. A rundown bungalow sandwiched between a funeral home and a beauty shop in a poor detroit neighborhood served as his headquarters. I found the life of barry gordy and the people who worked along side of him to make motown music so famous through the years,very interesting. Berry gordy has 17 books on goodreads with 23 ratings. The musical, with a book by the motown chief, berry gordy, and playing at the luntfontanne. Hes a great storyteller as he leads you from his upbringing in detroit, to following his dreams first as a songwriter, and as a record label owner, and through. At the end of a successful motown tour of the uk in december 1965, gordy and ross suddenly decamped to paris, beginning their fiveyear love affair. Best motown books 34 books meet your next favorite book. Berry gordy daily mail his autobiography, to be loved. In 2016, ales teamed with british writer adam white for motown. Sixty years ago, berry gordy set up the hit factory of motown.
There are several motown books out there, but this is one of its essential chapters. Berry gordy square unveiled with motown family, friends. Barney ales, motown exec who helped break pop barriers. From that modest woodframe house in detroit he built motown records, which in the 1960s and 70s grew to become the most. Berry gordy books list of books by author berry gordy thriftbooks. The musical is based on berry gordys autobiography to be loved. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The founder of motown records was born in the city he helped make synonymous with soulfulness, detroit, on 28 november 1929. In 1959, twentynineyearold berry gordy, who had already given up on his dream to be a champion boxer, borrowed eight hundred dollars from his family and started a record company.
Berry gordy iii is an american record executive, record producer, songwriter, film producer and television producer. Founder of the motown empire, gordy has written a revealing autobiography dealing with the interplay between his private life and his recording and motion picture ventures. Berry gordy always up against because ive discovered that motown and broadway have a lot in common a family of wonderfully talented, passionate, hardworking young people, fiercely competitive but also full of love and appreciation for the work, for each other and for the people in the audience. Raynoma gordy singleton, who played a vital role in the early days of motown as the business partner and second wife of berry gordy jr.
This exhilarating show charts motown founder berry gordy s incredible journey from featherweight boxer to the heavyweight music mogul who launched the careers of diana ross, michael jackson, stevie wonder, smokey. After reading this book, the reader may start to question whether berry gordy was the genius some claim he was or was he merely a. Legendary music executive berry gordy was honored with a square on the corner of sunset and argyle, directly under the 6255 sunset building that once housed his famed motown records once it moved. The same vision that conceived of motown records led berry gordy, jr. Includes index the exwife of motown executive berry gordy, jr. Legendary music executive berry gordy was honored with a square on the corner of sunset and argyle, directly under the 6255 sunset building that once housed his famed motown records once it.
Raynoma basically helped berry gordy start motown and to get off ground. This book is great for those who dont know the truth about the humblebeginnings of berry gordy and his detroit empire. Berry gordy motowns hitmaking songwriter motown museum. Given the way the music business has evolved or devolved, the most striking thing about reading the book now is berry gordys unique place in time.
It was the most successful blackowned music company in the u. He is best known as the founder of the motown record label and its. Berry gordy gives us no insight into the recording sessions and no credit to the background singers, or the background musicians. If you like motown this book is a good read,the book starts at the beginning telling us about barry gordy s hard work to launch is music industry, the successes and fails of these great labels. From that modest woodframe house in detroit he built motown records, which in the 1960s and 70s grew to become the most successful independent record label in america, producing some of the greatest, most uplifting and most enduring popular music in history.
He is best known as the founder of the motown record label and its subsidiaries, which was the highestearning africanamerican business for decades as a songwriter, he composed or cocomposed a number of hits. Berry gordy square unveiled with motown family, friends, and. Baldassare barney ales, the charismatic sales chief who helped turn motown records into a music industry powerhouse as berry gordy s righthand man, died of natural causes friday in malibu. The music, the magic, the memories of motown 1994, and on the history of his founding and running of the motown record label, and his personal and professional relationships with motown artists such as diana ross, smokey robinson, marvin gaye, and michael jackson. I thoroughly enjoyed this recap of motown s history authored by berry gordy s second wife, raynoma gordy singleton. Available is a signed 1st ed1st prtg, w complete numberline to 1, of to be loved by berry gordy, founder of motown records. Gordy s daughter hazel was once married to jermaine jackson. Jan 23, 2020 berry gordy iii, also known as berry gordy jr. Berry gordy married thrice, multiple affairs and has eight. Although he had moved into a different medium, berrys eye for talent was evident in the casting of billy dee williams opposite diana ross in two films, lady sings the blues and mahogany. Riesett, and atps music directorarrangerconductor kenny seymour.
I thoroughly enjoyed this recap of motowns history authored by berry gordys second wife, raynoma gordy singleton. Motown the sound that changed america berry gordy, founder of a successful record label based in detroit, spreads his own sort of gospel geoffrey cannon. Arwa haider looks at how an independent record label created one of the most influential sounds of the 20th century. Its name, a portmanteau of motor and town, has become a nickname for detroit, where the label was originally headquartered. Hitsville documentary premieres on showtime while motown.
May 29, 2017 berry gordy, musical visionary and the driving force behind motown records, chronicles his amazing success and lasting impact on the national and international musical landscape. Founder of the motown empire, gordy has written a revealing autobiography dealing with the interplay between his. He never mentions certain situations that occurred that are pretty much known by the public and had a huge impact good and bad on the careers of several motown artists. Smokey robinson, dave ruffin, the temptations, marvin gaye, stevie wonder, michael jackson and diana ross, and the many, many other motown star all get their due. Motown s golden age, 19601970, when gordy and his crack. Gordy opens in 1988, as he agonizes over the sale of his independent company to conglomerate giant mca, but quickly flashes back to the period everyone wants to read about. The story of motown records and how it changed the course of american music, as told by its founderan african american culture hero of historic stature the new york times. The musical by gordy, berry and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Posners book tells the story of berry gordy s motown, and the people who came and left detroits hit record label. Berry gordy iii known professionally as berry gordy jr. New book on motown looks at company behind the scene. The sound of young america, a 400page book documenting the motown saga with insights from ales and rare images from his archives.
He is best known as the founder of the motown record label and its subsidiaries, which was the highestearning africanamerican business for decades. How berry gordy built the legendary motown records that. Gordy was inducted into the rock and roll hall of fame in 1988. Berry gordy is the greatest record man in american music history. Motown records is an american record label owned by universal music group. After reading this book, one can safely say that without raynomas help during the earlier days of motown, berry would have been lostl.
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