MU158 Chapter Notes - Chapter 6: Berry Gordy, Norman Whitfield, Eddie Holland
Document Summary
Berry gordy jr and black music for white audiences. Berry gordy jr was professional boxer in detroit area. Experience with the record store taught him that financially, jazz was not the key to success in the music business. Leased some recordings to labels in ny and chicago. In 1959, formed motown records with loan from family trust. First hit record for motown was barrett strong"s money (that"s what i want) . During first few years, often modeled releases on already successul records. Knew there was enourmous potential in producing records that would crossover. Adopted chuck berry"s strategy to prevent covers of his songs by white arts. Hoped to make motown singles acceptable to white listeners in their original versions. Gave songwriting and production duties to specialized individuals and teams. The first consistently successful motown group was the miracles fronted by william smokey . Gordy and robinson wrote their first hit shop around .
