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2020 marks the 60th anniversary of Tamla Motown, arguably the greatest recording label in the history of African American soul music. Detroit Motor City 1960 and with racial tensions simmering and with only eight thousand dollars, Berry Gordy, a man with an unshakeable detrmination and vision moved into a modest building that was to become HITSVILLA USA from where he and his close inner circle gave the world the unique Motown sound. The first person Berry Gordy hired at Motown was a white jewish boy called Al Abrams, who got The Supremes on the cover of a magazine, as the first black group ever. From the plantations of the Deep South where African American music was born to Gordy's early successes with Diana Ross, Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder and Martha Reeves, to his involvement with the Black Mafia and his move to Los Angeles following the race riots and the departure of his legendary songwriting team of Holland Dozier Holland. This is the story of Berry Gordy and Motown who changed the face and sound of African American soul music forever more.
About the author
Pete McKenna - author of ten books ( five published by NEW HAVEN ) on various fiction and non -fiction subjects from music street cultures memoir and crime. Responsible for writing NIGHTSHIFT the first book on the 70¿s northern soul scene in and around Wigan Casino as well as a fictonal northern soul crime novel WHO THE HELL¿S FRANK WILSON. Interests include reading - film - theatre - military history - travelling - antiques - wining and dining and good friends and the odd dram of single malt.
Summary
2020 marks the 60th anniversary of Tamla Motown, arguably the greatest recording label in the history of African American soul music.
