On this date, way back in 1960, Motown Records Corporation was founded.
Berry Gordy had gotten his start helping to write hit songs for Jackie Wilson in the late ‘50s. With those earnings, in April 1959, Gordy and his sister Gwen founded Anna Records. Later that year he purchased a photography studio at 2648 West Grand Boulevard. Initially, he converted the main floor into a recording studio and office space and the top floor into his residence. Finally, on June 7, 1960, Motown Records was incorporated. And Hitsville U.S.A. was born.
Between 1960 and 1969, Motown had 79 records in the top ten of the Billboard chart, and countless others in the r&b and soul charts. Some of the artists who we may have never heard of without Motown and its subsidiary labels were:
Stevie Wonder
Diana Ross and the Supremes
Smoky Robinson and the Miracles
The Four Tops
The Jackson 5
Marvin Gaye
The Temptations
Edwin Starr
Ashford and Simpson
Gladys Knight and the Pips
Lionel Richie and the Commodores
Rare Earth
and, of course, the legendary songwriting team, Holland-Dozier-Holland.
Thank you Berry and Motown for a substantial contribution to the soundtrack of our lives.