Copyright - 1992 Grolier Electronic Publishing, Inc.

Motown

      {moh'-town}

      Motown, the most successful black-owned American record company, 
      was founded in 1960 in Detroit by Berry Gordy, Jr. Derived from 
      "Motor Town," the name also denoted the company's musical style, 
      which featured unusual song structures, heavy rhythms, and large 
      orchestras.  Live performances by Motown artists required 
      carefully controlled choreography, set routines, and elaborate 
      costumes and grooming, to produce what was in effect a 
      Motown-style package.

      The Motown formula created a number of stars including Stevie 
      WONDER, Marvin Gaye, and Diana ROSS and the Supremes.  In the 
      1970s, The Jackson Five;  and in the 1980s, Lionel RICHIE.  At 
      the peak of its success, Motown represented the best of 
      mass-produced, black-derived pop music. Although its later 
      productions were less inspired and more obviously the products of 
      a musical assembly line, Motown was largely responsible for 
      introducing the sounds of contemporary black music to a large 
      white audience.

      Bibliography:  Morse, D., Motown and the Arrival of Black Music 
      (1972); Tarraborelli, J., Motown (1986);  Ward, E., Stokes, G., 
      Tucker, K., Rock of Ages:  The Rolling Stone History of Rock and 
      Roll (1986).