The Funky Sounds of Motown
A look at the history of Motown and the unique sound that came out of the record label in the 1960s.
Hitsville U.S.A.
The Birthplace of Motown
In the late 1950s, an upstart record label called Tamla Records was founded in Detroit, Michigan by Berry Gordy. The company would later become Motown Productions, and would go on to define the sound of a generation. Hitsville U.S.A., as the label’s studios were later christened, was ground zero for the Motown sound. From 1959 to 1972, Hitsville U.S.A. served as the creative center for a who’s who of music legends, including Smokey Robinson, Diana Ross, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, and The Temptations.
In its earliest days, Hitsville U.S.A. was little more than a converted garage; Gordy himself lived in an apartment above the studio. As Motown’s success grew, so did the size and scope of Hitsville U.S., eventually expanding to include a larger studio and office space next door to the original location. In order to accommodate Motown’s growing roster of talent, Gordy had two more studios built on the Hitsville U.S.A property; Studio A (also known as “The Snakepit”) became home to The Funk Brothers, Motown’s legendary house band, while Studio B was where most of the label’s vocal groups recorded their hits.
Today, Hitsville U.S.A is owned by The Smithsonian Institution and operates as part of The Funkadelic Music Center; it is open for tours seven days a week and houses interactive exhibits that allow visitors to experience the magic of Motown firsthand.
The Motown Sound
The Motown sound was a mix of soul, R&B, pop and gospel that became wildly popular in the early 1960s. The genre got its start in Detroit, Michigan at the Motown Record Corporation, which was founded by Berry Gordy Jr. in 1959. Motown’s first big hit came in 1960 with “Shop Around” by Smokey Robinson and the Miracles. From there, the label went on to release a string of chart-topping hits by artists like Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross and the Supremes, the Temptations, and Stevie Wonder.
The Motown sound is characterized by its use of catchy hooks, intricate vocal arrangements, and a heavy reliance on rhythm and blues instrumentation. The music is often upbeat and optimistic, with lyrics that focus on themes of love and relationships. The Motown sound quickly became one of the most popular genres in America, crossing over into mainstream pop culture and making household names out of its biggest stars.
The Funk Brothers
Formed in the 1940s, the Funk Brothers were a group of Detroit-based musicians who became widely known for their work on Motown Records during the 1960s and 1970s. The Funk Brothers were responsible for the sound of Motown, and they played on more than a thousand Motown hits.
The House Band of Motown
The Funk Brothers were the house band for Motown Records, playing on many of the label’s hit recordings during the 1960s and 1970s. Based in Detroit, Michigan, the Funk Brothers consisted of skilled musicians who had come together to form a solid-sounding rhythm section. They were responsible for creating the distinctive “Motown sound” that made hits by artists such as Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross and the Supremes, Stevie Wonder, and Smokey Robinson flow together so effortlessly.
Despite their important role in creating some of Motown’s most iconic songs, the Funk Brothers were not widely known outside of the music industry. It wasn’t until 2002 that they received widespread recognition for their contributions when they were featured in a documentary film called Standing in the Shadows of Motown. After the film’s release, several members of the Funk Brothers reunited to perform concerts and tours, bringing their music to a new generation of fans.
The Sound of Young America
The Funk Brothers were a group of Detroit-based session musicians who performed the backing tracks for many Motown Records recordings from 1959 to 1972. They were notable for being one of the most successful and prolific groups of studio musicians in pop music history, and for their contributions to the evolution of Motown’s housestyle from doo-wop and early R&B to psychedelic soul.
The core team consisted of bassist James Jamerson, pianistsfingerstyle guitarist Eddie Willis, and drummer Benny Benjamin; other notable members included trombonist George Babbitt, conga player Jack Ashford, and saxophonists Joe Hunter and Hank Cosby. The Funk Brothers’ recordings have been sampled extensively in hip hop, rock music and television advertising commercials; their work on Motown records such as “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” (Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell), “I Was Made to Love Her” (Stevie Wonder), “You Can’t Hurry Love” (The Supremes) and “My Girl” (The Temptations) has been particularly influential.
In 2002, the surviving members of the group were the subject of Standing in the Shadows of Motown, a documentary film directed by Paul Justman which won a Grammy Award for its soundtrack album. In 2019, they were inducted into the Roll Hallf of Fame as part of Motown’s 60th anniversary celebration.
The Supremes
The Supremes were an American female singing group and the premier act of Motown Records during the 1960s. The group achieved worldwide success with their catchy tunes, stylish looks, and captivating stage presence. They are the best-selling girl group of all time and helped to define the Motown Sound. Let’s take a closer look at their success.
Diana Ross and the Supremes
Diana Ross and the Supremes were one of the most successful groups of the 1960s. The group was originally known as The Primettes, and they signed with Motown Records in 1961. The group was made up of Diana Ross, Mary Wilson, Florence Ballard, and Betty McGlown. McGlown was replaced by Barbara Martin in 1962, and Martin was replaced by Cindy Birdsong in 1967.
The Supremes released their first album, Meet the Supremes, in 1962. It included the singles “I Want a Guy” and “Buttered Popcorn”. The group’s second album, Where Did Our Love Go?, was released in 1964. It included the singles “Where Did Our Love Go”, “Baby Love”, and “Come See About Me”. The Supremes were the first Motown group to have two consecutive number-one singles on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
In 1967, Diana Ross left the group to pursue a solo career. She was replaced by Jean Terrell. The group’s name was changed to Diana Ross & The Supremes, and they released their final album with Motown Records, Farewell, in 1970.
The Supremes were one of Motown’s most successful groups, with twelve number-one singles on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. They are one of the best-selling girl groups of all time, with estimated sales of over 200 million records worldwide.
The Sound of Motown in the 1960s
The Supremes were an American pop vocal group who rose to fame in the 1960s with a string of hit singles on the Motown label. The group reached its apex of success with their final lineup consisting of Diana Ross, Mary Wilson, and Florence Ballard. The Supremes are the best-charting female group in US history, with 12 number-one hit singles on the Billboard Hot 100. They are one of Motown’s signature acts and are credited with helping to bring the Motown Sound to a mainstream audience.
The Supremes were originally a quartet called The Primettes, formed in Detroit, Michigan, in 1959 by Florence Ballard, Mary Wilson, Diana Ross, and Betty McGlown. The group signed with Motown Records in 1961 and changed their name to “The Supremes”. In 1967, after a period of declining sales and personnel changes (most notably missing are our lead singer Diana Ross and founding member Florence Ballard), The Supremes scored their final US number-one hit (“Love is Here and Now You’re Gone”), before disbanding in early 1970.
Marvin Gaye
As the 1960s came to a close, Marvin Gaye’s Motown sound was becoming more and more popular. With hits like “I Heard it Through the Grapevine” and “Ain’t That Peculiar”, Gaye was at the forefront of the Motown sound. Gaye’s unique style combined R&B, soul, and pop to create a sound that was both commercial and critical success.
What’s Going On
“What’s Going On” is a song by American recording artist Marvin Gaye, released in 1971 on the Motown label. The song was written by Gaye, Obie Benson and Al Cleveland, and produced by Gaye himself. It has been covered by many other artists since its release.
The song marked Gaye’s commercial breakthrough after a number of small hit singles from the late 1960s onwards. In large part due to its message of social awareness, “What’s Going On” climbs to the second spot on the Billboard Hot 100 and peaked at number-one on the Cashbox Top 100. It became Gaye’s first and only single to top both charts simultaneously. The song’s success helped propel its parent album What’s Going On to number-one as well, giving Gaye his first and only album to debut atop the Billboard 200. “What’s Going On” was ranked as the sixth greatest song of all time by Rolling Stone magazine, while NME placed it at number nine on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
The Sound of Motown in the 1970s
In the 1970s, Motown underwent a major transformation. Founded in the 1960s by Berry Gordy, Motown was the most successful African American-owned record label of its time. Gordy had a keen ear for talent, and his label boasted some of the most popular artists of the era, including Smokey Robinson, Diana Ross, and Stevie Wonder.
In the 1970s, however, Gordy shifted his focus from singles to albums, and many of Motown’s biggest stars left the label to pursue solo careers. The sound of Motown changed as well; while the signature “Motown sound” was still present, it was infused with more funk and soul influences. This new sound helped Motown appeal to a wider audience and stay relevant in the changing music landscape.
Some of Motown’s most successful artists in the 1970s included Marvin Gaye, Michael Jackson, and Stevie Wonder. Gaye’s album “What’s Going On” was a massive success, both commercially and critically. Jackson’s album “Off the Wall” showcased his massive talent and helped him transition from child star to adult superstar. Wonder’s album “Songs in the Key of Life” was a triple-album set that featured some of his most popular songs, including “Isn’t She Lovely” and “Sir Duke.”
The sound of Motown in the 1970s was truly unique; no other label came close to matching its success. The legacy of Motown continues to this day, as its artists are still revered as some of the greatest ever to make music.
The Jackson 5
The Jackson 5 was an American pop band composed of five brothers from Gary, Indiana: Tito, Jermaine, Jackie, Marlon, and Michael. The quintet’s first four singles – “I Want You Back”, “ABC”, “The Love You Save”, and “I’ll Be There” – all peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100.
The Sound of Motown in the 1970s
by Brian McCollum, Special to The Detroit News
In the span of a few years, the Jackson 5 went from Motown’s newest artist lineup to one of its biggest global successes.
The five young brothers from Gary, Ind. — Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon and Michael — were signed by the label in 1968 and within two years topped the pop charts with four consecutive No. 1 singles: “I Want You Back,” “ABC,” “The Love You Save” and “I’ll Be There.”
But it was 1970’s “ABC” that solidified the group’s place in musical history, becoming one of Motown’s most enduring hits and an indelible part of the evolving sound of 1970s pop.
With its sleek disco sheen and kiddie-sized rhythmic punch, “ABC” epitomized the new synthesis of R&B and pop that producers such as the group’s own father, Joseph Jackson, had been perfecting on numerous records throughout the decade. It was a sound that would dominate radio for years to come — and put Motown squarely at the center of it all.
Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson was born in Gary, Indiana, on August 29, 1958, and entertained audiences nearly his entire life. His father, Joseph Jackson, had ambitions of becoming a successful show business promoter and choreographer and soon recognized Michael’s musical talents. Michael’s mother, Katherine Jackson (née Katherine Esther Scruse), played a key role in the family’s musicality. The Jackson 5 performed their first televised music performance on “The Ed Sullivan Show” in 1969.
With the success of the Jackson 5 came solo opportunities for Jermaine, Tito, Jackie and Marlon. In 1971, Motown released Michael Jackson’s first solo album, Got to Be There. The album achieved gold status. In 1972, Michael released his second album with Motown titled Ben; the album’s title track became Michael’s first No. 1 song on the Billboard Hot 100 chart as a solo artist.
