Motown Records facts
While investigating facts about Motown Records Artists and Motown Records Founder, I found out little known, but curios details like:
James Jamerson, regarded as the greatest electronic bass player ever, recorded Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On, while being flat on his back as he was too intoxicated to stand upright. He was the uncredited bassist on most of the Motown Records hits in the 1960s and early 1970s.
how did motown records achieve crossover success?
After Marvin Gaye recorded “What’s Going On”, he played it for Motown’s Berry Gordy Jr. who said it was “the worst thing I heard in my life.” Only after Gaye threatened to leave the label was it released, becoming massive hit and considered 4th greatest song of all time by the Rolling Stone.
What was the name of the songwriting team at motown records from 1964-67?
In my opinion, it is useful to put together a list of the most interesting details from trusted sources that I've come across answering who recorded at motown records. Here are 20 of the best facts about Motown Records Was Located In Which City and Motown Records History I managed to collect.
which of the performers below began at motown records?
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President Jimmy Carter and Motown Records founder Berry Gordy are second cousins
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After starting his recording career in Motown, Marvin changed his name from Marvin Gay to Marvin Gaye adding the 'e' to separate himself from his father, end all gossip concerning his sexuality, and also in admiration of his idol, Sam Cooke, who also added an 'e' to his last name.
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Motown Records hired Maxine Powell, owner of a Detroit finishing school, to give his artists lessons in deportment and stage presentation. Her mission was to prepare African-American artists from the city's Housing Projects to perform "in the White House and Buckingham Palace".
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Tommy Chong was the first white singer to record for Motown records. Listeners thought his song "Does Your Mama Know About Me" was a black man singing about his white girlfriend, but Tommy wrote it as a white man singing about his black girlfriend
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Motown Records dropped Bruno Mars in 2003 and was only resigned by Atlantic in 2009
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Motown Records had a white division. They named it Rare Earth, after the band had asked them to when they first opened the division. Rare Earth also faced segregation at the time for sounding "too white."
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The Jackson 5's original audition tape sent to Motown Records in August 1967 was rejected. They were turned down again after a second taped audition in July 1968. They were finally signed in 1969 and went on to have four number one singles within a year and became Motown's best-selling group.
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The guys in the pop duo LMFAO are related to Berry Gordy, the founder of Motown Records. Their godfather is no other than Smokey Robinson
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The electronic music duo LMFAO is comprised of a son and a grandson of Motown Records founder Berry Gordy III
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Redfoo of LMFAO is the son of Barry Gordy, Jr., the founder of Motown Records
Why is motown records important?
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The Funk Brothers were a group of session musicians who played on virtually all Motown recordings from 1959 - 1972.
The Motown Record company also had a gaming division in the 1990s that published only 2 games: Bébé's Kids and Rap Jam: Volume One - source
As a kid, I thought MJ's Billie Jean Motown performance was live and spectacular ... like "you should have been there" -- today, I revisited, and it's so obviously a recording even the band is just sitting around looking awkward ... along with it just being super obvious to today's viewers ...
Two members of the musical group LMFAO are descendants of Motown Records' founder, Berry Gordy - source
When was motown records founded?
Redfoo & Sky Blu from LMFAO are uncle and nephew. Redfoo is the youngest son of Motown Records founder Barry Gordy, Sky Blu is his grandson.
How much are motown vinyl records worth?
Rockwell, the artist behind 80's hit, 'Somebody's Watching Me', and Redfoo from LMFAO, are stepbrothers. Their father, Berry Gordy, Jr., is the Founder and CEO of Motown Records.
Berry Gordy, the founder of Motown records has a son named Stefan Gordy, otherwise known as Redfoo from LMFAO.