By Mr. Magic (143.132.229.255) on Wednesday, March 05, 2003 - 04:55 pm:

I have a question and I want to know what you all think about it. Did Berry Gordy make Motown or did the artist who put hard work into the company make it what it is today? I know that Berry Gordy founded and organized it, but did the artist make the standing foundation for the company. I just want to hear what you all have to say.

By Livonia Ken (136.2.1.101) on Wednesday, March 05, 2003 - 05:10 pm:

Every piece was important (artists, musicians, songwriters, producers, promotion, distribution, etc.), and BG put the pieces in place. He deserves credit for what he accomplished as do all of the folks who did it with him.

Regards,
Ken

By John Lester (81.132.25.69) on Wednesday, March 05, 2003 - 05:41 pm:

Ken

I agree with you 100%

By Mr.Magic (143.132.229.255) on Wednesday, March 05, 2003 - 05:47 pm:

Nice answer Ken, I agree with you too.

By Eli (151.197.37.171) on Wednesday, March 05, 2003 - 05:51 pm:

Same thing applies to our Philly "legends"

By Ralph (209.240.198.62) on Wednesday, March 05, 2003 - 08:20 pm:

I think it can be said that Berry was a genius for getting the best out of people. It is obvious he did exactly that.

By Bob Olhsson (12.77.94.120) on Wednesday, March 05, 2003 - 08:29 pm:

I think we all deserve a lot of credit but I truly have to marvel at what Berry Gordy Jr. accomplished compared to almost anybody else who has ever owned an independent record label.

Thirty years later I've had the privelege of knowing many people who have worked for various labels including even some of the owners themselves. As I hear the stories of their label from inception to finally being distributed by a major, I've come to realize that Berry Gordy had the longest run of any of them. He actually reinvented Motown over and over and I feel very humble to have worked for him.

By stephanie (64.63.221.211) on Wednesday, March 12, 2003 - 09:57 pm:

I also want to say that I feel Bob Olhsson does not get as many accolades as he deserves!!! Go BOB
Stephanie

By R&B (138.238.41.128) on Thursday, March 13, 2003 - 10:00 am:

I THINK OF BERRY AND MOTOWN AS A BRILLIENT COMET THAT COME ONCE IN A GENERATION,IT'S GLOW BRIGHTENS EVERYTHING IT PASSES OVER AND THEN IT'S GONE,BUT YOU FEEL SO LUCKY TO HAVE BEEN THERE WHEN IT PASSED.

By Ralph (209.240.198.62) on Thursday, March 13, 2003 - 10:06 am:

Steph,
I'll second that regarding Bob. He was always the quiet, competent one at a recording session. No " flash '. Strictly talent. I have always maintained that there was none better than Bob when it came to putting sound on tape.

By Julian (205.188.209.38) on Friday, March 14, 2003 - 01:11 pm:

Bob, can you give us some examples of how BG reinvented Motown over and over?

By GHUCKABY (63.236.0.124) on Saturday, March 15, 2003 - 08:04 pm:

i heard the vikings aka eric&THE VIKINGS HAVE A NEW RECORD AND WEBSITE WWW. VIKINGSFOREVER.COM

By StingBeeLee (68.43.129.202) on Sunday, March 16, 2003 - 03:59 pm:

I wanted to put this message on the Funk Bros thread regarding if they were cheated, but I backed off. Motown has become so much a part of our daily lives that we sometimes take it for granted. Motown was more than a happening, more than a phenomenon, it was a rip in the fabric of this society. Just think;

In 1958, a black man (and his wife, family and friends)decided to start a record label. As far as I know, there are only two or three major record labels that were run by blacks at the time.

This man decided to get the best musicians he could find. He gathers the greatest set of musicians in rock and roll history - The Funk Bros., the horn players, and the Detroit Symphony. Most of these people "happen" to live in Detroit.

They gather one of the greatest groupings of singers ever (Miracles, Marvin, Vandellas, etc. etc.) Most of these singers "happen" to be in Detroit.

They gather one of the greatest, if not the greatest, groupings of producers ever assembled. Most of these people "happen" to be in Detroit.

They gather one of the greatest, if not the greatest, groupings of writers ever. Most of these people "happen" to live in Detroit.

They gather one of, if not the greatest groups of background singers ever. Most of these singers "happen" to live in Detroit.

They gather one of, if not the greatest groups of engineers of all time. Most of these people "happen" to be in Detroit.

They gather one of, if not the greatest groups of quality control, who play a part in over sixty-six percent of all releases being "hits". Most of these people "happen" to be in Detroit.

They gather one of the greatest set of arrangers in recorded history. Most of these people "happen" to be in Detroit.

They gather one of the greatest set of bandleaders, choreographers, and charm teachers, some of whom they import, some of whom "happen" to be in Detroit.

They record most of these hits in one of the most accoustically superior studios of all time, which "happens" to be a house, which "happens" to be in Detroit.

Any one of the scenarios above would be almost statistically impossible. Put them together, and you have something that is statistically inconceivable.

Now, I don't think that everyone entered into this venture to get rich. Although I don't think they knew it at the time, and from reading the posts on this forum, a lot of this music has served humanity in so many ways. For the most part, throughout the years, people who serve humanity do not get rich. They get a lot of their satisfaction from serving, and have had served, humanity.

Additionally (before I cover myself up and hide) I believe the hand of God played a big part in this. I do not believe that all those things listed above could have just randomly happen. You couldn't dream a company like Motown in your wildest dreams. In the 1960's? In Detroit? Hopefully this post isn't too long, and I know this is not a religious forum. Just my thoughts on the whole Motown thing and the Funk Brothers.

By Ralph (209.240.198.62) on Sunday, March 16, 2003 - 04:22 pm:

Wow StingBee...I just "happen " to feel your post is rather thought provoking.

By Eli (151.197.5.122) on Sunday, March 16, 2003 - 07:06 pm:

Ya know..

Between '69 and '72 I used to go to Weldon's house and get a lot of Motown album promos as he was their national promo director.
When I say Motown, it includes all off their secondary labels such as Natural Resources,
Black Forum, Rare Earth,Prodigal, and all of the main labels.
I don't want to come off ofensive,but it amazes me that aside from certain titles, Motown put out so much "crapola" during this time that one could only surmise that they were tax write offs.

Any comments??

By Ralph (209.240.198.62) on Sunday, March 16, 2003 - 08:03 pm:

Bobby,
I must agree with you. All wasn't gold coming out of Motown. Some of the acquisition stuff really concerned me at times.

By JSmith (212.39.231.20) on Tuesday, March 18, 2003 - 07:24 am:

Bobby,
But was Berry just trying to expand his sphere of influence.

He had generally taken permanent spots on the Nat Top 20 chart with the company's soul output, I guess he thought he could just reproduce this success with pop, rock, country & jazz material.

He didn't succeed and I guess much of the stuff you refer to as crapola falls within these bags.

Motown was not unique in this strategy though. Stax signed some awful pop acts (UK child act Lena Zavaroni being one that springs to mind). Even 'died-in-the-wool' jazz soulster Willie Mitchell appointed guys to run any pop sessions booked at his Royal Studios (these guys being the Texans who had run the Suemi studio & label).