Motown mogul Berry Gordy announces retirement at 89
DETROIT — Sep 23, 2019, 3
The Motown mogul who launched the careers of numerous stars like Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross and Michael Jackson has announced his retirement.
The Detroit Free Press reports Berry Gordy said he had "come full circle" at a 60th anniversary event for Motown Records on Sunday.
The 89-year-old Detroit native built Motown Records into a hit-making music, film and television empire that shattered racial barriers and introduced the world at large to the sounds of R&B, soul and funk. Gordy sold the record label in 1988, but remained active, developing a musical and staying involved with the Motown Museum's $50 million expansion campaign.
Speaking about retirement, Gordy said he has "dreamed about it, talked about it, threatened it" for years.
Director Lee Daniels also presented Gordy with the Motown Legacy honor.
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Berry Gordy addresses a crowd at Detroit's Orchestra Hall on Sunday night as director Lee Daniels holds Gordy's Motown Legacy Award. [[Photo: Motown Museum)
The Chairman has stepped down — and likely taken his final bow in Detroit.
Berry Gordy, the Detroit native who built Motown Records from a shoestring operation into a music, film and television empire, told a hometown crowd Sunday night that he is at last retiring.
"I have come full circle," he said onstage during Motown's 60th anniversary program at Orchestra Hall. "It is only appropriate [[to announce this) while here in Detroit, the city where my fairy tale happened with all of you."
The enterprising Gordy helped revolutionize American and global culture via Motown, shepherding young Detroit talent and eventually churning out stars such as Diana Ross & the Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, the Temptations and the Jackson 5.
Although Gordy sold the record label in 1988 and later parceled off its song-publishing arm, the 89-year-old has remained very much in the business of Motown. In recent years, his creative pursuits have included a Broadway musical and a Showtime documentary about the company..
https://www.freep.com/story/entertai...od/2416362001/
