Originally Posted by
jongould1
Thanks to you all for your responses. I have a feeling that Berry Gordy's supposed distain for Memphis soul is indeed a bit of myth. There's no question that the "roughness" that crept into some of Motown's releases, beginning in 1964 with the Four Tops, was a response to the increasing prominence of overtly gospel-influenced soul singers like Otis, Solomon Burke, and James Brown. Marvin Gaye once suggested that his singing on "Baby Don't You Do It" was influenced by Otis, and of course Marvin was always a bit obsessed with the masculinity he associated with singers like Otis, Levi Stubbs, and David Ruffin.
My main interest regarding Otis's interaction with Motown artists centers on 1964, since that was really the formative year for him: his first full year of touring widely and recording on a regular basis.
Regarding the 4-36 Club, I'm curious to know what Florida town that was in. Might that have been in August 65? [[Otis played all over Florida that month.)
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