Motown

The Motown Sound

Black rhythm and blues provided the foundation for rock 'n' roll in the 1950s, and, as racial attitudes relaxed, black performers such as Chuck Berry, the Coasters, and Chubby Checker attracted large audiences. However, it was not until the 1960s that black performers in general received unrestricted radio play. The music that came from the Motor City of Detroit, Michigan, in the 1960s, was the Motown Sound.

Early Success

In creating Tamla Motown in 1959, Berry Gordy, Jr., established the first major label owned and operated by blacks. The music he produced had its roots in gospel, jazz, and rhythm and blues, but the Mo-town Sound, with its rock 'n' roll beat backed by orchestral accompaniment, was definitely commercial pop music—and in terms of commercial and popular success, it took off in the early 1960s. This success was due in part to the songwriting efforts of Lamont Dozier and brothers...

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