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History of Motown Timeline
(1959 - Present)Motown Records, founded by Berry Gordy Jr. in Detroit, Michigan in 1959, became one of the most influential record labels in music history. Known as 'Hitsville U.S.A.,' Motown launched the careers of legendary artists like The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson, and The Temptations. Its signature blend of pop, soul, and R&B broke racial barriers and shaped the sound of American popular music for generations. More Less
Founding and Early Years
Purchase of the Hitsville U.S.A. house
1959
Berry Gordy purchased a modest two-story house at 2648 West Grand Boulevard in Detroit, converting it into offices and Studio A. Dubbed 'Hitsville U.S.A.,' the house became the creative heart of Motown, where countless hits were recorded around the clock.
Image source: Hitsville U.S.A.
Berry Gordy borrows $800 to start a record company
Jan 12, 1959
Berry Gordy Jr., a former boxer and auto plant worker, borrowed $800 from his family to launch Tamla Records in Detroit. The loan, secured after the success of songs he wrote for Jackie Wilson, marked the birth of what would become Motown Records, one of the most influential record labels in American history.
Image source: Berry Gordy
'Come to Me' becomes first Tamla release
May 1959
Marv Johnson's 'Come to Me' was released on the newly founded Tamla label, becoming the company's first single. The song reached the national charts and gave Gordy's fledgling operation its early credibility, leading to distribution through United Artists.
Image source: Marv Johnson
Motown Records name officially adopted
Apr 14, 1960
Gordy incorporated Motown Record Corporation in April 1960, adopting the nickname 'Motown,' a contraction of 'Motor Town' referring to Detroit's automotive industry. The name became synonymous with the distinctive soul-pop sound emerging from Hitsville U.S.A.
Image source: Motown
'Shop Around' becomes Motown's first million-selling hit
Oct 1960
Smokey Robinson and the Miracles recorded 'Shop Around,' which became Motown's first number-one R&B hit and its first record to sell one million copies, firmly establishing the label as a commercial force.
Image source: Shop Around
The Temptations sign with Motown
1961
The Temptations signed with Motown in 1961 after previously recording for other local labels. Their polished harmonies and choreography would make them one of Motown's most successful and enduring acts.
Image source: The Temptations
Stevie Wonder's debut at age 11
1962
Eleven-year-old Steveland Judkins, discovered by Ronnie White of the Miracles, was signed by Berry Gordy and dubbed 'Little Stevie Wonder.' His live album 'Recorded Live: The 12 Year Old Genius' topped the charts in 1963 with 'Fingertips.'
Image source: Stevie Wonder
Golden Era
Formation of the Funk Brothers studio band
1962
Motown's in-house band, the Funk Brothers, played on more number-one hits than the Beatles, Elvis Presley, the Rolling Stones, and the Beach Boys combined. Led by bassist James Jamerson, they crafted the signature Motown sound from Studio A sessions.
Image source: The Funk Brothers
Motortown Revue tours the nation
1962 - 1966
The Motortown Revue packaged Motown stars like the Miracles, Mary Wells, Marvin Gaye, and the Supremes for grueling package tours across segregated America, exposing audiences nationwide to the label's roster and building its fanbase.
The Supremes score first of twelve number-one hits
Jun 22, 1964
'Where Did Our Love Go' made the Supremes the label's premier act. With Diana Ross fronting, the group followed with hits like 'Baby Love' and 'Stop! In the Name of Love,' breaking racial barriers on television and in mainstream America.
Image source: Where Did Our Love Go
Key Facts
- Motown Records was founded by Berry Gordy Jr. on January 12, 1959, in Detroit, Michigan, with an $800 loan from his family.
- The label's original headquarters at 2648 West Grand Boulevard became known as 'Hitsville U.S.A.' and is now a museum.
- Between 1961 and 1971, Motown produced 110 Top 10 hits, including classics like 'My Girl,' 'I Heard It Through the Grapevine,' and 'Ain't No Mountain High Enough.'
- The Supremes became Motown's most successful act, scoring 12 number-one hits and helping to break racial barriers by appealing to both Black and white audiences.
- In 1972, Motown relocated its headquarters from Detroit to Los Angeles, marking a major turning point in the label's history.
Source
This History of Motown timeline was generated with the help of AI, using information found on the internet.
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