Berry Gordy | |
|---|---|
 Gordy in 1998 | |
| Born | Berry Gordy III (1929-11-28)November 28, 1929 (age 96) |
| Other names | Berry Gordy Jr. |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1953–2019[1][2] |
| Title | Founder ofMotown |
| Spouses | |
| Children | 8, includingRhonda,Stefan,Kennedy, andKerry |
| Family | Gordy family |
| Awards | Full list |
| Musical career | |
| Labels | Motown |
| Formerly of | The Corporation |
Musical artist | |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch | United States Army |
| Service years | 1951–1953 |
| Unit | 58th Field Artillery Battalion,3d |
| Conflicts | Korean War |
Berry Gordy III (born November 28, 1929), also known asBerry Gordy Jr.,[3] is an American retired record executive, record producer, songwriter, film producer and television producer. He is best known as the founder of theMotown record label and its subsidiaries, which was the highest-earningAfrican-American business for decades.[4]
As a songwriter, Gordy composed or co-composed a number of hits including "Money (That's What I Want)", "Lonely Teardrops" and "That's Why" (Jackie Wilson), "Shop Around" (the Miracles), and "Do You Love Me" (the Contours), all of which topped the US R&B charts, as well as the international hit "Reet Petite" (Jackie Wilson). As part ofThe Corporation, he wrote many hit songs forthe Jackson 5, including "I Want You Back" and "ABC". As a record producer, he launched the Miracles and signed acts likethe Supremes,Marvin Gaye,the Temptations, theFour Tops,Gladys Knight & the Pips, andStevie Wonder. He was known for carefully directing the public image, dress, manners, and choreography of his acts.
Gordy was inducted into theRock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988, awarded theNational Medal of Arts by PresidentBarack Obama in 2016, and theKennedy Center Honors in 2021. In 2022, he was inducted into theBlack Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame.
Berry Gordy Jr. was born on November 28, 1929,[5][6] in Detroit, the seventh of the eight children ofBerry Gordy (also known as Berry Gordy Sr.) and Bertha Fuller Gordy, who had relocated to Detroit fromOconee, Washington County, Georgia, in 1922 as a part of theGreat Migration.[3]
His grandfather, named Berry Gordy, was the son of James Gordy, a white plantation owner in Georgia, and one of his slaves. Berry I's half-brother, James (son of the elder James and his legal wife), was the grandfather of PresidentJimmy Carter. Berry Gordy II was led to Detroit both by the job opportunities offered by the booming automotive businesses,[3] and also by worries over the atmosphere in the American South, where black men were lynched "with chilling regularity by theKu Klux Klan"; in the first twenty years of the twentieth century, 1,502 lynchings were reported, most in Southern states.[7] Gordy's father opened a grocery store, owned a plastering and carpentry business, and a printing shop. While his brothers Fuller and George were happy to work at jobs their father assigned to them in construction and printing, Gordy and his brother Robert were less inclined to follow that path; both liked dancing and music, but Gordy's greatest interest was in boxing.[8]
Gordy dropped out ofNortheastern High School in the eleventh grade to become a professionalboxer[9][10] in hopes of becoming rich quickly; he boxed professionally until 1950, when he was drafted by theUnited States Army in 1951 for service in theKorean War. Arriving in Korea in May 1952, Gordy was first assigned to the 58th Field Artillery Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division, nearPanmunjom. He later became a chaplain's assistant, driving a jeep and playing the organ at religious services at the front. His tour in the Korean War was completed in April 1953. He obtained aGED, which is equivalent to a high school diploma.[11]
After his return from Korea in 1953, he married 19-year-old Thelma Louise Coleman inToledo, Ohio.[11] Gordy developed his interest in music by writing songs and opening the 3-D Record Mart, a record store featuring jazz music and 3-D glasses.[12] The store was unsuccessful, and Gordy sought work at theLincoln-Mercury plant, but his family connections put him in touch with Al Green (no relation to the singer ReverendAl Green), owner of the Flame Show Bar Talent Club, where he met the singerJackie Wilson.[13]
In 1957, Wilson recorded "Reet Petite", a song Gordy had co-written with his sister Gwen and writer-producerBilly Davis. It became a modest hit, but had more success internationally, especially in the UK, where it reached the Top 10 and even later topped the chart on re-issue in 1986. Wilson recorded six more songs co-written by Gordy over the next two years, including "Lonely Teardrops", which topped the R&B charts and got to number 7 in the pop chart. The Gordy siblings and Davis also wrote "All I Could Do Was Cry" forEtta James atChess Records.[14][15]
Gordy reinvested the profits from his songwriting success into producing. In 1957, he discoveredthe Miracles (originally known as the Matadors) and began building a portfolio of successful artists. In 1959, with the encouragement of Miracles leaderSmokey Robinson, Gordy borrowed $800 (equivalent to $8,629.2 in 2024) from his family to create an R&B record company. Originally, Gordy wanted to name the new label Tammy Records, afterthe song recorded byDebbie Reynolds. However, that name was taken, and he chose the nameTamla Records. The company began operating on January 12, 1959.[5] "Come to Me" byMarv Johnson was issued as Tamla 101.United Artists Records picked up "Come to Me" for national distribution, as well as Johnson's more successful follow-up records such as "You Got What It Takes", co-produced by Gordy, who also received a co-writer credit, though the song was originally written and recorded by guitaristBobby Parker forVee-Jay Records a year and a half earlier. Gordy's next release was the only 45 ever issued on his Rayber label, featuring Wade Jones with an unnamed female backup group. The record did not sell well and is now one of the rarest issues from the Motown stable. Berry's third release was "Bad Girl" by the Miracles, the first release on the Motown record label. "Bad Girl" was a solid hit in 1959 after Chess Records picked it up.Barrett Strong's "Money (That's What I Want)" initially appeared on Tamla and then charted on Gordy's sister's label,Anna Records, in February 1960. It was the Miracles who gave the label its first million-selling hit single, with the 1960Grammy Hall of Fame smash, "Shop Around" and this song, and its follow up hits, "You've Really Got a Hold on Me" (another Grammy Hall of Fame-inducted hit), "Mickey's Monkey","What's So Good About Goodbye", and "I'll Try Something New", made the Miracles the label's first stars.[citation needed]
The Tamla and Motown labels were then merged into a new company,Motown Record Corporation, incorporated on April 14, 1960. In 1960, Gordy signed an unknown singer,Mary Wells, who became the fledgling label's second star, with Smokey Robinson penning her hits "You Beat Me to the Punch", "Two Lovers", and "My Guy". The Miracles' hit "Shop Around" peaked at No. 1 on the nationalR&B charts in late 1960 and at No. 2 on theBillboard magazine pop charts on January 16, 1961 (No. 1 pop,Cash Box), which established Motown as an independent company worthy of notice. Later in 1961,the Marvelettes' "Please Mr. Postman" made it to the top of both charts.[citation needed]
Gordy's gift for identifying and bringing together musical talent, along with the careful management of his artists' public image, made Motown a major national and then international success. Over the next decade, he signed such artists asthe Supremes,Marvin Gaye,the Temptations,Jimmy Ruffin,the Contours, theFour Tops,Gladys Knight & the Pips,the Commodores,the Velvelettes,Martha and the Vandellas,Stevie Wonder andthe Jackson 5. Though he also signed some white acts to the label (Rare Earth andRustix, via theRare Earth label), Gordy mainly promoted African-American artists but carefully controlled their public image, dress, manners and choreography for across-the-board appeal.[17]
Gordy announced his retirement in 2019 at the age of 89.[18]
In 1972, Gordy relocated to Los Angeles, where he produced the commercially successfulbiographicaldrama film onBillie Holiday,Lady Sings the Blues, starringDiana Ross (who was nominated for anAcademy Award),Richard Pryor, andBilly Dee Williams (cast in a role originally forLevi Stubbs of the Four Tops). Initially the studio, over Gordy's objections, rejected Williams after several screen tests. However, Gordy, known for his tenacity, eventually prevailed, and the film established Williams as a major movie star. Gordy soon after produced and directedMahogany (Tony Richardson was the original director, but Gordy fired Richardson and took over direction himself after a dispute over minor casting), also starring Ross and Williams. In 1985, he produced the cult martial arts filmThe Last Dragon, which starred martial artistTaimak and one ofPrince's proteges,Vanity.[citation needed]
Although Motown continued to produce major hits throughout the 1970s and 1980s by artists includingJermaine Jackson,Rick James, Commodores,Lionel Richie, and long-term signings Stevie Wonder and Smokey Robinson, the record company was no longer the major force it had been. Gordy sold his interests in Motown Records toMCA and Boston Ventures on June 28, 1988, for $61 million (equivalent to $139,170,000 in 2024). He later sold most of his interests inJobete publishing toEMI Publishing. Gordy wrote or co-wrote 240 of the approximately 15,000 songs in Motown's Jobete music catalogue. However, the true test of the label's worth would come a few years later, when Polygram paid over $330 million (Diana Ross was given shares in this version of the label) for the Motown catalog.[citation needed]
Gordy published an autobiography,To Be Loved, in 1994.[19]
Gordy was inducted into theRock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988.[20] In 1993, he received theCBC Lifetime Achievement Award.[21] He was inducted into the Junior Achievement U.S. Business Hall of Fame in 1998 and the Michigan Rock and Roll Legends Hall of Fame in 2009.[22]
When Gordy received theSongwriters Hall of Fame's Pioneer Award on June 13, 2013, he was the first living individual to receive the honor.[23]
In 2014, Gordy received thekey to the city from Mayor of DetroitMike Duggan on October 22, 2014.[24]
In 2016, Gordy received theNational Medal of Arts fromPresident Obama for "helping to create a trailblazing new sound in American music. As a record producer and songwriter, he helped build Motown, launching the music careers of countless legendary artists. His unique sound helped shape our Nation's story."[25]
Berry Gordy Square in Los Angeles was designated by the City Council at intersection of Sunset Boulevard and Argyle where the office of Motown was located.[26]
In 2021, he was awarded theKennedy Center Honors alongsideBette Midler,Joni Mitchell,Justino Díaz, andLorne Michaels.[27]
In 2022, he was inducted into theBlack Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame.[28]
In 2022, he was awarded with an honorary doctorate from the University of Michigan.[29]
Following the funeral ofMarvin Gaye on April 5, 1984, Gordy declared Gaye "the greatest of his time." Berry said the singer "had no musical equals," while also discussing how he carried on the legacy of other soul singers who tackled a range of themes, from love to civil rights, such asBillie Holiday.[30]
On March 20, 2009, Gordy was in Hollywood to pay tribute to his first group and first million-selling act,the Miracles, when the members received a star on theHollywood Walk of Fame. Speaking in tribute to the group, Gordy said: "Without the Miracles, Motown would not be the Motown it is today."[31][32][33][34]
Gordy spoke at thememorial service for Michael Jackson in Los Angeles on July 7, 2009. He suggested that "The King of Pop" was perhaps not the best description for Jackson in light of his achievements, referring to him instead as "the greatest entertainer that ever lived."
On May 15, 2011, it was announced that Gordy was developing aBroadway musical about Motown. The show is said to be an account of events of the 1960s and how they shaped the creation of the label. Gordy hoped that the musical would improve the reputation of Motown Records and clear up any misconceptions regarding the label's demise.[35]
Motown: The Musical began previews at theLunt-Fontanne Theatre on March 11, 2013, and began regular performances there on April 14.[36]The musical closed in January 2015.[37]
The UK version ofMotown: The Musical opened in London'sWest End in January 2016. Berry Gordy was present at the opening night.
Gordy, who was married and divorced three times, has eight children with six different women. His publishing company, Jobete, was named after his three eldest children: Joy, Berry and Terry.
He had three children with his first wife, Thelma Coleman, whom he married in 1953 (they were divorced in 1959):
In the spring of 1960 he marriedRaynoma Mayberry Liles (they were divorced in 1964).[38][39] They had one son:
With Jeana Jackson, Gordy had one daughter:
With his then-mistress Margaret Norton, Gordy had a son:
Gordy had a daughter with Motown artistDiana Ross, with whom he had an intimate relationship from 1965 through 1970:
Gordy's eighth and youngest child is a son born to Nancy Leiviska:
Berry married Grace Eaton on July 17, 1990, and they divorced in 1993.
He is also related to former US PresidentJimmy Carter.[41] His relation to Carter stems from his white great-grandfather James Thomas Gordy who owned a black, female slave named Esther Johnson.[42][43]
A sexual assault lawsuit filed against Jermaine Jackson in December 2023 by Rita Barrett, who was the wife of Gordy's friend Ben Barrett, alleged Gordy assisted in covering up Jackson's sexual assault of her in 1988.[44]
Berry Gordy owned the colt Powis Castle whom he raced under thenom de course Vistas Stables.[45] Racing in California, Powis Castle won the 1994Oceanside Stakes andMalibu Stakes then finished 8th in theKentucky Derby and 9th in thePreakness Stakes, the first two legs of theU.S. Triple Crown series.[45]
| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1972 | Lady Sings the Blues | Producer |
| 1975 | Mahogany | Producer and director |
| 1976 | The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings | Producer |
| 1985 | The Last Dragon | Producer and music supervisor |
| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Rock 'N Roll! The First 5,000 Years | Writer: "I'll Be There" |
| 2005 | Lennon | Writer: "Money (That's What I Want)" |
| 2013 | Motown: The Musical | Producer and writer, composer and lyricist |
I was heavily into Jazz and so I opened up this Jazz record store, and in Detroit the people that came in there were asking for the Blues
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
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