Motown Forever

I am the proud owner of over 30,000 songs in my digital library. I acquired this collection over 55 years, with genres ranging from Acapella to Zydeco. I have spent countless hours listening to artists ranging from A-Ha to Warren Zevon. After a lifetime of listening to music, today, I still worship at the altar of what was called the Sound of Young America, Motown. Three of music’s most essential and endearing characteristics are its ability to make us move, feel, and think. More than any other musical enterprise, Motown has made the world move, feel, and think, often simultaneously.

In 1959 with relentless determination, an eye for talent, and $800, Berry Gordy Jr. created what would become a cultural, financial, and social juggernaut. During the first decade of Motown, Berry Gordy Jr. recruited and developed a roster of musical artists that included but was not limited to Smokey Robinson, Mary Wells, The Temptations, The Supremes, The Four Tops, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, and the Jackson Five. Their songwriters were also outstanding. A short list of these Songwriter Hall of Fame songwriters includes Holland Dozier Holland, Smokey Robinson, Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong, and Nick Ashford and Valerie Simpson.

The thing that impressed me about Motown songwriters through my decades of listening to the music was their ability to tell complete stories and vignettes while conveying messages that elicited emotions in less than 4 minutes. Whether it was the poignant lyricism of The Miracles’ “Tears of a Clown or the Martha and the Vandellas clarion call for everyone to start “Dancing in the Street,” Motown had its finger on the pulse of “Young America.” The number of hit songs written and recorded by Motown songwriters and producers was so numerous (110 from 1961 to 1971); that they more than earned the moniker Hitsville USA.

Then there was the music. The music was an integral part of this potent musical alchemy. A group of musicians, appropriately named the Funk Brothers lay down the beat and rhythm for the Motown sound. Formed in 1959, these Detroit-based musicians played on the 100 plus United States R&B #1 singles and more than 50 of their number one hits on the pop charts. The Funk Brothers were virtually unknown outside the music world. Still, they received recognition when honored with a Grammy lifetime achievement award and inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum. For two decades, they were the musicians America moved and grooved to.

One can argue that as significant as Motown’s contributions were to the music world, they were exceptionally influential on our nation’s social and cultural fabric. The 1960s was one of the most tumultuous decades in our history.

Simultaneously the Civil Rights Movement, the Anti-War Movement, and what many would say was the first generation openly rejected the standards and mores of their parents, the counterculture. Motown’s music accomplished something that rarely happened in our society. America’s youth celebrated the melodic sounds and universal messages in their music. Motown influenced millions globally. The music spoke to young people. It spoke to their loves, heartbreaks, joy, disappointments, and most importantly, planted the seeds for shared experiences and our shared humanity. Primarily from within our silos. As phenomenal as The Beatles were during this period. They did not have the same impact or effect. Motown was instrumental in the desegregation of music appreciation in our nation.

The music of Motown could make us move on the dance floor and reach our souls, But they were also incredibly successful in making us think. Addressing social problems and social change became a significant part and component of Motown’s product. Most notable was their release of a song entitled does your Mama know about me in 1968, written and performed by Bobby Taylor and the Vancouvers. It was a song about a young Black man dating a young White woman. Trivia note: Tommy Chong of Cheech and Chong fame co-wrote this song and played guitar on it.

Motown artists and songwriters began demanding more freedom to express themselves in their music, which Berry Gordy Jr. wasn’t enthusiastic about but would later admit that he was wrong. In 1969 the Temptations opened with a song entitled Ball of Confusion. This song was about the chaotic nature of the world and how many people were ignoring these issues. They followed Ball of Confusion with Cloud Nine, and Psychedelic Shack addressed drug addiction and its causes. Later that year, Edwin Starr wrote and sang war which became a universal anti-war anthem Protesting the Vietnam War. The musical genius Stevie Wonder later released “Living For the City,” which addressed systemic racism.

In 1971 Marvin Gaye and Motown released what still is one of the most iconic music albums in my lifetime. It’s been my favorite album for decades and over this. My admiration for this work of art has only deepened. Marvin Gaye had to fight for the artistic freedom to produce this album, but the musicianship, messaging, and relevance made it successful on its release. It was one of the first albums of its type in the music industry.

It was a musical epic poem about the significant issues and problems confronting us, some of which have only worsened: War, poverty, the environment, police brutality, drug addiction, and religion. One of the most touching numbers is, “What’s Happening, Brother?” It’s a song inspired by his brother’s experience as a Vietnam War veteran returning home to a country in turmoil. Gaye navigates seamlessly from one issue to the next, challenging your consciousness while being pleasing to the ear. It still is my favorite album of all time.

In Brazil, where I have spent approximately a decade, I have found that Brazilians have several cultural traditions that they celebrate nationally, and by nationally, I mean almost everyone. Off the top of my head, there are Futebol (soccer), Carnaval, Churrasco (BBQ), and Feijoada (a black bean stew with numerous fixings). Maybe someone can help me, but I struggle to find comparable traditions in the United States. Fourth of July, Super Bowl Sunday, perhaps? One thing is pretty sure; there was a time when the music from Motown was one of those traditions.

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