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Motown Research Papers

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Working Title Berry Gordy, the founder of Motown, had a vision for his company. “Motown was about music for all people - white and black, blue and green, cops and the robbers. I was reluctant to have our music alienate anyone.” Motown was used to bring people together no matter their background or race. It joined us together as a nation in a way. It was an outstanding company, and no one could compare. Motown was the most successful African-American-based music label in America during the 1960s because they built a family-type factory, they had produced the most successful music, and they contracted some of the most favoured musicians/artists, including the Temptations. Motown was an extremely functional enterprise that made sure their music …show more content…

In the midst of the civil rights movement, motown music brought people together in spite of the racial issues going on at the time (The Sound That Changed America). Motown gave way for social and racial equality in music and, as Craig Werner said, “Motown is the foundation of rock and roll, even more than the Beatles and Elvis” (Provenzano, The magic of Motown). Motown had a large part in the civil right movement by desegregating music and demonstrating how obtainable dreams are no matter the color of your skin, while proving to the skeptics and cynics that anyone can make music. In addition, from Berry Gordy’s experience at Lincoln-Mercury, he set up a system at Motown called Quality Control, in order to ensure only top product would be released (The Sound That Changed America). In 1968, Motown had five records out of the Top 10 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart and accomplished another unprecedented feat by seizing the top three spots for a full month (The Sound That Changed America). Gordy, again, taking ideas and methods from his days at Lincoln-Mercury, worked extra hard to make sure that only top-notch content got out, which helped them take the top of the charts. For the most part, Motown and its music were a big influence on the 60s and the civil rights

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