The Dells were one of the finest and longest-lived R&B vocal groups in history, and what's most amazing is that they did it with staying together as a group. They were one of the very few groups to successfully update their sound, finding their strongest commercial niche in the late '60s and '70s as a polished smooth soul harmony group. While their chart fortunes certainly raised over the years, they remained a viable act right up into the '90s, by which time, they had long achieved legendary status in the R&B community. The Dells were formed in 1953 in southern suburbs of Chicago, specifically the town of Harvey, Illinois, where all the members attended the same high school together.
The company wasn't as successful in the 70's but they still did good. They had major artists such as The Jackson 5, Rick James, Lionel Richie, and Marvin Gaye. Things started to go astray when Gordy decided to go into filmmaking with the popular movie "Lady Sings the Blues" starring Diana Ross. In 1988, Gordy decided to sell Motown to MCA for $61 million dollars. Artists had left the record and music tastes had changed, so Berry felt this to be the only way Motown would survive.
Many adjectives have been thrown around when trying to describe a figure that’s been so influential, often imitated, and never successfully duplicated; monumental, a trail blazer, an original diva. Diana Ross epitomizes a successful black icon by evolving into a solo artist, actress, model, and style icon while coming from humble beginnings and prospering in the post-civil rights era. Not only did she tread untouched waters musically, but fashion wise she wore the best of designers like Bob Mackie and whatever she designs for hereself. It can be argued that she didn’t develop her signature looks until after she left The Supremes, due to lack of attention, ego clashes, and monetary restrictions. The key looks that make her so iconic are sensual, glitzy, and royal; unprecedented looks for a black woman at that time.
Gordy’s main ambition was to produce the ‘Sound of Young America’, no matter what colour. The label’s releases gained popularity among both white and black Americans alike. From the song R.E.S.P.E.C.T by Aretha Franklin, it was a Civil Rights demand. Motown helped bridge a racial divide. African Americans wanted respect so they sang about it.
Motown is an American record company. It was founded by Berry Gordy, Jr. on January 12, 1959, in Detroit, Michigan, as Tamla Records. The company's record label "Motown" was formed i September 1959 and the company was incorporated as "Motown Record Corporation" in 1960. During the 1960s, Motown achieved spectacular success for a small record company: 79 records in the Top Ten of the Billboard Hot 100 record chart between 1960 and 1960.
Marian Smith Holmes said, “Motown combined elements of blues, gospel, swing, and pop with a thumping backbeat for a new dance music that was instantly recognizable” (Smithsonian.com). The creation of what would become known as the “Motown sound” led to a whole new style of music that could only truly be classified as the motown sound. This music was a mixture of a little bit of everything, so it gave everyone an excuse to listen to it. This style of music made a way for white people to better understand black culture and to be able to adjust to it. Due to this change in the knowledge that white people knew, it led to a way for them to socialize and accept black people easier.
Louis Jordan was born July 8, 1908 and Died February 4, 1975. Although his life ended in 1975, his memory and iconic way he played saxophone still lives on. Louis Jordan also played a major role in the foundation of R & B, but all icons have their challenges. When Jordan tried to leave the group, he was in and take one of the members with him, Ella Fitzgerald, he was fired. Then along came Louis Jordan’s new group The Tympany Four.
Motown records Overview of the company Motown records were founded on January 12, 1959 and soon became another factory of Detroit where automobiles was produced. Motown also tries to assemble down the soul and pop classic music that helps in changing America. Reaching to the height of the civil rights movement, Motown became the black owned, black centered that provide white Americans something which they were not able to get that is joyous, sad, romantic and mad grooving music. Motown records achieved its success in Detroit, Michigan and the company plays a very important role in racial integration of very popular music.
The creation of the emancipation proclamation and reconstruction period offered hope to those who were once slaves. Essentially, the end of this treatment led to the loss of a strong capital for plantation owners. Reconstruction became a mission for white southerners to redeem the south and the beginning of a new labor force (Jelks). Post emancipation gave ‘freed’ people false hope and made them fight with strength to make their imprint on the world. James Brown, the King of Soul, went through life experiencing criminalization, labor, self-help, religion, politics and fear similar to that of his ‘freed’ counterparts.
He made sure his artists always looked their best and talk very proper. He made sure that there was no way that people could dislike his artists. “Gordy’s main ambition was to produce the ‘Sound of Young America’, no matter what
Eddie Holland was a songwriter and producer, Lamont Dozier was a singer-songwriter and Brian Holland was a composer and producer. But during 1962 to 1967 Dozier and Brian were the composers and producers as Eddie was the one who wrote the lyrics and organized the vocals. This team were the ones that provided songs and produced for the mainstream of Motown’s hit singles and helped distinct the Motown sound. It initiated from gospel music with a somewhat pop, R&B and soul attraction, it was a unique melodic and chord configuration.
After reading Chapter 7 in the Understanding Society Through Popular Music and chapter 3 in the Popular Music and Society. Both chapters talk about gender, sexuality, pop, and politics. In chapter 7, Becoming a Prima Donna, it talks about what that meant, what it means today, and the identity or identities that come with that title. During the modern era the prima donna was the “first lady” of Italian opera, (she would be the leading female singer for an opera company). They say that prima donnas are affected by the “diva complex”.
Motown not only provides the black community of messages was also a vital source of hope and strength for the people as well. During the time of the 1960’s the music was necessary to be light hearted and entertaining because it was still a few years after the second World War, as explained in the Music Post World War II article. The reason to make the music light hearted and enjoyable is because of this there were many musicals and artists that tried to focus on happier messages in the world to get over the devastating war. But also in the time music like rhythm & blues, soul, and folk music was created by Motown and its talented artists. Each genre telling stories, most of the time containing the racial issues of the 1960’s, and giving hope and strength to the black American people that have to endure the cruelties of racism.
As an African, In spirit and in truth: the music of African American worship answered many questions I had concerning the value of music in African Traditional religions. Traditional music and dance are two of the most cherished elements of the Ghanaian culture, and it is refreshing to know that there is a deep significance behind the music, instruments, and rhythmic movements of African people. When a traveler spends a day in Ghana, he or she would experience a variety of avenues where music and dance dominate. At the market place, in schools, in restaurants, and during weddings, or naming ceremonies, people play music and dance their hearts out. Costen states that Africans express their life experiences through music and dance, and I can agree with the claim.
Rhythm and Blues has been very popular since it was first thought of, but the time where it bloomed was in the 1990’s and early 2000’s. From the difference varieties of R&B. known as Rhythm and Blues, the way technology break through are rapidly growing, different sub-genres of R&B becoming mainstream and even a growing listening audience. R&B went from underground and underestimated to becoming one of the top listened and bought genres of the 21st century, R&B has made multiple names for itself over the last two to three decades. The transformation of the 90’s and 2000’s R&B music has drastically changed over the last two decades. However, one thing is for certain, the future for R&B will always change, yet it’s roots and past will remain the same.
