Black History Month- Cultural Icons

Black History Month- Cultural Icons

I want give a different view or look to the traditional Black History figures Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks and Malcolm X etc:

The people I want to introduce are big in the idea and dream they had. Rather we look at them or not they were forerunners in their day, but more than that they changed the way we lived not just as Blacks in America but all people in America and around the world.

The first person I want to introduce is a Detroit native like myself, Barry Gordy!

Barry Gordy is the founder of Motown Records! He is personally responsible for the change from blues music to rhythm and blues {R&B}. He also understood the importance of music and cars from his experience of living in Detroit.

Driving and music was a new thing in the 50s, the culture was changing with the invention of the drive- thru people were spending a lot more time in their cars. Berry Gordy seen this as a opening and new market and took full advantage of the opportunity.

Not only did he take advantage of a new market but he introduce America to Black singers? For the first time in America culture Blacks did not have to cross- over {sell-out} to sell records, millions of Whites and Europeans bought Motown records!

*Tip
In the music industry in the 1960s there was a lot of record artist and groups that came from Britain to America! This is known as the British invasion. But what influence the British artist the most was the Motown sound {Black music}.

Berry Gordy is best known for his talent line up of singers that give him and Motown 25 years of continual hit records! Such groups as the Temptations, Supremes, Four Tops and the Jackson 5 etc!

                                                                Berry Gordy Bio

Berry is 83 years old and lives in California? He is the 7th child out of eight in his family. Berry Gordy is a distant relative of ex- President Jimmy Carter. Berry is a veteran and severed in the Koren War. After return from war he worked at Ford Motor company. He also sing and wrote songs as a hobby. He eventual meet Jackie Wilson through a mutual friend and began writing songs for him. Berry and his sister co- wrote many songs for various artist including Etta James at Chess Records.

Berry Gordy has 8 children, one by Diana Ross {daughter Rhonda}. He has been married 3 times. His publishing company is named after is 3 oldest children.

Berry Gordy change the music and the industry to what we know it is today! All the Black record label owners all took notes from Berry Gordy's Motown records! Berry also produce movies.

Thank you, Berry Gordy