In honor of black history month, join this free virtual talk on Zoom to hear Rick Feingold talk about the History of Motown and its hallmark role in the racial integration of American pop music.
Rick will tell the story of how Berry Gordy and his colleagues wrote the enduring and chart-topping song Lonely Teardrops for Jackie Wilson, a pop singer in the late 50’s and 60’s. But, back in the ’50’s, they barely made any money using the established record labels. In starting his own label, Motown Records, Berry Gordy and the black singers that Motown represented were able to control the profits made from record sales. Motown would launch the careers of Diana Ross & the Supremes, Smokey Robinson, The Temptations, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, The Four Tops, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder and The Jackson Five and change the nature of American music from then on. The program includes classic video of the early years of Motown music. Many of us grew up singing the music of Motown and can still remember the words to many of those beautiful and spirited songs!
Register here for the Zoom link.
