Stevie Wonder is an American R&B musician, vocalist, songwriter, and producer who began recording for Tamla/Motown in 1962 at age 12. He catapulted to fame with “Fingerprints Pt 2,” an exuberant chant followed by an upbeat run of mid-Sixties hits: “Uptight (Everything’s Alright),” “I Was Made to Love Her,” “For Once In My Life,” and […]
The Jackson 5 was an American soul-pop group composed of brothers Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon, and Michael Jackson. They formed in 1964, aged between 6 and 13. After multiple talent wins and a local single, they signed to Motown in 1969 and cut ten albums through 1975. Their hits include “I Want You Back,” “ABC,” […]
Marvin Gaye (April 2, 1939 — April 1, 1984) was an American R&B vocalist, songwriter, and producer from Washington, D.C., who was musically active for a quarter-century, achieving worldwide renown as one of Tamla/Motown’s leading performers. Gaye rose to fame with a string of duets, first with Kim Weston and then with Tammi Terrell, his […]
The Miracles were an American soul group from Detroit, best known for the Motown hits “Shop Around,” “You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me,” “Going to a Go-Go,” “I Second That Emotion,” “Tracks of My Tears,” “Ooh Baby Baby,” and “Tears of a Clown.” During their 1960s heyday, Tamla billed them as Smokey Robinson & […]
The Supremes were an American soul-pop trio from Detroit, formed in 1961. Their classic lineup featured singers Mary Wilson, Florence Ballard, and frontwoman Diana Ross, who all grew up on the city’s east side. Signed to Motown, The Supremes were part of that label’s classic roster of chart-topping sixties artists, along with the Four Tops, […]
The Temptations were an American soul group from Detroit, formed in 1961. They first charted in 1964 with “The Way You Do the Things You Do,” sung by tenor Eddie Kendricks. With baritone David Ruffin at the fore, they hit number-one with the evergreen ballad “My Girl,” co-written and produced by Smokey Robinson, who also […]
The Four Tops were an American soul group from Detroit, best known for the 1960s Motown hits “Baby, I Need Your Loving,” “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch),” “It’s the Same Old Song,” “Reach Out,” “Standing In the Shadows of Love,” and “Bernadette.” After fourteen Motown studio albums (including three with The Supremes), […]
Rick James (February 1, 1948 — August 6, 2004) was an American soul-funk singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer. James debuted with the 1978 Gordy release Come Get It!, which spawned the No. 1 R&B single “You and I” and its No. 3 followup “Mary Jane.” Bustin’ Out of L Seven and Fire It Up followed […]
Martha and the Vandellas were an American soul-pop trio from Detroit, signed to the Gordy division of Motown. Between 1963 and 1972, they released eight proper albums and numerous singles, scoring hits with “Heat Wave,” “Jimmy Mack,” “Nowhere to Run,” and the much-covered AM evergreen “Dancing In the Street.” Members: Martha Reeves (lead vocals), Rosalind […]
Syreeta Wright (1946–2004) was an American R&B singer who began as a backing vocalist at Motown, where she met and married Stevie Wonder. They co-wrote his 1970 hit “Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours)” and his 1971 album Where I’m Coming From. He produced her 1972–74 Motown/MoWest albums Syreeta and Stevie Wonder Presents: Syreeta. Between 1977 […]
The Commodores were an American soul-funk band from Tuskegee that released eleven studio albums (1974–1985) on Motown. Musically, the Commodores evolved from the hard funk of their early R&B singles “Machine Gun,” “Slippery When Wet,” and “Brick House,” to the ballads of keyboardist/singer Lionel Richie, who wrote their Billboard Top 5 hits “Sweet Love,” “Easy,” […]
Gladys Knight & the Pips was an American soul group from Atlanta, formed in 1952 and active until 1989. They cut ten singles between 1961 and 1965 on the Fury and Maxx labels and scored and early hit with “Every Beat of My Heart.” In 1966, they signed with Motown and made eight albums through […]
Edwin Starr (Jan. 21, 1942 — April 2, 2003) was an American soul singer from Nashville who released a string of 1965–67 singles on Detroit soul-press Ric-Tic Records. After Motown’s purchase of that label, he issued four proper albums and assorted singles on Tamla and Gordy, hitting big with the 1970 anti-war shouter “War.” Background […]
The Dynamic Superiors were an American soul group from Washington, D.C., that released four albums on Tamla/Motown between 1975 and 1977. Members: George Spann (first tenor vocals), Tony Washington (lead vocals, 1963-80), Maurice Washington (bass vocals, 1963-80), George Wesley Peterback, Jr. (second tenor vocals, 1963-80), Michael McCalpin (baritone vocals, 1963-80) Background The Dynamic Superiors formed […]
Mary Wells (May 13, 1943 — July 26, 1992) was an American soul singer who was part of the original Motown roster along with The Supremes, Martha & the Vandellas, the Four Tops, and The Temptations. She scored one of the biggest hits of 1964 with “My Guy,” written by Smokey Robinson of The Miracles. […]
