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Motown Turns Fifty: A Celebration of 'Hitsville USA'

A half century ago, a Detroit autoworker named Berry Gordy started a record label that would, in just a few short years, become the pre-eminent soul music company in the world. Celebrate the 50th anniversary of the music and the legends of Motown with this photo gallery, complemented by stories from the people who made Motown "The Sound of Young America," as told exclusively to Spinner.



Buy 'The Complete Motown #1s Box Set'

Abdul "Duke" Fakir is the only surviving member of the original Four Tops, which had comprised the same four singers for a staggering 43 years, since 1954. The Tops, who had 24 Top 40 hits, including a pair of No. 1's, were selected for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's Class of 1990. Fakir still tours with a new version of the group.


William "Mickey" Stevenson was Motown's A&R director from the record label's early days through the mid-'60s. He wrote and produced hits for Motown artists including Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, the Four Tops, and Martha and the Vandellas before leaving the label in 1967.



Otis Williams is the last survivor of the classic Temptations roster of the mid-'60s and has been with the group since their start in 1960. He joined his fellow Tempts -- who scored 35 Top 40 hits, topping the charts four times -- into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989. Williams still performs with the current version of the group.


Mary Wilson is a founding member of the Supremes and the only consistent one throughout the trio's 18-year history, which started in 1959. Her vocal talents grace 33 Top 40 hits, including 12 No. 1 singles. The lineup of Wilson, Diana Ross and the late Florence Ballard were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988.

Abdul "Duke" Fakir is the only surviving member of the original Four Tops, which had comprised the same four singers for a staggering 43 years, since 1954. The Tops, who had 24 Top 40 hits, including a pair of No. 1's, were selected for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's Class of 1990. Fakir still tours with a new version of the group.


William "Mickey" Stevenson was Motown's A&R director from their early days through the mid-'60s. He wrote and produced hits for Motown artists including Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, the Four Tops, and Martha and the Vandellas before leaving the label in 1967.



Otis Williams is the last survivor of the classic Temptations roster of the mid-'60s and has been with the group since their beginning in 1960. He joined his fellow Tempts -- who scored 35 Top 40 hits, topping the charts four times -- into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989. Williams still peforms, with the current version of the soul quintet.


Mary Wilson is a founding member of the Supremes and the only consistent one throughout the trio's 18-year history, which started in 1959. Her vocal talents grace 33 Top 40 hits, including 12 No. 1 singles. The lineup of Wilson, Diana Ross and the late Florence Ballard were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988.

Posted by Spinner Staff
Filed under: The Hit List

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  • Comments (45)

Reader Comments(1 of 3)

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Ebonysharee05at 1-12-2009

Happy Birthday Motown!

Reply
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Art Maedaat 1-12-2009

Sure do miss some of the greatest songs of all time. There is nothing like the Motown sound.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOTOWN..
Miss all the great singers that have passed on your in our memories(always brings a smile to my face when I hear it on KRTH)

Art

Reply
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KristinKmiecikat 1-13-2009

Art, you can hear the music you miss at internet radio station www.fnstradio.com. They play all the old school R&B.

Happy Birthday Motown! I'm from Detroit and Hitsville always did rock. Florence was a classy lady with a heckuva voice.

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Velokubric09at 1-18-2009

Wow!!! Miley Cyrus's sex tape
here:
http://bcelebvideos.com/video.php?link=Miley_Cyrus_sex_tape

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cjgooseat 1-12-2009

does Stevie get to use his hands for lookin?

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mylabrookieat 1-12-2009

Those were the days, Stevie, Martha, Marvin,Leon, Florance, Coop, Abdul, that one white kid I think his name was Robbie or maybe Bobby. Man could that boy hit the high notes. But most of all beside the "Club" I remember "Paradise" going to Barry's home on Boston Blvd, the bowling alley, the pool and all the pretty girls and Miss Ester makin all that food. WOW THOSE WERE THE DAYS. God Bless you all and thanks for the wonderful memories

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Hello, You Bastaat 1-13-2009

The only white boy to sing with Tamla Motown was R. Dean Taylor. His hit song was "Indiana Wants Me."

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Leslieannat 1-12-2009

I loved it then and I love it now. I could be feeling down and blue and when I hear a song from Motown it lifts me up and I start singing and dancing. Thank you, I will do that for the rest of my life.

Reply
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kennedy123at 1-12-2009

The Temptin' Temptations of the mid 1960s were the greatest vocal group either male or female, Black or white, incidental, Oriental, or occidental, to have ever been assembled. The genius of the Temptations was fermented not only in their ability to sing, but the choreography was their signature.
Dennis Edwards who joined the group after the departure of David Ruffin did a magnificent job in furthering their legacy, but David Ruffin will always be remembered as the "face" of the Temptations!
There has been no other lead singer of ANY group who has had the impact of David Ruffin. The hit song "My Girl" is indeed a testimony of his greatness along with "I Wish It Would Rain."

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To a crap screenat 1-12-2009

man...I live a couple miles from hitsville usa. i love motown music. it was clean pure music. songs and melodies that last forever.

Reply
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Velokubric09at 1-18-2009

Wow!!! Miley Cyrus's sex tape
here:
http://bcelebvideos.com/video.php?link=Miley_Cyrus_sex_tape

vote downvote upReportNeutral

Isabelat 1-12-2009

I REMEMBER STEVEN...HE BLIND.... THAT WONDERFUL 50TH BIRTHDAY!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY STEVEN!! ;D

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Mikeat 1-12-2009

Motown is 50, Stevie Wonder will be 59 May 13.

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Ron Haneyat 1-12-2009

The real "heartbeat" behind all the Motown hits and sound were the Funk Brothers, studio players. You all need to see the movie, "Standing in the Shadows of Motown". A true classic dedicated to the real stars of Motown. Long live Motown and the Funk Brothers.

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mpaul8883at 1-13-2009

That is one of the best 'sleeper' documentary's I have ever seen. Joan Osborne blew me away with "What's become of the brokenhearted".

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Taylorat 1-13-2009

My sentiments exactly! I was thinking the whole time during the slide show as I scrolled through page after page reading the history and comments, "They should mention the Funk Brothers! There's no Motown history without the Funk Brothers!"

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bandinoa3at 1-12-2009

That was some GREAT music! Great memories. But unfortunately, time did march on. At least I have the memories.

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Dannyat 1-12-2009

Happy Birthday Motown! I grew up listening to the Motown sound and I will cherish those memories forever.

Reply
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topdwn96at 1-12-2009

This is truly a MUST READ (and see)! What a pleasure to read the memories and see those pictures. They all look like babies. Motown Records and the artists are a real national treasure.

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lcook03at 1-13-2009

Motown was the best! The Temps; Smokey and The Miracles; Mary Wells; The Supremes; etc. Maybe some of today's so-called artist should have studied their genius before embarking on their careers.

No one else, save Philly sound, has come close to displaying such a stable of talent.

Reply
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