Birthplace of the Motown sound that completely rewrote the definition of how America heard soul music throughout the 1960s, the Motown label remains the only record company to also be known as a specific sub-genre of music. Through the early '60s, soul (and its immediate forefather, R&B) had been music primarily made by blacks for blacks, but Berry Gordy, Jr.'s Detroit-based Motown label soon realized its lofty ambition--advertised right in its own slogan--to become "the sound of young America." Yet Gordy didn't want his label's music fenced in by any demographic barriers; he wanted everyone to buy Motown records. And they did, in staggering numbers--singles and albums from the silky, girl-trio vocals of the Supremes (whose popularity for a time rivaled that of the mighty Beatles) and Martha & the Vandellas flew off the shelves, as did hit after hit by the Four Tops, child wunderkind (Little) Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson & the Miracles, and the "Prince of Motown," Marvin Gaye. All in all, the label produced well over one hundred top ten hits between 1961 and 1971. Gordy and his virtual assembly line of songwriters, producers, backing musicians, and vocalists created the company's signature sound by placing strong emphasis on melody and succinct song arrangements; indeed, Motown's joyous chords, prominent tambourines, driving bass lines, echo-heavy drums, and soaring strings were a brilliant synthesis of pop craftsmanship and soul potency. However, as Motown's everything's-happy aesthetic grew increasingly out of step with the turbulence of the late '60s, the sound ran its course even as the company enjoyed continued success with the cheeky pop soul of the Jackson 5, Edwin Starr's stormy protest single "War," and most remarkably, the reinvented (and now self-produced) sound and artistic vision of Motown veterans Gaye, Wonder, and the Temptations.

Notable Artists: The Supremes; Marvin Gaye; Smokey Robinson & the Miracles, the Jackson 5