D Town. The Motor City. Hockeytown. Rock City. Motown.
Ah, that Motown sound. The label that created that sound, and in 1975 was producing the most 45s, was headquartered in Detroit, Mich., and has been a museum for the past 30 years. Visitors can learn about the start of the label, its rise to success, how they got those rich vocals and see the studio where it all happened, plus a bonus of Michael Jackson’s famous fedora and sparkly glove.
The Founding of the Record Label
Motown Records started off as Tamla records in 1959, both words that founder Barry Gordy Jr. made up, the latter being inspired by the hit song “Tammy” and the former, and more famous, coming from a reworking of the Detroit nickname “Motor City.” Not long after the establishment of Motown Record, Gordy created a variety of labels underneath the umbrella of Motown to get around radio rules that prevented DJs from playing more than one song per label per hour.
The first hit record released by Motown was “Money (That’s What I Want)” by Barrett Strong, and the hits just piled up after that.
Barry Gordy and Motown’s High Standards
The artists, many of whom were high schoolers, were put through a very controlled polishing process. Called “quality control” by the label, they learned tight and easy choreography, how to carry themselves, wardrobe choices and vocal training.
Songs were recorded nearly around the clock and every Friday the recorded songs were put to the “sandwich test:” Gordy would ask those in attendance if they were down to their last dollar, would they spend it on the song or a sandwich. The performers would come to the studio, record several songs and then go out on the road with the Motown Revue.
The Growth of the Motown Label
As the label grew, Gordy, who had originally lived, worked and recorded in a house at 2648 West Grand Boulevard, bought the houses next door, on down the block until it was known as “The Empire on West Grand Boulevard.” In the late sixties, the operation moved to a location on Woodward in downtown Detroit, and five years later the label moved to Los Angeles.
Planning Your Visit to the Museum
There are a lot more stories and information about the rise of Motown and the impact it had on the recording industry, Americans both Black and white and Detroit that you can hear on the tour of Hitsville, U.S.A. and I highly recommend making a stop if you are in Detroit.
The museum is located at the original location of the label at 2648 West Grand Boulevard in Detroit, adult admission Tuesday through Thursday is $12, Friday through Sunday is $15; seniors admission is $10 and children are $8. Hours are Tuesday through Saturday (open on Sundays in July and August) 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. with the last tour starting at 5 p.m.
