Ann Delisi: Celebrating 65 years of Motown Records

Sixty-five years ago, on Jan. 12, 1959, Motown Records was born.

No one could have predicted the parade of supremely talented artists who would walk through its doors or how the music created in that humble space would influence the course of music history — not just in this country but around the world.

Before creating Motown Records (originally Tamla Records), its founder Berry Gordy served in the military, worked on the auto assembly line, spent time as a boxer and wrote hit songs for Jackie Wilson, including “Reet Petite” and “Lonely Teardrops.” Gordy had an entrepreneurial spirit, was a gifted songwriter and had the unique ability to recognize talent when he heard it.

In an interview for Oprah’s Masterclass on the OWN Network, Gordy recalled his inspiration behind the label that has since become a cultural institution.

“I really wanted to open up my own record company; I wanted to do something. I had all these hits from Jackie Wilson. And they said ‘yes, but what do you got to show for it?’ I said, ‘That’s the point!'”

Listen: Berry Gordy on the creation of Motown Records; WDET’s Ann Delisi talks with Motown legends to commemorate the label’s history

Gordy said he asked his family for $1,000 to pursue his dream, and got $800 instead, which he used to go in to business for himself.

“I found a place on West Grand Boulevard that was a photo studio with big windows in the front, which I loved,” he said. “The garage I made into a recording studio we called Studio A. Hitsville USA was a place where hits were going to be made, only hits — no flops — my job was to get the hits, and so we tried to create that assembly line approach.”

Use the media player above to hear the full Berry Gordy interview, in addition to interviews WDET’s Ann Delisi conducted with Barrett Strong, Smokey Robinson, Dennis Coffey and others to commemorate the history of the renowned label.