What was Motown originally called?
Motown, in full Motown Record Corporation, also called Hitsville, recording company founded by Berry Gordy, Jr., in Detroit, Michigan, U.S., in January 1959 that became one of the most successful Black-owned businesses and one of the most influential independent record companies in American history.
Who were the three original Supremes?
The Supremes
- The Supremes were an American female singing group and a premier act of Motown Records during the 1960s.
- Florence Ballard, Mary Wilson, Diana Ross, and Betty McGlown, the original group, were all from the Brewster-Douglass public housing project in Detroit.
Who were the original Supremes?
Diana RossVocalsMary WilsonVocalsFlorence BallardVocalsCindy BirdsongVocalsJean TerrellVocalsBetty McGlownVocals
The Supremes/Members
What kind of music is the Supremes?
Singing a range of musical styles from doo-wop, pop, and soul, to Broadway show tunes, psychedelic soul, and disco, the Supremes achieved mainstream success during the mid-1960s. A large part of their success was due to Motown’s legendary songwriting team of Holland-Dozier-Holland.
Who did the original version of I Heard It Through the Grapevine?
“I Heard It Through the Grapevine” was originally written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong for Motown Records in 1966, and made famous by Marvin Gaye in a single released in October 1968.
What is Motown short for?
First recorded in 1965–70; from Motown, proprietary name for records released by the Motown Record Corporation of Detroit, Michigan, shortened from Motor Town, in reference to Detroit’s major role as a motor vehicle producer.
What was the very first Motown song?
“Come to Me” by American singer Marv Johnson was the first ever single to be released by the Tamla Records label which would eventually become known as Motown. Johnson was discovered by Berry Gordy while Johnson performed at a carnival.
How many original Supremes were there?
It details the eight ladies who recorded and performed in the legendary group from 1962-1977. No other individuals can truthfully claim to be a member of The legendary Motown recording trio, THE SUPREMES.
Who is Effie supposed to be in Dreamgirls?
As much as Deena Jones, Beyoncé Knowles’ character in “Dreamgirls,” was modeled on Diana Ross, the film’s main character, Effie White, was based on Etta James, according to composer Henry Krieger. Similarities to Aretha Franklin, however, are also hardly coincidental.
How many #1 hits did Motown produce?
Motown 1s is a collection of 25 #1 songs originally released by Motown Records, plus a newly recorded bonus track, “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” performed by Michael McDonald.
…
Motown 1’s.
| Motown 1s | |
|---|---|
| Genre | R&B |
| Label | Motown/UTV |
What artists are signed to Motown Records?
Marvin GayeBerry GordyThe TemptationsThe SupremesDiana RossSmokey Robinson
Motown/Artists
Where did the term Heard It Through the Grapevine come from?
People thought the wires and poles looked like the strings used to train vines so the telegraph lines became known as ‘the grapevine’. During the American Civil War rumours were often spread via the telegraph lines.
What does hearing through the grapevine mean?
to hear news from someone who heard the news from someone else: I heard through the grapevine that he was leaving – is it true? SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases. Gossip and rumor.
Does Motown still exist?
Motown, as we’ve come to know it, does not exist anymore. It appears to not be a label, but more of a “label group,” now paired with Universal.
What is the number one Motown song of all time?
1. The Temptations – ‘My Girl’ The Temptations were a popular act before they released “My Girl,” but that song forever changed the vocal group. The Smokey Robinson-penned song was their first to cross over into the Top 10 on the Hot 100, ultimately reaching Number One.
What is Motown a nickname for?
Detroit
It was founded by Berry Gordy Jr. as Tamla Records on January 12, 1959, and incorporated as Motown Record Corporation on April 14, 1960. Its name, a portmanteau of motor and town, has become a nickname for Detroit, where the label was originally headquartered.
Is Diana Ross rich?
According to The Richest, Diana Ross has an estimated net worth of $250 million (£192 million).
Who replaced Effie?
As the lead singer for the Dreams, Effie is replaced by the thinner, prettier Deena, who bears a close resemblance to Diana Ross in clothes, makeup and accessories. What really happened? Mary Wilson, one of the other original Supremes, grew up in the Detroit projects with Diana Ross and Florence Ballard.
Are Beyoncé and Jennifer Hudson friends?
I love her. We’ve always been good.” Three years later, the “Spotlight” singer reiterated that she and Beyoncé maintained a close friendship throughout the years. Hudson even admitted to attending the singer’s Formation World Tour, where she got some love from her co-star during a performance of “Survivor.”
What was Motown’s biggest hit ever?
Marvin Gaye – ‘Let’s Get It On’
Gaye and Townsend later collaborated on new lyrics, and Gaye transformed the song into an emotional tune about love and sex. The song became the biggest selling Motown hit in the US at the time, selling over two-million copies within the first six weeks.
Who is the biggest selling Motown artist of all time?
In honor of Black History Month, here are the ten biggest artists to record at Motown Records. Called the “the No. 1 purveyor of soul music,” Marvin Gaye is one of the most influential artists to ever record for Motown Records.
Who was Motown’s biggest star?
Michael Jackson
Still, Motown was Jackson’s launchpad to success and the label’s biggest star.
Who was the biggest act for Motown?
Diana Ross and The Supremes were the most successful group or artist in Motown’s history by at least one measure — their 12 Billboard No. 1 singles. The trio’s run of hits started with 1964’s “Where Did Our Love Go” and stretched into the early 1970s.
What does grapevine mean in slang?
gossip
: an informal person-to-person means of circulating information or gossip.