We Salute Berry Gordy & Smokey Robinson, Music Pioneers by Linda Ware
Special Section-Black Music
R Records, along with many of its subsidiaries. o The Black Business Association A (BBA) rrecognized Berry Gordy in 1993 with a Lifetime Achievement A Award presented at the 7th p Annual Black Business A Day Luncheon in August D of 1993 during a special o gala luncheon built around g essential theme, tthe ““Entertainment Is Business”. This month of June of 2012, T tthe BBA takes a moment to once again salute Berry Gordy for his pioneering G sspirit as a true visionaryy in creating the “Motown Sound”. S
Berry Gordy
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rom its inception in the late 1950’s, Motown Records established itself as the groundbreaking label of the most prolific artists to grace the airwaves of radio stations nationwide. Motown is given the prestige of being recognized as the source of creating the birth of American Pop Music fused with rhythm and blues. Founded by music mogul, Berry Gordy, the label produced some of the most legendary artists of all time from the Supremes, the Temptations, the Four Tops, the Jackson 5, Marvin Gaye, and Stevie Wonder all of whom toured the world producing timeless hits that continue to live on in today’s market. “Stop In The Name Of Love” (Supremes), “ABC” (The Jackson 5), “What’s Going On” (Marvin Gaye), these are just a few of the hits of one of the most progressive labels in the history of the music industry, Motown
William “Smokey” Robinson
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he legendary Bob Dylan once stated that one man in particular is by far the greatest living poet on the planet. Dylan was referring to Grammy Award Winning Singer/ Songwriter, William “Smokey” Robinson. “Tears of A Clown”, “I Second That Emotion”, “Going to a Go Go”, “My Guy” (Mary Wells, Motown’s first million seller) all represent some of his timeless top charting hits of Smokey’s genius as a songwriter. Smokey broke through his first hit record after uniting with the legendary, Berry Gordy, at the inception of the start up of Motown Records. Both men didn’t realize at the time that they both were about to make music history bringing more hit songs to the radio airwaves than the world could imagine. Smokey recorded an original tune with the Miracles entitled, “Shop
Around”, a song that broke through the U.S. charts as his first top charting pop single and subsequently became an international hit record. After a series of multiple back to back original top charting tunes that he himself penned, Smokey became one of the most sought after songwriters at Motown
Records. In June of 2009, the Black Business Association (BBA) celebrated African American Music Appreciation Month with a special recognition and celebration of the outstanding achievements of Smokey Robinson as an Iconic Songwriter and Entertainer whose songs have spanned decades and generations. The BBA honored William “Smokey” Robinson as a living legend and musical icon at the 35th Annual BBA Awards Gala in Los Angeles. The Black Business News now takes a moment during the month of June 2012 to recognize Smokey as a truly gifted singer, songwriter, and entertainer whose gifts have proven to be not only timeless but universal in terms of his global fan base and worldwide recognition spanning all generations and cultures. Smokey, we salute you for all that you do. Your voice and your gifts in musical songwriting are treasures for the world to behold and to cherish. Thank you for the hit songs about life and love and we look forward to your next hit.
18 June 2012 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net