Motown: The Sound of Young America is the official, definitive, beautifully produced visual history of Motown, the most successful independent record company in the world
The official visual history of Motown, the legendary record label that brought us some of the greatest recording artists of all time―from Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross and Smokey Robinson to Marvin Gaye and The Jackson 5―and changed music forever.
The music of Motown defined an era. From The Jackson 5 and Diana Ross to Stevie Wonder and Smokey Robinson, Berry Gordy and his right-hand man, Barney Ales, built the most successful independent record label in the world. Motown not only represented the most iconic recording artists of its time and produced countless global hits, it created a cultural institution that redefined pop, and gave us the vision of a new America: vibrant, innovative, and racially equal.
In this first official visual history of the label, new research, a dazzling array of images, and unprecedented access to the archives of the makers and stars of Motown lend new insight to the legend. In addition to extensive specially commissioned photography of treasures extracted from the Motown archives, as well as the personal collections of Barney Ales and Motown stars, Motown: The Sound of Young America draws on interviews with key players from the label’s colorful history, including Motown founder Berry Gordy, Barney Ales, Smokey Robinson, Mary Wilson, founding member of the Supremes, and many more. 1000+ illustrations
Motown
Motown became a prolific and hugely successful production line of suave, sassy and sophisticated music through the 60s, 70s and 80s. This exceptional book features extensive specially commissioned photography of treasures gathered from the archives. It also captures the graphic and design iconography that underpinned Motown’s extraordinary creativity.
Packed with fresh insights gleaned from scores of interviews with key players, this revealing book delves into the workings of the Motown machine and details how a dedicated team of backroom believers, white and black, turned a small family business into a popular music powerhouse. This was the home of Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, Diana Ross & the Supremes, Marvin Gaye, The Jackson 5, The Temptations and many more.
Motown: The Sound of Young America is a spectacular labour of love befitting an incredible story.
Adam White has written about music and the music industry for more than 40 years, and was vice-president of communications at Universal Music Group International from 2002 to 2012. Barney Ales was Berry Gordy’s indispensable right-hand man and Motown’s ultimate insider. He was Motown’s president from 1975 to 1978. Andrew Loog Oldham, the Rolling Stones’ former manager, worked as a producer for Motown’s.