Motown was a house built on the labor of Women. Particularly Black Women There’s no way to really debate this. It started with the labor of understanding music, publicity, marketing and legal concerns Berry Gordy picked up from his sisters, Anna, Gwen, Esther and Loucye. It continued with the financial success that women like Mary…
Tag: The Lewis Sisters
Forgotten Pearls, Unpanned Gold: Even More Motown Lady Tunes
They say Atlantic Records was The House That Ruth (Brown) Built. We never ever really give credit to the women who built an empire for Berry Gordy in the conjoined houses at 2648 West Grand Boulevard in Detroit. He Started with the business savvy of his sisters Anna, Gwen, Loucye and Esther. Early signings like Claudette…
Unpolished Diamonds, Unused Jewels: More Motown Femme Marvels 1964-69
As we wind down Women’s History Month we head back to Detroit. While we worship at the temples of Marvin, Stevie and The Temptations, The Sound Of Young America was built on the clicking of high heels. Not only was it the matriarchy of The Gordy Family that had Berry’s Back, early acts such as Mable John…
California Soul: Golden State Gems From L.A to The Bay 1963-1970
When it comes to classic soul music, California as a whole (and perhaps the whole West Coast) doesn’t get as much respect compared to New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Detroit, Memphis or New Orleans. Granted the northern cities on that list took on the largest percentage of The Great Migration, therefore, there was a longer term established…
Step Out From ’66 – Step Out Front in ’16. Your New Year’s Playlist
If you know anything about my vintage pop culture junkie ways is that I do ridiculous tie-ins to the eras I’m interested in. As we creeped into 2016, which makes 1966 50 years ago, I thought of an Oldsmobile slogan from that year as I started to craft the first mix I’ll be creating in…