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Otis Redding

Otis Redding. B. 9/9/41 D. 12/10/67 Often called the “King of Soul” Next to James Brown, was the most popular black entertainer of the mid ‘60s Influenced by Little Richard & Sam Cooke Member of Richard’s back-up band The Upsetters First hit was These Arms of Mine (#20 R&B, 1963)

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Otis Redding

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  1. Otis Redding • B. 9/9/41 D. 12/10/67 • Often called the “King of Soul” • Next to James Brown, was the most popular black entertainer of the mid ‘60s • Influenced by Little Richard & Sam Cooke • Member of Richard’s back-up band The Upsetters • First hit was These Arms of Mine (#20 R&B, 1963) • Wrote most of his own hits • Mr. Pitiful (#41, 1965), (Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay (#1, 1968), Respect (#21, 1965), I’ve Been Loving You Too Long (#21, 1965) • opened his own label, Jotis, before his death • 1967 - appearance at the Monterey Pop Festival introduces his music to white rock fans • 12/10/67 – died in a plane crash in Wisconsin • 1968 - (Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay is the 1st posthumous #1 single ever • 1989 – Inducted into RRHoF • 1999 – Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award

  2. Hitsville U.S.A. • Started as Tamala Records, funded by $700 loan from Barry Gordy’s father-in-law • Gordy had worked for Ford • Initially a record distributor • Late 1960 – Tamala released its first single “Shop Around” (#2, 1960) by Smokey Robinson & the Miracles • Motown Records began as a blue-trimmed white house in Detroit, MI • Recording studio was in what had been the living room • As society was moving more towards integration, the music industry was becoming more segregated

  3. Teen-idols, surfers, folkies, British bands were all white • Soul singers’ primary acceptance was in purely black markets • Gordy wanted to bring a style of “black” music to the forefront in both black and white markets • Finally Gordy found a successful formula and micro-managed every aspect of a performer w/ no variation • The “look” • Sound • Moves • Songwriting • Some performers/groups found this a bit constrictive • By the end of 1967, Motown records sold more albums than any other label

  4. Smokey Robinson • Motown’s 1st major success • Label’s 1st Top 5 hit • 1st 1,000,000 seller • Served as leader of The Miracles until 1972 • Over 4,000 songs to his writing credit • John Lennon, George Harrison & Bob Dylan all list him as an inspiration • A primary song writer for both the Temptations and Marvin Gaye • Served as vice-president of Motown 1970-1988 • 1987 – inducted into the RRHoF as a solo artist

  5. Marvin Gaye • B. 4/2/39 D. 4/1/84 • Started recording in 1958, signed w/ Motown in 1961 • From Washington DC, not Detroit like most Motown acts • Started as a drummer for the Miracles, Martha & the Vandellas and Stevie Wonder • June 1961 – released his first album (it sold poorly) • 1962 – first real hit Stubborn Kind of Fellow • Later claiming to be unenthusiastic about his early Motown work, still charted 39 Top 40 hits (1962-72)

  6. Gaye is one of the only Motown artists to gain total control of his music (Stevie Wonder is the other) • Due to personal issues (family, drugs, money, mental & physical health) his work greatly suffered near the end of his life • Shot to death by his father after an argument in 1984 • Nominated for 8 Grammys before finally winning one 1983 • Some of the most memorable pop songs of the 60s, 70s, & 80s • 1987 - Inducted into the RRHoF

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