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Berry Gordy, Jr.

Founder of Motown Records

  Categories:
Activism, Black History, Business, Business Growth, Consulting, Diversity Speakers, Music, Small Business, Speakers by Industry
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Berry Gordy, Jr. Biography

Berry Gordy, Jr., American businessman, founder of the Motown Record Corporation, which became the most successful black-owned music company in the United States. Through Motown, he developed the majority of the great rhythm-and-blues (R&B) performers of the 1960s and ’70s, including Diana Ross and the Supremes, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, the Marvelettes, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, the Temptations, and Michael Jackson and the Jackson Five. Gordy was said to have masterminded the popular “Motown sound,” a ballad-based blend of traditional black harmony and gospel music with the lively beat of R&B.

Gordy dropped out of Northeastern High School in Detroit, Michigan, and pursued a featherweight boxing career before joining the U.S. Army. Shortly thereafter he returned to Detroit to open a record store and begin producing recordings of his own compositions.

By the time Gordy founded Motown, he was at the apex of Detroit’s black music scene and had already discovered Smokey Robinson. During the early 1960s Motown produced a string of hits that included Martha and the Vandellas’ “Dancing in the Street” and the Temptations’ “My Girl.” Also about this time Gordy developed the Supremes, Motown’s first superstar act. Powered by Diana Ross’s sweet voice and quiet grace, the group went on to become one of the most successful female singing trios of all time.

In the early 1970s Gordy relocated the company to Hollywood and began producing films, including Lady Sings the Blues, featuring Ross in her film debut as Billie Holiday. By the mid-1980s the company boasted annual revenues in excess of $100 million, and Motown acts had recorded more than 50 number one hits on the Billboard pop singles chart. Facing increasing competition from large media conglomerates, however, Gordy sold the record company in 1988. He later wrote the book for Motown: The Musical, which premiered on Broadway in 2013.

Gordy was honoured for lifetime achievement at the American Music Awards in 1975, was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988, and received the President’s Merit Award from the Recording Academy in 2008. An autobiography, To Be Loved: The Music, the Magic, the Memories of Motown, was published in 1994.

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  • HOW TO BOOK Berry Gordy, Jr.?

    Our booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure talent like Berry Gordy, Jr. for both live and virtual events for over 15 years. The team at All American Entertainment represents and listens to the needs of organizations and corporations seeking to hire keynote speakers, celebrities or entertainers for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment. Fill out a booking request form for Berry Gordy, Jr., or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get pricing information and check availability for Berry Gordy, Jr. or any other celebrity of your choice.

  • HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO BOOK Berry Gordy, Jr.?

    Speaking fees for Berry Gordy, Jr., or any other keynote speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The amount that Berry Gordy, Jr. charges to speak often varies according to the circumstances, including their schedule, market conditions, length of presentation, and the location of the event. The speaker fees listed on this website are intended to serve as a guideline only. In some cases, the actual quote may be above or below the stated range. For the most current fee to hire Berry Gordy, Jr., please fill out the booking request form or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak with an experienced booking agent.

  • WHO IS THE AGENT FOR Berry Gordy, Jr.?

    All American Entertainment has successfully secured celebrity talent like Berry Gordy, Jr. for clients worldwide for more than 15 years. As a full-service talent booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Fill out the booking request form or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Berry Gordy, Jr. for your next private or corporate function.

  • WHAT IS A FULL-SERVICE TALENT BOOKING AGENCY?

    All American Speakers is a "buyers agent" and exclusively represents talent buyers, meeting planners and event professionals, who are looking to secure celebrities and speakers for personal appearances, speaking engagements, corporate entertainment, public relations campaigns, commercials, or endorsements. We do not exclusively represent Berry Gordy, Jr. or claim ourselves as the exclusive booking agency, business manager, publicist, speakers bureau or management for Berry Gordy, Jr. or any other speaker or celebrity on this website. For more information on how we work and what makes us unique, please read the AAE Advantage.
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This website is a resource for event professionals and strives to provide the most comprehensive catalog of thought leaders and industry experts to consider for speaking engagements. A listing or profile on this website does not imply an agency affiliation or endorsement by the talent.

All American Entertainment (AAE) exclusively represents the interests of talent buyers, and does not claim to be the agency or management for any speaker or artist on this site. AAE is a talent booking agency for paid events only. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information.

If you are the talent and wish to request a profile update or removal from our online directory, please submit a profile request form.

Berry Gordy, Jr.

Founder of Motown Records

Travels From:
Detroit, MI, USA
Speaking Fee:
Live Event: $50,000 - $100,000
Virtual Event: Please Contact
More Fee Info
Categories:
Activism, Black History, Business, Business Growth, Consulting, Diversity Speakers, Music, Small Business, Speakers by Industry

Berry Gordy, Jr. Biography

Berry Gordy, Jr., American businessman, founder of the Motown Record Corporation, which became the most successful black-owned music company in the United States. Through Motown, he developed the majority of the great rhythm-and-blues (R&B) performers of the 1960s and ’70s, including Diana Ross and the Supremes, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, the Marvelettes, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, the Temptations, and Michael Jackson and the Jackson Five. Gordy was said to have masterminded the popular “Motown sound,” a ballad-based blend of traditional black harmony and gospel music with the lively beat of R&B.

Gordy dropped out of Northeastern High School in Detroit, Michigan, and pursued a featherweight boxing career before joining the U.S. Army. Shortly thereafter he returned to Detroit to open a record store and begin producing recordings of his own compositions.

By the time Gordy founded Motown, he was at the apex of Detroit’s black music scene and had already discovered Smokey Robinson. During the early 1960s Motown produced a string of hits that included Martha and the Vandellas’ “Dancing in the Street” and the Temptations’ “My Girl.” Also about this time Gordy developed the Supremes, Motown’s first superstar act. Powered by Diana Ross’s sweet voice and quiet grace, the group went on to become one of the most successful female singing trios of all time.

In the early 1970s Gordy relocated the company to Hollywood and began producing films, including Lady Sings the Blues, featuring Ross in her film debut as Billie Holiday. By the mid-1980s the company boasted annual revenues in excess of $100 million, and Motown acts had recorded more than 50 number one hits on the Billboard pop singles chart. Facing increasing competition from large media conglomerates, however, Gordy sold the record company in 1988. He later wrote the book for Motown: The Musical, which premiered on Broadway in 2013.

Gordy was honoured for lifetime achievement at the American Music Awards in 1975, was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988, and received the President’s Merit Award from the Recording Academy in 2008. An autobiography, To Be Loved: The Music, the Magic, the Memories of Motown, was published in 1994.

Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on Berry Gordy, Jr. and other top speakers and celebrities.

BOOK Berry Gordy, Jr.

Berry Gordy, Jr. Videos

  • Backstage with Berry Gordy Jr. - YouTube
    Backstage with Berry Gordy Jr. - YouTube
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FAQs on booking Berry Gordy, Jr.

  • How to book Berry Gordy, Jr.?

    Our booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure talent like Berry Gordy, Jr. for both live and virtual events for over 20 years. The team at All American Entertainment represents and listens to the needs of organizations and corporations seeking to hire keynote speakers, celebrities or entertainers for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment. Fill out a booking request form for Berry Gordy, Jr., or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get pricing information and check availability for Berry Gordy, Jr. or any other celebrity of your choice.

  • How much does it cost to book Berry Gordy, Jr.?

    Speaking fees for Berry Gordy, Jr., or any other keynote speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The amount that Berry Gordy, Jr. charges to speak often varies according to the circumstances, including their schedule, market conditions, length of presentation, and the location of the event. The speaker fees listed on this website are intended to serve as a guideline only. In some cases, the actual quote may be above or below the stated range. For the most current fee to hire Berry Gordy, Jr., please fill out the booking request form or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak with an experienced booking agent.

  • Who is the agent for Berry Gordy, Jr.?

    All American Entertainment has successfully secured celebrity talent like Berry Gordy, Jr. for clients worldwide for more than 20 years. As a full-service talent booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Fill out the booking request form or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Berry Gordy, Jr. for your next private or corporate function.

  • What is a full-service talent booking agency?

    All American Speakers is a "buyers agent" and exclusively represents talent buyers, meeting planners and event professionals, who are looking to secure celebrities and speakers for personal appearances, speaking engagements, corporate entertainment, public relations campaigns, commercials, or endorsements. We do not exclusively represent Berry Gordy, Jr. or claim ourselves as the exclusive booking agency, business manager, publicist, speakers bureau or management for Berry Gordy, Jr. or any other speaker or celebrity on this website. For more information on how we work and what makes us unique, please read the AAE Advantage.

Berry Gordy, Jr. is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics . The estimated speaking fee range to book Berry Gordy, Jr. for your event is $50,000 - $100,000. Berry Gordy, Jr. generally travels from Detroit, MI, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Tamika D. Mallory, Daymond John, Rohan Gilkes, Karima Woods and Charlene Carruthers. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Berry Gordy, Jr. for an upcoming live or virtual event.

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Berry Gordy, Jr. Speaker Videos

  • Backstage with Berry Gordy Jr. - YouTube
    Backstage with Berry Gordy Jr. - YouTube
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Berry Gordy, Jr. News

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Speakers Similar to Berry Gordy, Jr.

This website is a resource for event professionals and strives to provide the most comprehensive catalog of thought leaders and industry experts to consider for speaking engagements. A listing or profile on this website does not imply an agency affiliation or endorsement by the talent.

All American Entertainment (AAE) exclusively represents the interests of talent buyers, and does not claim to be the agency or management for any speaker or artist on this site. AAE is a talent booking agency for paid events only. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information.

If you are the talent and wish to request a profile update or removal from our online directory, please submit a profile request form.

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