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Berry Gordy, Jr.

Founder of Motown Records

Founder of Motown Records

Travels From Travels From:
Detroit, MI, USA
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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.

Berry Gordy, Jr. Videos

  • Backstage with Berry Gordy Jr. - YouTube

FAQs on booking Berry Gordy, Jr.

  • How do I book Berry Gordy, Jr. to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Berry Gordy, Jr. for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability 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 speaking fee information and check availability for Berry Gordy, Jr. or any other speaker of your choice.
  • What are the speaker fees for Berry Gordy, Jr.

    Speaking fees for Berry Gordy, Jr., or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Berry Gordy, Jr. are for live events and for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Berry Gordy, Jr., click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does Berry Gordy, Jr. speak about?

    Berry Gordy, Jr. is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Activism, Black History, Business, Business Growth, Communication, Consulting, Diversity Speakers, Music, Small Business, Speakers by Industry.
  • Where does Berry Gordy, Jr. travel from?

    Berry Gordy, Jr. generally travels from Detroit, MI, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.
  • Who is Berry Gordy, Jr.’s agent?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Berry Gordy, Jr. for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker 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. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, 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 speaker booking agency?

    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Berry Gordy, Jr. or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
  • Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

    If you’re looking for the best, unbiased speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.

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 Charlene Carruthers, Daymond John, Rohan Gilkes, Karima Woods and Tamika D. Mallory. 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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