Berry Gordy Jr. founded Motown Record Corporation on January 12, 1959, with an $800 loan from his family's savings club. Originally named Tamla Records, Gordy established the label in Detroit, Michigan, which would later become known as "Hitsville U.S.A."

As a former boxer and assembly line worker at Ford Motor Company, Gordy had a vision to create a record label that would bring Black music to mainstream America. He applied the assembly line principles he learned at Ford to the music industry, creating a hit-making factory that would transform popular music.

The name "Motown" was a combination of "Motor" and "Town," paying homage to Detroit's reputation as the Motor City. Gordy's entrepreneurial spirit and keen eye for talent led him to discover and develop some of the most iconic artists of the 20th century, including:

Diana Ross & The Supremes
Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
Marvin Gaye
Stevie Wonder
The Jackson 5
The Temptations

Under Gordy's leadership, Motown became more than just a record label - it was a cultural phenomenon that helped bridge racial divides through music. He created a unique "Motown Sound" that combined R&B with pop appeal, making it accessible to audiences of all backgrounds.

Berry Gordy remained at the helm of Motown until 1988, when he sold the company to MCA Records for $61 million. Today, Motown Records continues to operate as a subsidiary of Universal Music Group, but its legacy as the most successful Black-owned business of its time remains firmly rooted in Berry Gordy's vision and leadership.

Throughout his career, Gordy received numerous accolades, including induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988. At 93 years old today, his creation of Motown Records stands as one of the most significant achievements in music industry history, forever changing the landscape of popular music and American culture.

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