Smokey Robinson

Music was once a place to get away. All throughout time, music has been love, passion, exercise, therapy, and fun. Music has changed dramatically in the last fifty to sixty years. Rhythm and Blues music was once known as rock and roll but was changed when the two different types of music took their own way. Rhythm and Blues started big in the 40’s and 50’s. It was the biggest and most popular type of music and made the most impact in history. R&B (Rhythm and blues), which consists of soulful…

Bailey Rae was selected by NASA for the historic DESTINATION: JUPITER campaign; represented Europe for the International Olympic Committee’s PSA; and performed Ooo Baby Baby at the Smokey Robinson: The Library Of Congress Gershwin Prize Ceremony. Bailey Rae has also written music for film and television, including the theme song to Stan Lee’s Lucky Man. Bailey Rae recorded Coldplay’s The Scientist for the opening title sequence for Universal…

In 1961, The Marvelettes released their debut single, “Please Mr. Postman”, the first song to reach number one from Motown records, founded by a previous automotive factory worker, Berry Gordy, Jr. The founding of Motown records on January 12th, 1959 would lead to some of the most recognized and successful records and artists in the history of music. Along with the many people involved in the rising success of Motown, the style and unique identity of the music and artists would lead to effecting…

Ryan Erik Adamsons,based in Chicago, is an active composer, performer, and educator. He received a Bachelor of Science Degrees in Jazz Studies and Brass Performance from the University of Akron (OH), and a Masters of Music concentrating in Jazz Composition from DePaul University in Chicago (IL). He currently works as an Artist Advisor at the Denis Wick/Vandoren Musician’s Advisory Studio in downtown Chicago, and serves on the Board of Directors for the Chicago Jazz Orchestra as their Director of…

experienced. I had harnessed the ability to turn classic, 'boring ' songs into beats with new found life and purpose. All my friends who said they 'd never listen to Motown, were now, blaring my beats that consisted of artists like The Supremes, Smokey Robinson, and The Commodores. Even now, they still don 't believe…

even an auto worker. He didn’t have any luck, so he decided to try having a record label. He started out with a loan of $800 from his family, and with that money he created Hitsville U.S.A. founded in 1959, in Detroit, Michigan. He discovered Smokey Robinson and the…

The Supremes Intro Imagine you’re at the Copa nightclub in 1965. The Supremes had just performed their opening song and your truly blown away. You ask Diana Ross for her autograph, and she remarks “This is the first autograph I’ve ever signed.” You then realized that this group of girls was going to inspire thousands of people. And that’s exactly what they did. Diana Ross, Florence Ballard, and Mary Wilson were three incredible women that made their mark on history. The Supremes were the top…

African Americans in the Music Industry As the founder of Motown records, Berry Gordy created change in society and music through the sound of Motown. Berry Gordy opened up Motown records and at the time African Americans had very little opportunity in the music business. The Motown record label released many songs that supported the civil rights movement, and made African Americans proud of their heritage. He also collaborated with many of his signees to create new groundbreaking music. Though…

Introduction The popular entertainment of a given time period is a direct result of the political, social, and cultural climates. In particular, investigating popular culture provides historians with a window into the values and ideologies of those without a voice. Popular culture, such as music, proves to be a major influence and outlet amongst disenfranchised and minority groups, who are able to find solidarity with one another through a mutually understood message in musical expression.…

“Something” was released on The Beatles’ 1969 Abbey Road album. The Beatles were considered the most important rock and roll band of the twentieth century and the British Invasion. They demonstrated early innovations and lyrical expansion. George Harrison wrote this piece beginning in 1968, although was not finished until the following year. Harrison wrote “Something” on the piano during a recording of the White Album when the band had some downtime to finish some personal matters. The song’s…