Motown: Works Cited Essay Examples

Research Question: What is the impact on Motown and its music on popular music of the 21st century?

Introduction: Motown was originally a record company that was founded by Barry Gordy, a black music producer in 1959. He recruited young black musicians from Detroit, Michigan, produced their music and created their on-stage looks. His talented performers came from schools and churches. The music style he created became much more than representative of his record label, it has grown into and entire genre of music in its own right. The exposure and acceptance of the African American performers and their huge success across color lines influenced the music heard today such as Hip Hop and popular music.

Works Cited

Early, Gerald Lyn. One Nation under Groove. United States of America: University of Michigan
Press, 2004. Print.
Gerald Early is the director of African American Studies at Washington University in St. Louis. His approach to this book about Motown and its unique sound is to examine the cultural and social impact of this style of music.
Holmes, Marian Smith. “Who Could Resist the Kind of Music They Made at Hitsville?”
Smithsonian 25.7 (1994): On line. Web 6 Mar 2015 <http://eds.a.ebscohost.com/eds/detail/detail?vid=3&sid=da3fc983-93aa-49e8-a3c4-
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WxpdmUmc2NvcGU9c2l0ZQ%3d%3d#db=fth&AN=9410247543
Marian Smith Holmes examines the beginnings of Gordy’ musical empire. She explains how Gordy took popular black music of the time, changed it up a little and created hits that represented a very unique sound in music up until the point in time. She also provides a brief biography of Gordy’s early life which provides insight into his drive and motivation to create his record company.
McCarthy, Marie. “The Young Musicians of Motown: A Success Story of Urban Music
Education.” Music Educators Journal 99.3 (2013). N. pag. Web. 7 Mar 2015
< http://eds.a.ebscohost.com/eds/detail/detail?sid=31e6eb9d-e7e6-431f-be6c-
ae9b77bb9937%40sessionmgr4005&vid=2&hid=4111&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzL
WxpdmUmc2NvcGU9c2l0ZQ%3d%3d#db=fth&AN=85920168
This article provides insight into the musicians who were recruited by Gordy for his Motown label. McCarthy goes into depth about home life, the church and school and how these influenced Motown artists and their sound.
Nantis, David. “That Motown Sound.” America 200.5 (2009): 22-24 Web 15 Mar 2015
<http://eds.a.ebscohost.com/eds/detail/detail?vid=15&sid=80520d8b-da99-4123-8236-
15a41812ba19%40sessionmgr4004&hid=4205&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdm
Umc2NvcGU9c2l0ZQ%3d%3d#db=fth&AN=36448658>
“That Motown Sound” briefly describes the inception of Motown, the music it created and its influence on the styles of music that followed in its footsteps. Cultural implications and its wide reaching appeal are also discussed.
Posner, Gerald. Music, Money, Sex and Power. New York: Random House, 2005. Print.
Posner provides and in depth history of Gordy and the artists who were Motown. The book provides a detailed history of the business dealings, the personal lives and the growth of the record label.
Provenzano, Frank. “The Magic of Motown: Symposium Examines Label’s Cultural Impact.”
Record Update 25 Feb 10 Web. 7 Mar 2015
http://www.ur.umich.edu/update/archives/100225/motown
Reporter, Frank Provenzano covers “Michigan Celebrates Motown: The Symposium” that took place in February of 2010 in Detroit, Michigan. The event attracted hundreds of educators and researchers in the fields of music, culture, sociology and African American studies. Provenzano interviews several presenters and attendees who explain the influence of Motown on culture, society and music.