Berry Gordy facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Berry Gordy
Gordy in 1998
Background information
Birth name	Berry Gordy III
Also known as	Berry Gordy Jr.
Born	(1929-11-28) November 28, 1929 (age 95) Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Genres	R&B soul pop rock and roll doo-wop
Occupation(s)	Record executive record producer songwriter film producer television producer
Years active	1953–2019
Labels	Motown

Berry Gordy III (born November 28, 1929), also known as Berry Gordy Jr., is an American record executive, producer, and songwriter. He is famous for starting the Motown record label. Motown became one of the most successful African-American businesses ever.

As a songwriter, Gordy helped create many hit songs. These include "Lonely Teardrops" for Jackie Wilson and "Shop Around" for The Miracles. He also wrote hits like "I Want You Back" for the Jackson 5. As a producer, he helped launch the careers of many stars. These include the Supremes, Marvin Gaye, The Temptations, and Stevie Wonder. He was known for helping his artists look and act their best.

Gordy has received many honors for his work. He was added to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988. In 2016, he received the National Medal of Arts from President Barack Obama. He also received the Kennedy Center Honors in 2021.

Early Life and Music Beginnings

Berry Gordy III was born on November 28, 1929, in Detroit, Michigan. He was the seventh of eight children in his family. His parents, Berry Gordy II and Bertha Fuller Gordy, moved to Detroit from Georgia in 1922. They were looking for better job opportunities.

Berry's grandfather, Berry Gordy I, was related to former US President Jimmy Carter. Berry's father owned a grocery store and other businesses. While his older brothers worked in the family businesses, Berry was more interested in music and dancing. He also loved boxing.

From Boxing to Songwriting

Gordy left high school in the eleventh grade to become a professional boxer. He hoped to get rich quickly. He boxed until 1950, when he joined the United States Army. He served in the Korean War from 1951 to 1953. After the war, he earned his high school diploma.

In 1953, Berry Gordy opened a record store called 3-D Record Mart. It sold jazz music and 3-D glasses. The store did not do well. Later, he met singer Jackie Wilson at a club.

In 1957, Gordy co-wrote the song "Reet Petite" for Jackie Wilson. It became a hit, especially in the UK. Over the next two years, Wilson recorded six more songs co-written by Gordy. One of these was "Lonely Teardrops", which became a top R&B hit.

Starting Motown Records

Gordy used the money from his songwriting to produce music. In 1957, he discovered the Miracles. This group helped him build a list of successful artists. In 1959, with help from Miracles leader Smokey Robinson, Gordy borrowed $800 from his family. He used this money to start an R&B record company.

He first wanted to name the label Tammy Records. But that name was already taken. So, he chose the name Tamla Records. The company officially started on January 12, 1959. The first song released was "Come to Me" by Marv Johnson. The Miracles' song "Bad Girl" was the first release on the Motown label.

The Miracles gave the label its first huge hit. Their song "Shop Around" sold over a million copies in 1960. This song reached No. 1 on the R&B charts. It also reached No. 2 on the pop charts. This success made Motown a well-known independent company. In 1961, the Marvelettes' "Please Mr. Postman" also topped both charts.

Berry Gordy's house, known as the Motown mansion, in Detroit.

Gordy was very good at finding and developing musical talent. He also carefully managed how his artists looked and acted. This helped Motown become a huge success. It grew from a national company to an international one. Over the next ten years, he signed many famous artists. These included the Supremes, Marvin Gaye, the Temptations, the Four Tops, Gladys Knight & the Pips, and the Jackson 5.

Motown mainly promoted African-American artists. But Gordy made sure they appealed to everyone. He controlled their public image, clothes, manners, and dance moves. This helped them become popular with all kinds of audiences. Berry Gordy announced his retirement in 2019.

Moving to Los Angeles and Beyond

In 1972, Berry Gordy moved Motown to Los Angeles. There, he started producing movies. He produced Lady Sings the Blues in 1972. This movie was about singer Billie Holiday. It starred Diana Ross, who was nominated for an Academy Award. He also produced and directed Mahogany in 1975. This movie also starred Diana Ross. In 1985, he produced the martial arts film The Last Dragon.

Even though Motown moved, it kept producing big hits. Artists like the Jacksons, Lionel Richie, and Stevie Wonder continued to be successful. However, the record company was not as powerful as it once was. In 1988, Gordy sold his part of Motown Records. He later sold most of his music publishing company, Jobete.

Gordy wrote a book about his life called To Be Loved in 1994.

Awards and Honors

Berry Gordy with John Legend, Smokey Robinson, and First Lady Michelle Obama at the White House in 2011.

Berry Gordy has received many important awards.

• In 1988, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
• In 1998, he joined the Junior Achievement U.S. Business Hall of Fame.
• In 2009, he was inducted into the Michigan Rock and Roll Legends Hall of Fame.
• In 2013, he received the Pioneer Award from the Songwriters Hall of Fame. He was the first living person to get this award.
• In 2014, he received the key to the city from the Mayor of Detroit.
• In 2016, President Obama gave him the National Medal of Arts. This award recognized his role in creating a new sound in American music.
• In 2021, he received the Kennedy Center Honors.
• In 2022, he was inducted into the Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame.
• Also in 2022, he received an honorary doctorate from the University of Michigan.

A street intersection in Los Angeles is named Berry Gordy Square. This is where the Motown office used to be.

Thoughts on Motown Artists

Berry Gordy often spoke highly of the artists he worked with. After Marvin Gaye's funeral in 1984, Gordy called him "the greatest of his time." He said Gaye had no musical equals.

In 2009, Gordy honored the Miracles when they received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He said, "Without the Miracles, Motown would not be the Motown it is today."

Gordy also spoke at the memorial service for Michael Jackson in 2009. He called Jackson "the greatest entertainer that ever lived."

Motown: The Musical

In 2011, Berry Gordy announced he was creating a Broadway musical about Motown. The show tells the story of the 1960s and how the label was created. Gordy hoped the musical would help people understand Motown's history better.

Motown: The Musical opened on Broadway in March 2013. It ran until January 2015. A UK version of the musical opened in London in January 2016. Berry Gordy attended the opening night.

Family Life

Berry Gordy celebrating his daughter Hazel Joy's birthday (1971).

Berry Gordy has eight children. His publishing company, Jobete, was named after his three oldest children: Joy, Berry, and Terry.

His children include:

• Hazel Joy Gordy (born 1954), who was married to Jermaine Jackson.
• Berry Gordy IV (born 1955).
• Terry James Gordy (born 1956).
• Kerry Gordy (born 1959).
• Sherry Gordy (born 1963).
• Kennedy William Gordy (born 1964), who became the musician Rockwell.
• Rhonda Suzanne (born 1971), whose mother is Motown artist Diana Ross.

Gordy is also related to former U.S. President Jimmy Carter.

Film and Broadway Work

Film Producer

Broadway Shows