Detroit is one of America’s best music cities, and is known for producing greats like Smokey Robinson, Aretha Franklin and The Temptations, and it’s also the birthplace of Motown music. Berry Gordy Jr. established Motown Records (originally called Tamla Records) in the city of Detroit on January 12, 1959, thus pioneering “the sound that changed America.”
This year marks the 60th anniversary of Hitsville U.S.A. in the Motor City.
Since its inception, the Motown label has produced hits by artists including Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross, The Supremes, and later in the ‘90s and ‘00s, artists like Boyz II Men, Erykah Badu and Migos.
In honor of such a historic and cultured celebration, the FanLabel staff put together a playlist of our favorite Hitsville tracks.
Give it a listen below:
Presently, Motown Records remains an institution in the form of the Motown Museum, which music lovers can visit at 2648 West Grand Blvd., Detroit.
If you’re local, be sure to visit the museum’s new Archive Dive display, featuring exclusive, never-before seen Motown Record artifacts, opening to the public on Jan. 12. And if you’re a huge fan of the genre outside of the 313, you can catch the limited-time experience via Facebook Live on Friday, Jan. 11 at 3 p.m.
FanLabel’s Detroit roots run deep, so we’ll be streaming this playlist non-stop!
Feature image editorial credit: James R. Martin / Shutterstock.com
