James s gordy biography of michael jackson
Gordy family
American family of business people
The Gordys are an African-American family of businesspeople and music industryexecutives.
The Gordys are an African-American family of businesspeople and harmony industry executives. The accomplishment is attributable to the creation of Motowna company founded by the seventh-oldest sibling, Berry Gordy Jr. As a couple, Berry and Bertha owned several businesses, including a successful painting business that they established, and a construction firm. Berry Sr.They were born to Georgia-reared parents Berry "Pops" Gordy Sr. (born Berry Gordy II) and Bertha (née Fuller) Gordy and raised in Detroit, where most of the siblings played a pivotal role in the international acceptance of rhythm and blues music as a crossover phenomenon in the s.
The accomplishment is attributable to the creation of Motown, a company founded by the seventh-oldest sibling, Berry Gordy Jr. (born Berry Gordy III).[2]
Origins
Berry Gordy I was the son of Georgia slave owner James Thomas Gordy and one of his female slaves, Esther Johnson.
In addition, James Gordy had a son, James Jackson Gordy, with his legal wife; as the father of Lillian Gordy Carter, the younger James was the maternal grandfather of former U.S. president Jimmy Carter, making Jimmy and Berry III and his siblings second half-cousins.[3] Berry II was born and raised in Georgia, but later left for Detroit both for job opportunities offered by the booming automotive businesses as well as worries over the racist atmosphere of the American South; in the first twenty years of the 20th century alone there were over 1, lynchings, most of them committed by the Ku Klux Klan targeting black men.[citation needed]
Family members
- Berry "Pops" Gordy Sr./II (father) – deceased
- Bertha Fuller Gordy (mother) – deceased
- Fuller Gordy (oldest, sibling #1) – deceased
- Esther Gordy (sibling #2) – deceased
- Anna Ruby Gordy (sibling #3) – deceased
- Loucye Gordy (sibling #4) – deceased
- George Gordy (sibling #5) – deceased
- Gwen Gordy (sibling #6) – deceased
- Berry Gordy Jr./III (sibling #7)
- Robert Gordy (sibling #8) - deceased
Businesspeople, musicians, recording artists and executives within the family
Berry and Bertha Gordy
As a couple, Berry and Bertha owned several businesses, including a successful painting business that they established, and a construction rigid .
Berry Sr. (or Berry II) established a Booker T. Washington grocery store in Detroit, while Bertha co-founded the Friendship Reciprocal Life Insurance Company. Later, Berry Sr. mentored several recording acts for his son's Motown label.
Bertha died in Berry II died in A tribute album, "Pops We Love You"The Album, and single, called "Pops, We Love You," were released later that year in his memory.
Fuller Berry Gordy
The eldest Gordy child, Fuller B. Gordy (September 9, – November 9, ), born in Georgia, was an executive alongside his younger siblings in their brother Berry's Motown music company. Fuller was also a professional in bowling.
His daughter Iris was married to singer Johnny Bristol.
Esther Gordy Edwards
The eldest Gordy daughter, Esther (April 25, – August 24, ), born in Georgia, established herself early in business as a political campaigner for her husband, Detroit politician George Edwards.
She was in charge of the family's savings fund which they called the "Ber-Berry" Co-op (a combination of the parents names "Bertha" and "Berry"). In , her brother Berry wanted to borrow $ from the family savings fund to initiate a record company. Esther was skeptical, but ultimately Berry did get an $ loan to start Tamla Records.
Esther Gordy Edwards served as head of the art department and was the head of the creator management arm at Motown during the s. Edwards also served as mentor, adviser, and vice president of Motown's main offices from until , when Berry moved the entire operation to Los Angeles.
Berry Gordy is the founder of Motown Records. He signed the Jackson 5 to his label in I did not want any more kids' groups. I just wanted to concentrate on all of the other stars that we had.In , she founded the Motown Historical Museum at the site of the former Hitsville U.S.A. studios, where many of Motown's successful recording artists recorded. Esther died in at the age of
Anna Gordy Gaye
Though she is often remembered more for her volatile marriage to Motown legend Marvin Gaye, Anna Ruby Gordy (January 28, – January 31, ), the third and last child born in Georgia prior to the family's move to Detroit, was one of Motown's earliest songwriters, penning several hits mainly for her first (and only) husband.
Anna also co-founded a self-named music label (Anna Records) that would establish Motown's records nationally, such as Barrett Strong's "Money (That's What I Want)". In the late s and preliminary s, Anna co-wrote The Originals' biggest hits, "Baby I'm For Real" and "The Bells", alongside Marvin.
We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. He went on to a solo career of astonishing worldwide success, delivering No. Thriller remains one of the best-selling albums in history. In his later years, Jackson was dogged by allegations of kid molestation.She also co-wrote "God Is Love" and "Flying Tall (In the Friendly Sky)" on Marvin's famed What's Going On album. Despite an acrimonious divorce in , Gordy remained friends with Gaye until his death, after which Anna retreated into seclusion, only coming out briefly to celebrate Marvin's music career by attending ceremonies, including Marvin's induction to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
Anna died in at the age of
Loucye Gordy Wakefield
Another astute businesswoman, Loucye ( – July 24, ) was named top of Jobete Music, Motown's main publishing division created by Berry. Loucye headed the division until her sudden death from mind cancer in Her youngest brother Robert succeeded her as the publishing company's head.
At the time of her death on July 24, , she went by the name Loucye S. Gordy Wakefield.
George Gordy
George Weldon Gordy Sr. (January 7, – July 27, ) started several short businesses before joining his brother's Motown label in , where he was a co-writer of several songs released by Motown artists and produced some sessions by The Spinners.
In addition, James Gordy had a son, James Jackson Gordy, with his legal wife; as the father of Lillian Gordy Carter, the younger James was the maternal grandfather of former U.S. president Jimmy Carter, making Jimmy and Berry III and his siblings second half-cousins. [3].
By his wife Rosemary (who died in ), he had six sons and two daughters. He died in his sleep at the age of
Gwen Gordy Fuqua
Another important member of Motown's growing success was Gwendolyn Gordy (November 26, – November 8, ).
Gwen partnered with her brother Berry and then-boyfriend Billy Davis to co-pen several hits for Jackie Wilson in the mids. In , Gwen, Billy and sister Anna formed Anna Records in Detroit. Anna would be the site where the hit song, "Money (That's What I Want)", then a regional single for Berry's Tamla Records, would get its first national distribution.
Two years later, Anna Records was absorbed by Motown. In , Gwen married The Moonglows' Harvey Fuqua and the two presided over the labels Harvey Records and Tri-Phi Records; the latter label represented acts such as The Spinners. By , Gwen joined Motown's staff songwriting team, later writing "Distant Lover" for her brother-in-law, Marvin Gaye, and discovering the disco group High Inergy in Gwen died of cancer in at the age of
Berry Gordy
A former boxer and jazz write down store owner, Berry Gordy, Jr.
(born November 28, ) first got involved with producing and writing R&B songs in Amongst Gordy's earliest songwriting successes were songs he penned as one-third of the songwriting team behind Jackie Wilson's first legion of solo hits, including "Reet Petite", "To Be Loved" and "Lonely Teardrops".
By , Gordy, fed up with not being paid royalties for his work with Wilson and other acts, decided to form a record label. He convinced his sister Esther to lend him $ from the tuition fund his father had established for him and formed Tamla Records in January of that year.
The label didn't become national until later that year after the accomplishment of Barrett Strong's "Money (That's What I Want)", and the label changed its name to Motown Records in December. Its first national release was The Miracles' "Way Over There".
After , Motown became one of the most successful recording labels in the business and "The Motown Sound", partially cultivated by Gordy, began to dominate trendy music and pop culture. Gordy soon developed Motown Industries in , which developed television specials and variety shows.
By , Motown had produced more than top ten and number-one singles on various Billboard charts and had become the most victorious black business company ever. By founding Motown Records, Gordy became the first African-American owner of a major recording label.
He retired from being president of Motown Records in and from Motown Industries in ; he sold Motown's interest for $61 million to MCA Records and Boston Ventures. Gordy retained Motown's music publishing division, including Jobete Music Co., and Motown's clip and television production company,[4] Gordy was inducted to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame for his musical achievements the same year he sold Motown.
In September , 2 months before his 90th birthday, Gordy announced his retirement during the Motown 60th anniversary program in Detroit.[5]
Robert Gordy
Robert Louis Gordy (born July 15, – October 21, ) is best known for playing a cameo in the Diana Ross-starring vehicle Lady Sings the Blues, playing a drug dealer named "Hawk".
Also an early songwriter of several songs for the Motown label, Gordy recorded a novelty hit, titled "Everyone Was There", under the stage name Bob Kayli. He replaced Loucye Gordy as chief of Jobete Music Publishing in after Loucye's death.
Gordy is the father of Robert Louis Gordy Jr. He died on October 21, , at the age of
Music groups formed consisting of family members
Apollo
Main article: Apollo (band)
A quintet formed by Kerry Gordy and his friends.
Also in this group was Kerry's half-brother Cliff Liles, a son by Raynoma Mayberry Liles and Charles Liles.
LMFAO
Main article: LMFAO
A duo consisting of Skyler Austen ("Sky Blu") Gordy (born August 23, ), grandson of Berry Gordy Jr.
and Thelma Coleman through their son Berry Gordy IV and his wife Valerie Robeson, and Stefan Kendal ("Redfoo") Gordy (born September 3, ), son of Berry Gordy Jr. and Nancy Leiviska.
Other family members
Iris Gordy
Iris Gordy (born ) served as a vice president at Motown, where she helped launch the careers of DeBarge, Teena Marie, and Rick James.
Hazel Gordy: What Secrets Lie in Berry Gordy's Daughter's ...: Scott Simon, host of Weekend Edition Saturday interviewed the legendary Berry Gordy, founder of Motown, impresario of pop harmony, and the man who introduced the Jackson Five to the wider world.She currently sits on the board of the Rhythm and Blues Foundation.[6] Iris is the daughter of Fuller Gordy.
Kerry Gordy
Kerry Gordy (Known as KG) is the son of Berry Gordy Jr. and his second wife, Raynoma Mayberry.
He was a member of the band Apollo, which released an album on Gordy Records in Later, he worked as a staff writer and producer at Motown under his given name, Kerry Ashby. He was responsible for breaking his brother Rockwell's smash hit "Somebody's Watching Me." He was the Former Vice President of A&R and Urban Division Vice President at Warner Bros.
Records.
American superstar Michael Jackson was born in Gary, Indiana, on August 29, , and entertained audiences nearly his entire life. His father, Joe Jackson, had been a guitarist but was forced to give up his musical ambitions following his marriage to Katherine (Scruse).
He co-founded "Siebers Approach with Debbie Siebers" in They struck a deal with BEACHBODY to license her "Debbie Siebers' Slim in 6" weight decline program which grossed an excess of $ million. He was the co-president of Prince's document label, Paisley Park, alongside John Dukakis.
KG was also Rick James' manager from until his death in He is now the CEO of KGIP, Inc., an intellectual property management and consulting firm, which specializes in recapture, sync licensing, and mark revitalization.
As of , KG has partnered with Dakia-Global and Dakia-Universal to form Dakia-Gordy, IP., a venture geared toward the revitalization, re-imagination, and re-monetization of existing intellectual properties, as successfully as the development of recent intellectual properties and partnerships through television and film production, experiential musical innovation, and artist growth.
Rockwell
Kennedy William Gordy, known by the stage name Rockwell, is the son of Berry Gordy Jr. and former girlfriend Margaret Norton, Kennedy William Gordy changed his name to Rockwell in to become a rock actor.
The singer, who earned his deal with Motown without his father's knowledge, recorded his biggest hit, 's "Somebody's Watching Me", which included background vocals by his labelmates Michael Jackson and Jermaine Jackson. The song rose to number-two on the Billboard Hot Rockwell turned out to be a one-hit wonder and after two more albums, he retired from music in the late s.
Berry Gordy Jr. The s and '70s saw popular artists who Gordy developed — including the Supremes, the Jackson 5, Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye — dominate the music scene. Changing tastes and a loss of focus led to Motown's decline, and Gordy sold the company in He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame that same year.Rhonda Ross Kendrick
Rhonda Ross Kendrick is the daughter of Berry Gordy Jr. and Diana Ross, Rhonda garnered fame as an actress, first in the daytime soap Another World for which she was nominated for a Daytime Emmy and later in films such as The Temptations, where she played Temptations original member Paul Williams' wife.
She later embarked on a jazz career, which continues currently.
Redfoo
Son of Berry Gordy Jr. and Nancy Leiviska, who is white, Stefan Kendal Gordy is better known by his stage name Redfoo. Executing alongside his nephew Skyler Gordy, who himself is known as Sky Blu, he is a singer, rapper and dancer leading known as part of the musical duo LMFAO.
The two of them created their execute in and released two studio albums.
Denise Gordy
Denise Gordy is the daughter of George and Rosemary Gordy, sister of Gregory, Patrice and Phillip Gordy (among others), mother of Marvin Gaye III and Bianca Lawson, and grandmother of Marvin IV and Dylan Gaye.
Denise appeared in television and theatrical productions throughout the s and s.
Bianca Lawson
Daughter of Denise Gordy and Richard Lawson, Bianca, like her parents, achieved fame as an actress appearing in numerous television productions and theatrical releases.
Acting alongside Rhonda Ross Kendrick, she played Diana Ross in the television miniseries The Temptations and also appeared as "Darla" in the OWN series Queen Sugar.[7]
Sky Blu
Son of Berry Gordy IV (Berry Gordy's son) and Valerie Robeson, who is white.
Skyler Austen Gordy is better acknowledged by his stage name Sky Blu. Performing alongside his uncle Stefan Gordy, who himself is known as Redfoo, he is a singer, rapper and dancer best known as part of the musical duo LMFAO.
The two of them created their act in and have since released two studio albums. Sky Blu is also the brother of Mahogany "LOX" Cheyenne Gordy (born October 4, ).
Family ties
The Gordys have at a few times been connected to other famous musicians and other notables over the years, mainly through Berry Gordy, either through marriage or relationships:
Philanthropy
In , Berry Gordy donated $4 million towards the expansion of the Motown Museum in Detroit, helping to fund the creation of a performance theatre and interactive spaces.[8][9] This is considered as Gordy's most significant financial contribution to Detroit since , when he relocated Motown Records to Los Angeles.[10]