Thursday, September 2, 2010

The label that created a whole genre of hits is 50 today. Martha Reeves, and Dubai music gurus talk Motown
Marvin Gaye, The Supremes, Diana Ross, The Temptations, Martha and The Vandellas; even if you’re not familiar with Detroit’s Motown label, any one tune from any one of these Motown artists is sure to have you dancing in the street.  
Founded on January 12, 1959, Motown Record Corporation - the label that gave us The Jackson 5, Stevie Wonder and lent its name to an entire genre of dance floor-filling and heartbreak-weeping tunes - today celebrates its 50th birthday.
Motown pioneer and ‘Dancing in the Street’ star Martha Reeves can’t believe the label is half a century old.
“Being one of the pioneers I’ve lived every moment of it, and enjoyed every moment of it too. But it’s unbelievable to think Motown is 50.”
“Berry Gordy (Motown’s founder) was a perfectionist, but he got the best out of us. He knew what he needed. I’m glad he did it because he gave us a foundation and roots.
“Looking back on those songs now, I feel as young as I was when we recorded them. They take me back to a place I loved.”
Martha’s start at Motown happened by chance. In the early 60s, when she was singing in various clubs around Detroit under the name ‘Martha LaVaille’, after one performance in the now-famous Twenty Grand club, Martha was given a business card by Motown’s chief talent scout William Stevenson.
“I was on early, during happy hour, because I had to be back in the house by 12,” she says.
“Dad wouldn’t let me in the house after midnight - that was his rule. And I was 21 at the time!
“Anyway, William came in and asked me to go to Motown’s legendary studio, Hitsville. I didn’t know the protocol, I was just a girl, but Motown only auditioned singers on the third Thursday of every month,” adds Martha.
The rest, as they say is history.
In 1962, Martha and her friends Annette Beard-Helton and Rosalind Ashford-Holmes, who had regularly sung backing vocals for other Motown artists, were signed. They were christened ‘Martha And The Vandellas’ and the hits quickly started mounting up.

The Motown Sound, as it was nicknamed in the 60s, has survived the test of time for numerous reasons. We caught up with some of Dubai’s music savvy movers and shakers to find out what it is about Motown that just seems to stick.

Satyen Choksi, co-owner at OHM Records, Dubai’s only independent and totally funky record store “Motown has transcended from being a record label to a genre in itself. You often hear DJs saying they play ‘house, funk, soul and Motown’. But you never hear anyone say they play ‘techno, trance and defected’ even though Defected Records is a massive label in its own right.
Not only did Motown help in giving birth to the self-titled genre, but it also influenced artists across the board.
You’ll even find Motown influences with new age artists such as Carl Craig and Moodymann.
To me, Motown exemplifies soul music - black music. Nowadays black music has transcended into RnB and hip hop. Just like disco gave birth to house music.
The transitions in African American culture can also be mirrored through Motown releases in the last five decades - from Marvin Gaye to DJ Shadow in 2006. Motown - we salute you.”

Shehab Hamad, music geek at 9714, and owner of Dubai’s most impressive vinyl collection “I’m a huge fan of Detroit music in general; there must be something in the water there. But Motown in particular is rare in the way the label has such a definitive sound.
“Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder - there is so much soul in that music.
I got into collecting early hip hop vinyl records, and that introduced me to the world of Motown.
Living in London is where I built up most of my record collection. It might be one of the best places in the world to collect vinyl. Rummaging through second hand bins in Notting Hill or the West End - there were always loads of Motown records. Sometimes I would not even know the artist, but if it was Motown, I knew it was worth picking up.

Dubai-based DJ Solo, who has his big sister to thank for an introduction to Motown
“I love it. I got into Motown because my sister used to listen to it, and then my mum loved Stevie Wonder and Diana Ross. My favourite song from when I was a kid is Diana Ross ‘I’m Still Waiting’ - a melancholic love tune. The reason I love Motown is that it has lots of emotion and big bands, orchestras and strings. I basically just love soul music.
During the day at a beach party or at an art gallery, Motown is perfect music to put on the decks. I have played it in bars too, the more dance-driven tunes go down really well. Even if people don’t know what Motown is, they always recognise the music.

Where to hear Motown
Those looking to hear Motown tunes on a night out in Dubai should check out the Ill Communications gigs that take place every second Thursday at Trilogy Rooftop - where DJs play Motown and soul inspired tunes. For more information check local listings or call Ohm Records on 04 397 3728.