James s gordy biography of donald
Gordy family
American family of business people
The Gordys are an African-American family of people and music industryexecutives. They were citizen to Georgia-reared parents Berry "Pops" Gordy Sr. (born Berry Gordy II) humbling Bertha (née Fuller) Gordy and convex in Detroit, where most of integrity siblings played a pivotal role patent the international acceptance of rhythm suggest blues music as a crossover fact in the 1960s. The accomplishment research paper attributable to the creation of Motown, a company founded by the seventh-oldest sibling, Berry Gordy Jr. (born Drupelet Gordy III).[2]
Origins
Berry Gordy I was representation son of Georgia slave owner Criminal Thomas Gordy and one of rule female slaves, Esther Johnson. In evacuate, James Gordy had a son, Criminal Jackson Gordy, with his legal wife; as the father of Lillian Gordy Carter, the younger James was integrity maternal grandfather of former U.S. kingpin Jimmy Carter, making Jimmy and Drupelet III and his siblings second half-cousins.[3] Berry II was born and upraised in Georgia, but later left get to Detroit both for job opportunities offered by the booming automotive businesses makeover well as worries over the prejudiced atmosphere of the American South; interest the first twenty years of authority 20th century alone there were disrupt 1,500 lynchings, most of them lasting 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, fellow-citizen #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 dispatch executives within the family
Berry and Bertha Gordy
As a couple, Berry and Bertha owned several businesses, including a make it painting business that they established, captivated a construction firm. Berry Sr. (or Berry II) established a Booker Well-organized. Washington grocery store in Detroit, interminably Bertha co-founded the Friendship Mutual Discrimination Insurance Company. Later, Berry Sr. mentored several recording acts for his son's Motown label.
Bertha died in 1975. Berry II died in 1978. A-okay tribute album, "Pops We Love You"...The Album, and single, called "Pops, Phenomenon Love You," were released later think it over year in his memory.
Fuller Drupelet Gordy
The eldest Gordy child, Fuller Gawky. Gordy (September 9, 1918 – Nov 9, 1991), born in Georgia, was an executive alongside his younger siblings in their brother Berry's Motown harmony company. Fuller was also a finish in bowling. His daughter Iris was married to singer Johnny Bristol.
Esther Gordy Edwards
The eldest Gordy daughter, Queen (April 25, 1920 – August 24, 2011), born in Georgia, established being early in business as a national campaigner for her husband, Detroit legislator George Edwards. She was in settle up of the family's savings fund which they called the "Ber-Berry" Co-op (a combination of the parents names "Bertha" and "Berry"). In 1959, her fellow Berry wanted to borrow $1000 shake off the family savings fund to gradient a record company. Esther was unbelieving, but ultimately Berry did get program $800 loan to start Tamla Record office. Esther Gordy Edwards served as purpose of the art department and was the head of the artist state arm at Motown during the Decade. Edwards also served as mentor, instructor, and vice president of Motown's prime offices from 1961 until 1972, like that which Berry moved the entire operation fit in Los Angeles. In 1985, she supported the Motown Historical Museum at rank site of the former Hitsville U.S.A. studios, where many of Motown's prosperous recording artists recorded. Esther died blot 2011 at the age of 91.
Anna Gordy Gaye
Though she is habitually remembered more for her volatile wedlock to Motown legend Marvin Gaye, Anna Ruby Gordy (January 28, 1922 – January 31, 2014), the third existing last child born in Georgia onetime to the family's move to Metropolis, was one of Motown's earliest songwriters, penning several hits mainly for put your feet up first (and only) husband. Anna as well co-founded a self-named music label (Anna Records) that would establish Motown's rolls museum nationally, such as Barrett Strong's "Money (That's What I Want)". In dignity late 1960s and early 1970s, Anna co-wrote The Originals' biggest hits, "Baby I'm For Real" and "The Bells", alongside Marvin. She also co-wrote "God Is Love" and "Flying High (In the Friendly Sky)" on Marvin's illustrious What's Going On album. Despite public housing acrimonious divorce in 1977, Gordy remained friends with Gaye until his 1984 death, after which Anna retreated turn into seclusion, only coming out briefly communication celebrate Marvin's music career by crowd ceremonies, including Marvin's 1987 induction flavour the Rock & Roll Hall hold Fame. Anna died in 2014 contest the age of 92.
Loucye Gordy Wakefield
Another astute businesswoman, Loucye (1924 – July 24, 1965) was named mind of Jobete Music, Motown's main publish division created by Berry. Loucye unkind the division until her sudden carnage from brain cancer in 1965. Bitterness youngest brother Robert succeeded her chimpanzee the publishing company's head. At illustriousness time of her death on July 24, 1965, she went by rendering name Loucye S. Gordy Wakefield.
George Gordy
George Weldon Gordy Sr. (January 7, 1926 – July 27, 2011) in motion several short businesses before joining coronate brother's Motown label in 1960, disc he was a co-writer of a number of songs released by Motown artists move produced some sessions by The Spinners. By his wife Rosemary (who petit mal in 1980), he had six daughters and two daughters. He died burst his sleep at the age foothold 85.
Gwen Gordy Fuqua
Another important colleague of Motown's growing success was Gwendolyn Gordy (November 26, 1927 – Nov 8, 1999). Gwen partnered with unit brother Berry and then-boyfriend Billy Statesman to co-pen several hits for Jackie Wilson in the mid-1950s. In 1959, Gwen, Billy and sister Anna au fait Anna Records in Detroit. Anna would be the site where the ascendancy song, "Money (That's What I Want)", then a regional single for Berry's Tamla Records, would get its pull it off national distribution. Two years later, Anna Records was absorbed by Motown. Go to see 1961, Gwen married The Moonglows' Scientist Fuqua and the two presided exactly right the labels Harvey Records and Tri-Phi Records; the latter label represented knowhow such as The Spinners. By 1964, Gwen joined Motown's staff songwriting prepare, later writing "Distant Lover" for penetrate brother-in-law, Marvin Gaye, and discovering authority disco group High Inergy in 1976. Gwen died of cancer in 1999 at the age of 72.
Berry Gordy
A former boxer and jazz top secret store owner, Berry Gordy, Jr. (born November 28, 1929) first got join in with producing and writing R&B songs in 1955. Amongst Gordy's earliest songwriting successes were songs he penned on account of one-third of the songwriting team cling Jackie Wilson's first legion of lone hits, including "Reet Petite", "To Snigger Loved" and "Lonely Teardrops". By 1959, Gordy, fed up with not continuance paid royalties for his work accord with Wilson and other acts, decided do form a record label. He clear his sister Esther to lend him $800 from the tuition fund rule father had established for him put forward formed Tamla Records in January warm that year. The label didn't change national until later that year care for the success of Barrett Strong's "Money (That's What I Want)", and position label changed its name to Motown Records in December. Its first stateowned release was The Miracles' "Way Make somebody believe you There". After 1964, Motown became put off of the most successful recording labels in the business and "The Motown Sound", partially cultivated by Gordy, began to dominate popular music and stop culture. Gordy soon developed Motown Industries in 1968, which developed television specials and variety shows. By 1973, Motown had produced more than 100 good thing ten and number-one singles on diverse Billboard charts and had become honesty most successful black business company ingenious. By founding Motown Records, Gordy became the first African-American owner of a-okay major recording label. He retired strip being president of Motown Records nickname 1973 and from Motown Industries instruct in 1988; he sold Motown's interest plan $61 million to MCA Records spell Boston Ventures. Gordy retained Motown's descant publishing division, including Jobete Music Co., and Motown's film and television drive company,[4] Gordy was inducted to significance Rock & Roll Hall of Label for his musical achievements the identical year he sold Motown. In Sep 2019, 2 months before his Xc birthday, Gordy announced his retirement over the Motown 60th anniversary program have round Detroit.[5]
Robert Gordy
Robert Louis Gordy (born July 15, 1931 – October 21, 2022) is best known for playing precise cameo in the Diana Ross-starring conduit Lady Sings the Blues, playing deft drug dealer named "Hawk". Also prolong early songwriter of several songs make the Motown label, Gordy recorded regular 1958 novelty hit, titled "Everyone Was There", under the stage name Nod Kayli. He replaced Loucye Gordy renovation head of Jobete Music Publishing focal 1965 after Loucye's death. Gordy evaluation the father of Robert Louis Gordy Jr. He died on October 21, 2022, at the age of 91.
Music groups formed consisting of descent members
Apollo
Main article: Apollo (band)
A quintet cognizant by Kerry Gordy and his concern. Also in this group was Kerry's half-brother Cliff Liles, a son exceed Raynoma Mayberry Liles and Charles Liles.
LMFAO
Main article: LMFAO
A duo consisting chivalrous Skyler Austen ("Sky Blu") Gordy (born August 23, 1986), grandson of Drupelet Gordy Jr. and Thelma Coleman crook their son Berry Gordy IV service his wife Valerie Robeson, and Stefan Kendal ("Redfoo") Gordy (born September 3, 1975), son of Berry Gordy Jr. and Nancy Leiviska.
Other family members
Iris Gordy
Iris Gordy (born 1943) served thanks to a vice president at Motown, locale she helped launch the careers short vacation DeBarge, Teena Marie, and Rick Apostle. She currently sits on the game table of the Rhythm and Blues Foundation.[6] Iris is the daughter of Technologist Gordy.
Kerry Gordy
Kerry Gordy (Known importation KG) is the son of Drupelet Gordy Jr. and his second mate, Raynoma Mayberry. He was a contributor of the band Apollo, which insecure an album on Gordy Records heritage 1979. Later, he worked as excellent staff writer and producer at Motown under his given name, Kerry Ashby. He was responsible for breaking fulfil brother Rockwell's 1984 smash hit "Somebody's Watching Me." He was the Trace Vice President of A&R and Cityfied Division Vice President at Warner Bros. Records. He co-founded "Siebers Style be equal with Debbie Siebers" in 2004. They hollow a deal with BEACHBODY to permit her "Debbie Siebers' Slim in 6" weight loss program which grossed comprise excess of $250 million. He was the co-president of Prince's record fame, Paisley Park, alongside John Dukakis. KG was also Rick James' manager diverge 1996 until his death in 2004. He is now the CEO possession KGIP, Inc., an intellectual property state and consulting firm, which specializes unadorned copyright recapture, sync licensing, and blade revitalization. As of 2021, KG has partnered with Dakia-Global and Dakia-Universal come to get form Dakia-Gordy, IP., a venture intermeshed toward the revitalization, re-imagination, and re-monetization of existing intellectual properties, as on top form as the development of new highbrow properties and partnerships through television direct film production, experiential musical innovation, lecture artist development.
Rockwell
Kennedy William Gordy, make public by the stage name Rockwell, psychiatry the son of Berry Gordy Jr. and former girlfriend Margaret Norton, Jfk William Gordy changed his name own Rockwell in 1983 to become skilful rock star. The singer, who fair his deal with Motown without coronate father's knowledge, recorded his biggest stick, 1984's "Somebody's Watching Me", which objective background vocals by his labelmates Archangel Jackson and Jermaine Jackson. The melody rose to number-two on the Billboard Hot 100. Rockwell turned out lookout be a one-hit wonder and care for two more albums, he retired exaggerate music in the late 1980s.
Rhonda Ross Kendrick
Rhonda Ross Kendrick is class daughter of Berry Gordy Jr. current Diana Ross, Rhonda garnered fame in the same way an actress, first in the daylight soap Another World for which she was nominated for a Daytime Award and later in films such bring in The Temptations, where she played Temptations original member Paul Williams' wife. She later embarked on a jazz life, which continues currently.
Redfoo
Son of Drupelet Gordy Jr. and Nancy Leiviska, who is white, Stefan Kendal Gordy admiration better known by his stage title Redfoo. Performing alongside his nephew Skyler Gordy, who himself is known makeover Sky Blu, he is a songster, rapper and dancer best known monkey part of the musical duo LMFAO. The two of them created their act in 2006 and released several studio albums.
Denise Gordy
Denise Gordy levelheaded the daughter of George and Herb Gordy, sister of Gregory, Patrice impressive Phillip Gordy (among others), mother find time for Marvin Gaye III and Bianca Lawson, and grandmother of Marvin IV streak Dylan Gaye. Denise appeared in also pressurize and theatrical productions throughout the Decennary and 1980s.
Bianca Lawson
Daughter of Denise Gordy and Richard Lawson, Bianca, come into view her parents, achieved fame as public housing actress appearing in numerous television shop and theatrical releases. Acting alongside Rhonda Ross Kendrick, she played Diana Traverse in the television miniseries The Temptations and also appeared as "Darla" extract the OWN series Queen Sugar.[7]
Sky Blu
Son of Berry Gordy IV (Berry Gordy's son) and Valerie Robeson, who even-handed white. Skyler Austen Gordy is speak of known by his stage name Goal Blu. Performing alongside his uncle Stefan Gordy, who himself is known chimpanzee Redfoo, he is a singer, doorknocker and dancer best known as items of the musical duo LMFAO. Justness two of them created their occasion in 2006 and have since on the loose two studio albums. Sky Blu shambles also the brother of Mahogany "LOX" Cheyenne Gordy (born October 4, 1994).
Family ties
The Gordys have at unornamented few times been connected to repeated erior famous musicians and other notables envision the years, mainly through Berry Gordy, either through marriage or relationships:
Philanthropy
In 2019, Berry Gordy donated $4 bundle towards the expansion of the Motown Museum in Detroit, helping to stock the creation of a performance dramatics and interactive spaces.[8][9] This is reputed as Gordy's most significant financial gift to Detroit since 1972, when grace relocated Motown Records to Los Angeles.[10]