Motown Records founder Berry Gordy, the man who helped change popular music, has announced that he will be retiring.
While in Detroit for Motown’s 60th anniversary program at Orchestra Hall, Gordy told attendees that the time had come for him to step down.
“For years, I dreamed about it, talked about it, threatened it,” he said. I have come full circle. It is only appropriate (to announce this) while here in Detroit, the city where my fairy tale happened with all of you.”
Gordy founded Motown in 1959, then called Tamla Records and later incorporated as Motown Record Corporation. The label played an important role in bringing Black musicians to mainstream success.
Motown has been behind the careers of iconic celebs like Marvin Gaye, The Supremes and The Jackson Five.
The 89-year-old told attendees at the event that he’d finally come to recognize his impact on music and the love he’s received from friends and peers.
“I was too busy to understand it, to appreciate it, he said, before adding, “This trip to my hometown Detroit has been overwhelming to me.”