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Motown & R&B

This genre had a major influence in the time of the Civil Rights movement and integration in America. Motown started as a Detroit record label in the early sixties, but it quickly turned into much more as the acts became much more popular worldwide and granted African-American performers a chance to regain much of the success that had been given credit to white artists who had been successful at singing "black music". Motown records consisted mainly of African-American groups, singers, songwriters. The most well known groups to come out of the Motown genre were Smokey Robinson, the Miracles and Diana Ross, all of which had an equal amount of chart success during the 60's. Some other popular Motown and R&B artists include; The Temptations, The Marvelettes, The Four Tops, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Aretha Franklin and the Jackson Five.
The success of Motown also showed the pathway to success for R&B singers and groups who were not as popular.
The characteristics of r&b were;
gospel vocals
lyrical soulful melodies
an emphasis on the rhythm section
large horn sections (trumpets, saxophones and trombones)
The most famous record labels were Tamla Motown, Stax and Atlantic.
Tamla Motown was an all black record company set up by Berry Gordy in Detroit.