Motown and
Stax:
Soul Music
Breaks the
ColourBarrier of the
Recording
Industry



Much of soul music can be traced back to gospel music of the slave era
-Plantation owners would require their slaves to attend church and become Christians. This was the only time when the slave community was allowed to gather and not have to work. Church became a joyous event in the slave community, and its functions (worship, prayer, music) began to reflect that joy.
This is why the atmosphere in many
Gospel churches resembles that of a party, not of a solemn occasion.
-Religious hymns became influenced by the musical roots of
Africa which is apparent in the rhythms, dancing, call and response, note bending, shouting and general exuberance

-this sound would pave the way for “Soul Music”

“I gotta woman” is an excellent example of this.
The lyrics offended his own community.
See if you can figure out why?

 Memphis
Tennessee

Who planned to make country records



Instead, they catered to recording the unpolished, but raw talent of
Southern R&B Artists
Booker T and The MGs, a multiracial house band that accompanied all the Stax artists

Sam & Dave
“Soul Man”

Otis Redding
“Try A Little
Tenderness”

Detroit Michigan



 Berry Gordy Jr
Wanted to record black music with the same quality as “Sinatra” and other white artists. He wanted to replace the sound and marketing of
“race records” Motown was a black record label to reach all audiences.
He hired a far superior musician to be his partner
 Smokey Robinson

Smokey Robinson himself




This group of 15 to 20 became Motown’s house band
They played on more number one hits, than The
Beatles, The Beach Boys and Elvis….COMBINED
Backing up artists like these on all their hits.

The Jackson 5

Stevie
Wonder

Edwin Starr
“War”
A Motown song protesting the
Vietnam War
(which will talk about next time, so just enjoy



The Civil Rights movement occurs during the 1960’s.
Despite being
“free” for almost
100 years, blacks in the south still faced legalized segregation.



Rosa Parks refused to sit in the “coloured” section of the bus.
This caused the bus protests that swept America

 The Brown family wanted their child to attend their local school, which was for whites

Martin Luther King
 Wanted to bring equality through peaceful means
Malcolm X
 Wanted to bring equality by any means necessary

The Soundtrack of Social Change


The Black community is represented on the countries airwaves through
Motown and Stax Records
These record companies would also reach across the colour barriers of the music industry

Assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.

Race Riots sweep Detroit and other major
American cities
What’s Goin’ On?

Mother, mother
There's too many of you crying
Brother, brother, brother
There's far too many of you dying
You know we've got to find a way
To bring some lovin' here today -Ya

Father, father
We don't need to escalate
You see, war is not the answer
For only love can conquer hate
You know we've got to find a way
To bring some lovin' here today

Picket lines and picket signs
Don't punish me with brutality
Talk to me, so you can see
Oh, what's going on
What's going on
Ya, what's going on
Ah, what's going on

Father, father, everybody thinks we're wrong
Oh, but who are they to judge us
Simply because our hair is long
Oh, you know we've got to find a way
To bring some understanding here today
Picket lines and picket signs
Don't punish me with brutality
Talk to me
So you can see
What's going on