To explain a little more, in 1959, after a relative degree of success writing songs for artists, Gordy Jr founded Tamla Records. This would lay the foundations for Motown. A name that nodded to Detroit’s motor-manufacturing heritage. Similar to the assembly lines of Ford Motors, where he had previously worked. Gordy Jr set about establishing his own conveyor belt, cranking out hits and establishing stars at a remarkable rate.

Diana Ross and the Supremes, The Four Tops, Stevie Wonder, The Jackson 5, and Marvin Gaye all passed through the hallowed doors of Motown’s humble two-story house-turned-recording studio on West Grand Boulevard. In short, Motown didn’t simply reconfigure what hits of that era sounded like, it played an instrumental role in diversifying the airwaves of US radio stations.