Motown biography

ByWilliam FischerandSamantha Sanders

Today, the word "Motown" is so ingrained in our culture, it's easy to forget it hasn't always been a way to casually refer to Detroit or to describe a kind of infectious pop-soul music.

In fact, Motown Records as we know it has only been around since 1960, but its influence is mighty. Much of that is thanks to Berry Gordy Jr., Motown's founder.

Motown biography for kids

Gordy was born in the Motor City in 1929 and his beginnings are a classic Great Migration experience.

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Born the seventh of eight children, Gordy's father moved the family from Georgia to Detroit before Gordy was born, likely drawn there by jobs in the booming auto industry.

Gordy dropped out of high school to pursue his dream of becoming a professional boxer, and he had a pretty good record, too, as BoxRec reveals, but the Korean War draft interrupted that dream. After a return from Korea (where he'd earned