Today in1961 Motown released its first number one hit, "Please Mr. Postman" by The Marvelettes.
This vintage video is fantastic. The Marvelettes look like they are having a great time. Their dance moves are joyous!
Motown had a trademark "The Motown Sound". The Motown Sound was typified by a number of characteristics: the use of tambourines to accent the back beat, prominent and often melodic electric bass guitar lines, distinctive melodic and chord structures, and a call and response singing style.
Artist development was a major part of Motown's operations. The acts on the Motown label were fastidiously groomed, dressed and choreographed for live performances. Motown artists were advised that they should think, act, walk and talk like royalty. Given that many of the talented young artists had been raised in housing projects and were short on social and dress skills, this Motown department was not only necessary, it created an elegant style of presentation long associated with the label.
This sounds exactly like the way that we develope and prepare new models for the shows - buying them new clothes, teaching them to walk, sending them to school to learn English.
Motown was the Voice of Young America before the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and during the entire Vietnam War. I love Motown. Those songs make me smile, make me dance, make me sing, make me happy.
