20 top artists who helped shape the Motown sound

The 1960s era was known for brewing some of the top groups of soul and funk, and The Four Tops were at the forefront. With songs such as “Baby I Need Your Loving” and “It’s The Same Old Song,” they proved how a group with harmony being led by a baritone is golden. They started out as a jazz group, but once they got their top 20 hit on the Billboard chart, they started recording more R&B.

Besides their harmonies, The Temptations were known for their choreography and debonair threads. The group was signed to Motown in 1961 and became the label’s first act to win a Grammy Award, in 1969. They went on to record a number of hit singles, including “My Girl” and “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg.”

When Marvin Gaye first signed to the Motown imprint, Tamla, he started as a songwriter and drummer for a few other artists when his own singles weren’t successful. He gained traction on a duet album with Mary Wells but saw more success on his collaborations with Tammi Terrell. In 1968, his first No. 1 hit was “I Heard It Through the Grapevine,” and he returned with his top hit “What’s Going On” in 1970. 

In 1961, Stevie Wonder signed to Motown when he was just 11 years old. In his early Motown days, he was known for recording covers and instrumentals. However, he saw more success in the late ‘60s with hits such as “My Cherie Amour” and “Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours.” With a career spanning nearly six decades, Wonder has won 25 Grammy Awards, an Oscar, and he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

The Commodores first came together at Tuskegee University where they played at local shows, festivals and fraternity parties. When they first signed to Motown, they gained a lot of attention in the ‘70s as the opening act for the Jackson 5. Their hits include “Easy, "Zoom" and “Three Times a Lady.”

Although Erykah Badu first came onto the scene in 1997, she didn’t sign with Motown until her sophomore album, “Mama’s Gun,” in 2000. She went on to release a number of hits, including “Bag Lady” and “Didn’t Cha Know.”

Teena Marie was signed as a solo act, even though she got her start as a group, but many of her recordings were shelved until Rick James saw her potential. Her soulful duet with James, “I’m A Sucker for Your Love,” helped Marie land her first top 10 R&B hit. With hits like "Square Biz" and "Fire and Desire," Marie became known as the Ivory Queen of Soul. 

Berry Gordy has Smokey Robinson to thank for giving him advice about starting his own label. Gordy was a songwriter for another label, which wasn’t impressed with the Miracles’ audition. But Gordy was and put out the group’s first single, “Got a Job.” Once they joined Motown they had a number of hits, including “Who’s Lovin’ You” and “You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me.”

When it comes to the best-selling groups of all time, Boyz II Men is high on the list. With a career that spans nearly 30 years, the group has not only managed to give fans hit songs but also steady tours as well. Some of their top hits include “Motownphilly,” “End of the Road” and “On Bended Knee.”

The group started doing background vocals for acts in the 1960s. Berry Gordy was so impressed with a demo recording of a Mary Wells track, he signed the group to a contract. They went on to record hit songs such as “Heat Wave” and “Dancing in the Street.”

One of the greatest groups of all time, the Jackson 5 had a hard time convincing Berry Gordy to sign them to a contract. Even after winning talent shows at the Apollo, Gordy rejected their auditions a couple of times before having a change of heart. Once they took over Motown, they released singles such as “I Want You Back” and “ABC.” The band also capitalized on their success with younger fans, promoting Jackson 5 board games, coloring books and TV cartoons.

The group members met in high school and participated in a talent show that landed them an audition for Motown. Some of their hits included “Please Mr. Postman” and “Don’t Mess with Bill.” Although many of their songs charted, they saw quite the competition with fellow labelmates The Supremes along with Martha Reeves and the Vandellas.

Lead singer Gladys Knight was a bit hesitant about joining the Motown label, as she felt the group would be overlooked on such a heavy roster. She eventually obliged, and Gordy signed them to his Motown Soul Records imprint. Besides the group’s hits like “I Heard It Through The Grapevine” and “If I Was Your Woman,” Knight helped convince Gordy to sign one of the label’s most lucrative acts, The Jackson 5.

The Isley Brothers saw minor success before signing with Motown in 1965. However, they stayed on the label for only three years after they saw their success coming to a halt. While on Motown, they had hits like “This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak For You)” and “Behind a Painted Smile.”

Singer BJ the Chicago Kid released a couple of mixtapes before signing his deal with Motown in 2012. His hit songs such as “Church” and “The Resume" showcase how much of his vocals are reminiscent of the classic Motown sound.  

Berry Gordy recruited Tammi Terrell after seeing her perform at a nightclub in Detroit and signed her to a record deal. She saw minor success with her first few singles but really came alive once she started recording duets with labelmate Marvin Gaye. Some of their biggest collaborations included “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” and “You're All I Need to Get By.”

Ne-Yo first came onto the scene in 2005, but big news came for him when he left his record label, Def Jam, and moved on to become Motown’s senior vice president of A&R in 2012. Since then, he’s mentored up-and-coming artists and released hits such as “She Knows” and “Good Man.”

Although Motown started with soul and funk singers, over time the label has broadened its horizons to include different forms of pop music such as rap. Atlanta trio Migos is one of the most popular rap groups in today’s industry. Some of their hits include “Bad and Boujee” and “Walk It Like I Talk It.”

Although Motown was known for soulful singers, Rick James helped show how artists can help propel the sound. He gave the label more of a punk-rock feel for funk artists. Some of his biggest hits include “Give it to Me Baby” and “Super Freak.”

Before Diana Ross became known as "The Boss," she was the lead singer of girl group The Supremes. The group won local contests and sang backup for stars like Marvin Gaye and Mary Wells, before Motown founder Berry Gordy signed the women to a record deal. Some of their top songs included “Stop! In the Name of Love” and “You Can’t Hurry Love.” The Supremes were known for wearing lavish gowns and wigs while showing off their smooth dance moves.