motown

English - English

Definition of motown in English English dictionary

Detroit

A style of artists/bands which recorded for Motown Records

They may be a rock band, but their retro style shows a heavy Motown influence.

A jack and a five as a starting hand in Texas hold 'em

{i} musical style that began with Black musicians in the Detroit area (characterized by pop and rhythm and blues beats)

{i} nickname for Detroit Michigan (capital of the auto industry in the USA)

U.S. recording company that gave its name to the hugely popular style of soul music that it created in the 1960s. It was founded in Detroit, Mich., in 1959 by the songwriter Berry Gordy, Jr. (b. 1929). (Motown, a contraction of "Motor Town," refers to Detroit's automotive industry.) It scored its first nationwide hits with "Shop Around" (1960) by the Miracles (see Smokey Robinson) and "Please Mr. Postman" (1961) by the Marvelettes. Its roster soon included the Temptations, the Four Tops, the Supremes, Marvin Gaye, and Stevie Wonder. The songwriting team Holland-Dozier-Holland (see Brian and Eddie Holland) helped create the "Motown sound," which typically featured lyrical ballads sung to an infectiously rhythmic accompaniment. Motown became one of the most successful black-owned businesses and one of the most influential independent record companies in U.S. history. Later Motown names included the Isley Brothers, Gladys Knight and the Pips, and, in 1969, the Jackson 5 (see Michael Jackson). Motown continued to produce best-selling recordings by new artists such as Lionel Ritchie into the 1980s. Gordy moved the company headquarters to Los Angeles in 1971, and he finally sold the label to MCA in 1988

A jack and a five as a starting hand in Texas hold em

the largest city in Michigan and a major Great Lakes port; center of the United States automobile industry; located in southeastern Michigan on the Detroit river across from Windsor

Related Terms

Motown Records

recording company founded by Black musicians from the Detroit area (recorded many famous Black artists such as Chuck Berry, Steve Wonder, Marvin Gaye, and more)

Hyphenation

Mo·town

Turkish pronunciation

mōtaun

Pronunciation

/ˈmōˌtoun/ /ˈmoʊˌtaʊn/

Etymology

() Blend of motor and town