MOTOWN

Known as "the sound of young America," Motown Records was a great American success story. Who were the top 10 Motown acts during this heyday period between 1960 and 1972?

As this year's group of finalists on American Idol sang hits from Motown, who stood out? And who might be going home?

Motown gave birth to the Motown Sound by featuring Diana Ross & the Supremes, Smokey Robinson & the Miracles, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, The Jackson Five, The Temptations, The Four Tops, The Commodores, Gladys Knight & the Pips, and many others.

Gordy bridged the gap of racial discrimination and integrated the black culture into white society by producing music that touched all people, regardless of the color of their skin, making Motown a vehicle of black pride and self-expression.

Before Motown' birth, black music was seen as a minority taste. In reality, Motown shook up the music industry with a stream of back-to-back hits forging the road for continued dominance of modern R&B music.

Motown created the grounds on which broader cultural integration would follow in the 1970s and emphasized on race relations and community life as a means to create an impact on popular music and social structure.

American Idol perorms songs from Motown songbook

Wednesday's episode was supposed to be a Motown mélange of old classics with Smokey Robinson's expertise helping the hopefuls; instead, it turned into Simon & Paula's Playhouse.

A review of the Thursday 3/26/2009 American Idol result show, on which Michael Sarver was eliminated.

A review of the results of Motown week on American Idol.

And then there were nine... Motown week on "American Idol" ended with a night filled with music and a final good bye for one of the top ten contestants -- Michael Sarver.

A review of Motown Week on American Idol

After a trip to Detroit to visit Hitstown USA the top 10 American Idol hopefuls got down to work preparing for a Motown showdown

Motown Week gave the Idol's a chance to perform a new genre of songs with the help of Berry Gordy and Smokey Robinson. Check out my Idol recap and Idol predictions.

The American Idol Top 10 were set to groove to Motown Wednesday night in Hollywood. Most shined. Adama Lambert and Allison Iraheta dominated. But there were a couple of major disappointments and one catastrophic "trainwreck"...

Wednesday's Idol showcased Motown hits with the help of the great Smokey Robinson.

Michael Sarver falls short in this week's Top Ten performance

A review of contestant Adam Lambert's performance during Motown week on American Idol

If you thought American Idol contestant Adam Lambert was a one-hit wonder, this past Tuesday's Motown performance will make you think again.

Adam Lambert stands out again on American Idol. This week with a performance of "Tracks of My Tears" by Smokey Robinson. See how all the AI contestant did with Motown week.

A preview of the up coming performances by the American Idol top 10 for Motown week.

Jackie Wilson, Detroit Motown singer, is buried in this small cemetery located at Michigan Avenue and Merriman Roads in Wayne, Michigan.

The Funk Brothers were responsible for all of the backround music for Motown.

Do you remember the hits of the 60's and 70's? Many of them were recorded on the Motown record label which Berry Gordy had founded himself. Find out how Gordy made his way to the top by reading this informative artcle today!

Motown Records produced songs that, forty years after hitting the charts, still get played all the time. Some great songs, though, have gotten lost over time