Posted by | Ray Cornelius
Ain’t No Mountain High Enough for legendary Motown Records founder Berry Gordy!
Not only is he basking in the glory of his new Broadway show Motown: The Musical, which opened this week for reviews, he is now the recipient of this year’s Pioneer Award at the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
According to THR, Gordy will receive the prestigious award which was established last year “to honor the career of a historic creator of an extensive body of musical work that has been a major influence on generations of songwriters.”
Jimmy Webb, Songwriters Hall of Fame chairman says, “Berry Gordy is an innovator and a visionary. Yes, he created a label, but more than that, he created a genre. Think about it, he pioneered a marketplace for African American artistry and then he invited the world in to enjoy it.”
Motown was responsible for the careers of such iconic artists such as Diana Ross and The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, The Temptations, Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson, Gladys Knight & the Pips and of course, Michael Jackson and The Jackson 5.
Congratulations Mr. Gordy for leaving such an indelible mark on the world of music!