Motown: The Sound of Young America

The official visual history of Motown, the legendary record label that brought us some of the greatest recording artists of all time―from Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross and Smokey Robinson to Marvin Gaye and The Jackson 5―and changed music forever

The music of Motown defined an era. From The Jackson 5 and Diana Ross to Stevie Wonder and Smokey Robinson, Berry Gordy and his right-hand man, Barney Ales, built the most successful independent record label in the world. Motown not only represented the most iconic recording artists of its time and produced countless global hits, it created a cultural institution that redefined pop, and gave us the vision of a new America: vibrant, innovative, and racially equal.

In this first official visual history of the label, new research, a dazzling array of images, and unprecedented access to the archives of the makers and stars of Motown lend new insight to the legend. In addition to extensive specially commissioned photography of treasures extracted from the Motown archives, as well as the personal collections of Barney Ales and Motown stars, Motown: The Sound of Young America draws on interviews with key players from the label’s colorful history, including Motown founder Berry Gordy, Barney Ales, Smokey Robinson, Mary Wilson, founding member of the Supremes, and many more.  1000+ illustrations