From the MCRFB NEWS archive: 1965
LONDON — Britain has been invaded by Tamla-Motown. The label has been launched here in March (distributed by EMI) with the arrival of the Supremes, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, the Miracles, the Temptations, Stevie Wonder and the Earl Van Dyke Sextet for a town to town tour and a rash of television appearances. At the moment it is almost impossible to switch on a TV set in the evening without seeing one of the distinguishable Motown acts.
Berry Gordy, Jr., flew in with his “family,” as he refers to his stable of hitmakers. Gordy admits modestly to being a millionaire (the sterling type), but talks about his stars with far more affection than business enthusiasm.
“But I like to think as myself as a businessman. After all Tamla-Motown represents a lot of money now and we try to pull the best deals whenever we can.” That’s an understatement. He is negotiating release of Tamla-Motown records on their own mark throughout the world and continually adding to the roster of talent.
“But I never had the fear of the sound going out. It is not actually true that we have built a business on one actual sound — we have built it around a basic feeling, but at the same time we try to have a variety of sounds and styles. I think there is a big difference, for example, between Martha Reeves and the Vandellas and the Supremes.
“We are also diversifying. Just recently we signed Billy Eckstein and Tony Martin. The Supremes just recently had a country and western album out in America and I have just finished another LP with them, ‘There’s A Place For Us,’ which features all the big Broadway tunes, ‘Somewhere’ and ‘People,’ among them. But I would never get too far from the style (of music) we have become famous for because — well, we like it.”
Thirty-five-year-old Gordy believes a lot in goodwill and in London he seemed to spend a lot of more time looking after the welfare of his artists and their various relations than he devoted to business matters.
On the comparison British journalists have made between him and Brian Epstein, Gordy said, “Epstein is considered with tremendous regard throughout the world and though I feel our role is somewhat different, I think that it is both a favorable and flattering comparison.”
Gordy also stated he is not particularly keen on making a film deal for his Tamla-Motown artists but revealed he had the world sale rights of the TV spectacular they made for the Rediffusion at the start of their British trip. Gordy said he has had many offers to buy Tamla-Motown. “But the label means a lot more to us than just money — it’s hard to say what I might do some day. At present, I don’t intend to sell it.” END
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(Information and news source: Billboard; April 3, 1965)
