Photo by Clay Larsen

Growing up in the city of Detroit during the early sixties was a remarkable time for music. It was a period when the unique and distinctive sound of Motown records could be heard playing on the streets, in nightclubs, at house parties, and on radio stations everywhere. Soulful R&B records were a common feature on jukeboxes, while people danced in the streets or sang love songs in barber shops and beauty parlors. These tunes captivated the hearts of countless people around the world. It was a time when music was all about vinyl records and rhythm and blues The Annals Of Blues Guitar - The blues guitar is a genre of music that can be vocal, instrumental or both. It primarily uses the 'blue' notes, which are based on a 'minor pentatonic' scale, also known as the blues scale. Blues music originated in African-American communities in the U.S., drawing from work songs, spirituals, field hollers, chants, shouts, and simple… soul, with no CDs or hip-hop music in sight.

The songs produced by Motown songwriters during the 60s and 70s had deep meaning. They were songs that spoke about real love, current events, and the heartaches and trials of life experiences. Motown had it all going on! Their music became universal, crossing over into different genres like pop, jazz, and blues. But as George Benson mentioned in one of his recordings, “Everything Must Change,” and indeed, he was right about the music.

After providing many years of great service and music to the city of Detroit, Motown moved on, and rap/hip-hop took its place. Instead of hearing someone singing “My Baby Loves Me” or “My Girl,” you started hearing new lyrics expressing street experiences with rhythmic beats created using the mouth, chest, hands, and feet, which had never been heard before.

This completely new music, known as rap, emerged in the early 80s and skyrocketed in popularity in the late 90s and the new millennium as hip-hop/rap. Even today, rap/hip-hop music remains a multi-billion dollar genre. Millions of albums, videos, and DVDs are released every year in the hip-hop genre. There is no sign that hip-hop is slowing down or taking a back seat to anyone anytime soon.

But what happened to the Motown sound? Did it fade away? No! The Motown sound will never die out. It will always hold a significant place in the hearts and minds of those who appreciated its sound in the early 60s and passed it on to their children throughout the 70s, 80s, and 90s.

Sometimes, you need to step aside and allow the new generation of artists to express their musical talents, songs, and ideas. That’s what Motown did—they moved over, not out. And now, the hip-hop artists are no longer the new kids on the block. They have taken their place to express themselves musically, just as the rhythm and blues artists did in the Motown era.

Manuel Marino

Manuel Marino is a seasoned Senior Producer, Music Composer, and Artist with over a decade of experience. He specializes in branded entertainment across various mediums, including video games, films, and advertising campaigns. With 20+ years as a game music composer, Manuel has worked on numerous platforms, creating diverse orchestral soundtracks. HIRE ME

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