Berry Gordy to Step Down
from Motown Records.
The 89-year-old record producer confirmed his retirement
in Detroit at the label's 60th anniversary celebration.
Gordy sold Motown around 30 years ago,
but has kept an active presence
in company operations.
I have come full circle. It is only appropriate [to announce this] while here in Detroit, the city where my fairy tale happened with all of you, Berry Gordy, via 'Detroit Free Press'.
Gordy originally founded Motown in the Michigan city back in 1959.
The label went on to help launch the
careers of legendary musicians like
Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder.
Besides producing, Gordy also
wrote numerous hit songs. .
He is credited with penning
The Jackson 5's "ABC" and
"I Want You Back.".
After achieving major success in the
1960s, Gordy re-located Motown
to Los Angeles in 1972.
He has since been inducted into the
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, which
honored him in 1998.
Gordy's long list of achievements includes
a National Medal of Arts award, which
he took home in 2016