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Published 16:44 IST, September 23rd 2019

Berry Gordy, founder of Motown records, retires at the age of 89

Berry Gordy, the music mogul who created Motown records, retired at 89. The mogul was known for making the careers of music stars such as Michael Jackson.

Reported by: Ruchit Rastogi
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Berry Gordy
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Berry Gordy, the music mogul who created Motown records, retired at the age of 89. The mogul was known for making the careers of music stars such as likes of Michael Jackson and Stevie Wonder. At Motown's 60th anniversary party, Gordy said that it was the right time to retire as head come a full circle in a career spanning decades. 

Motown Records

The songwriter built his music and movie empire in the form of Motown Records right from the scratch that went way past the social barriers set up due to racism and made everyone hear the genres of R&B and soul music and the Motown Museum was founded by Berry's sister, Esther, in their former Hitsville HQ on the West Grand Boulevard in the year 1985. 

Berry Gordy started Motown Records in the year 1959 in Detroit but moved the base to the city of Los Angeles in 1972 and finally sold it in the year 1988 but was an active member by being a part of the Motown museum.

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Earlier, the founder also made a donation of $4 million in relation to a project that focused on the expansion of a museum present right in the building where he built his music empire. The generous gift by Berry inspired other companies such as Ford Motors, his previous employers, to make a generous donation.

He further added that it was his pleasure to make the donation as he was excited to see what the future held for the Motown museum. Gordy stated that the expansion will not only tell people stories about the music industry and the people who became successful against all odds but it will motivate them to follow their dreams just like he and the other people did. 

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A world-class destination

The plans for the museum expansion have interactive showpieces, a theater for a performance, recording studios and bigger spaces for meeting people. Although, one of Gordy's family member stated that the donation made by the music mogul helped their vision of making the Motown museum a world-class destination for entertainment and education.

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15:38 IST, September 23rd 2019