Motown Records founder Barry Gordy was born on this day in 1929. One of the most successful music industry execs ever, you'd think a man with such a golden ear would be sure of a sure thing when he heard one. As it turns out, just like the rest of us, Gordy could be plagued with doubts, and often equivocated when it came time to sign a future living legend, as he admits in this 2013 interview with British talk show host Jonathan Ross:
Yes, that's Richard Gere to the right of Gordy, and, further down on the couch, Jack Black. The young woman sitting in between Gere and Black obviously needs no introduction.
Now back to Gordy, who in 1963 was so unsure of Stevie Wonder's potential that before signing him he made the child take a...
...test, the results of which revealed young Stevie to be a...
...genius!
OK, so maybe it didn't happen quite that way, but the young lad was more than talented enough, as you'll see in the following ancient videotape:
I don't know about you, but those numbers running in the lower left corner are making me nervous! Let me get my smelling salts.
OK, I'm better now. Onto The Jackson 5, the success of which in 1970 was so much in doubt that in the likelihood they failed, Gordy would need a...
...fall guy.
So? Were they a bust? You decide:
I'll decide. The kids remained gainfully employed. For that matter, so did Miss Ross.
Roisin Conaty, a British comedienne, in the off chance she did need an introduction.
Once he did make the decisions, though, I'm sure he never regretted them.
ReplyDeleteDebra, Gordy second-guessed himself all the way to the bank.
DeletePrecisely!
DeleteMitchell, what's a sure thing good for anyway if it can't provide a degree of assurance?
DeleteHi, Kirk!
ReplyDeleteHappy 94th birthday (here on Earth still) to Motown founder Berry Gordy! It doesn't surprise me one bit that Gordy didn't "get" Little Stevie Wonder and doubted the potential of the Jackson 5 featuring the future King of Pop - Michael. From Elvis to the Beatles to Milli Vanilly???... there are countless examples throughout the history of rock & roll of individual artists, groups and bands being dismissed by the people who controlled the purse strings of the record industry - businessmen sitting in office buildings, many of them completely out of touch with the youth movement and, in some cases, actually hating the type of music young radio listeners and record buyers wanted to hear. In spite of the ignorance and bias of those "suits," superstars emerged and transformed popular music and culture.
I hope you are well and in good spirits, Kirk. Take care of yourself. I hope to see you again just before Christmas when I return with another installment of my Saved series. Happy holidays to you, good buddy!
Shady, the self-assurance Stevie Wonder and Michael Jackson showed as performers at such young ages is still a bit surprising all these years later. Maybe their cockiness put Gordy off.
DeleteWell, I introduced myself to Roisin Conaty on Youtube. She's got such a thick accent I understood about half of what she said. But what I did understand was funny. I'll have to check out the Ricky Gervais series she's in.
ReplyDeleteI'll have to check it out too, Mike.
DeleteMs Conaty did need an introduction. I've never heard of her. For no real reason (ok, I lie) which Jackson in the clip is in the striped pants?
ReplyDeleteAndrew, it all depends on how we define "striped", since all of their pants are pretty wild. If it's the Jackson on the far left with the guitar, I think that's Tito, who would have been about 17 in 1970 when this was taped.
DeleteHello Kirk, Congratulations to Berry Gordy on his remarkable career and talents, and on his longevity. I still don't have the faintest idea who Roisin Conaty is. --Jim
ReplyDeleteJim, Roisin Conalty is not at all well-known in the United States, and even in Great Britain her fame is negligible. I just found it funny seeing her sitting among Barry Gordy, Richard Gere, and Jack Black. Talk shows in the UK still have their guests slide down on the couch, which hasn't been the norm on U.S talk shows for decades. It used to be though. Before it was cut back to an hour, Johnny Carson's Tonight Show would have as many as four or five people on that couch (with Ed McMahon at the very end.) Most of these couch-sitters would be the rich and famous, but there was always somebody there who hadn't quite attained that level of notoriety. Usually a pretty girl. Carol Wayne for instance. She appeared alongside Johnny in those Art Fern Tea Time Sketches, and that usually earned her a spot on the couch.
DeleteTo be fair, I just watched a couple of Roisin Conalty clips on Youtube. She can be amusing and contribute her part to the banter, but to be honest, that type of show is not what I usually seek out. However, with humorists it is important to get vested in their personalities to find them funny, so the photo you showed is just the kind of publicity comedians (and other actors) need to get started. --Jim
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