Berry Gordy borrows $800 from his family savings club and starts Tamla Record Co.
2 of
PHOTO BY: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
1960
Motown releases its first hit single, “Money (That’s What I Want),” sung by Barrett Strong.
The Miracles featuring Smokey Robinson record “Shop Around,” the first Motown record to sell 1 million copies.
3 of
PHOTO BY: Gilles Petard/Getty Images
1961
The Marvelettes release “Please Mr. Postman.” This was the first Motown song to reach the No. 1 position on the Billboard Hot 100 pop singles chart.
4 of
PHOTO BY: Pictorial Press Ltd/Alamy
1962
The Contours release “Do You Love Me?” — which was written for the Temptations. Because Gordy was unable to locate the group, the song was given to the Contours.
5 of
PHOTO BY: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
1963
Mary Wells appears on American Bandstand with Dick Clark.
6 of
PHOTO BY: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
1964
The Temptations’ first Top 20 hit is “The Way You Do the Things You Do.”
7 of
PHOTO BY: Bruce Davidson/Getty Images
1965
Six Motown releases reach No. 1, including “I Can’t Help Myself” by the Four Tops and “Stop! In the Name of Love” by the Supremes.
8 of
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9 of
PHOTO BY: Pictorial Press Ltd/Alamy Stock Photo
1966
Gladys Knight & the Pips, rising stars from Atlanta, sign a record deal with Motown.
10 of
PHOTO BY: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
1967
Martha and the Vandellas release “Jimmy Mack” on the Gordy label.
11 of
PHOTO BY: Alan Pembleton/Alamy Stock Photo; Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
1968
Marvin Gaye’s version of “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” hits No. 1 on the pop chart.
12 of
PHOTO BY: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
1969
The Jackson 5 performs at the Daisy Disco in Los Angeles, with an introduction by Diana Ross.
13 of
PHOTO BY: David Hickes/Alamy Stock Photo
1970
Edwin Starr releases “War.”
14 of
PHOTO BY: Cover photo by Henry Diltz from Rolling Stone issue dated April 29, 1971
1971
Michael Jackson appears on the cover of Rolling Stone for the first time.
15 of
PHOTO BY: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images (2); FremantleMedia/REX/Shutterstock
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