We preceded our long drive back home with a visit to one of the most coveted cultural institutions there ever was: Motown.
We all know the music, we all know the stars, now we were here to hear the story and let me tell you all what, what a story it is. This roughly seventy-five minute guided tour through the historical Motown complex was full of insight and inspiration. The Motown sound not only defined a generation, but has continued defining generations ever since. Plus, personally, I’m absolutely obsessed. This was actually my second time here, my first remains quite memorable, but I don’t think I’d ever be able to visit Detroit without visiting. With so many unique stories and songs, each experience would surely be one of a kind.
Needless to say, Melissa and I cried a handful of times on this tour and the first came right out the gate. When we had to go around and share where we were all from, we saw that we were on a tour with a family from France, another from the United Kingdom, a couple from Canada, and then several people from all over the United States. This is the power of the Motown sound. Everyone, everywhere knows these songs and people quite literally come from all across the world to be where the magic was made. This was the perfect introduction to an absolutely perfect tour.
Motown is about to break ground on a fifty million dollar expansion that’ll be open to the public in roughly eighteen months time. As you can imagine I’m already mapping my next trip back.
Motown was literally just a series of houses in inner-city Detroit. Many of them have been sold off now, but a handful still remain as part of the museum.
Berry Gordy, the founder and owner of Motown, was a one of a kind businessman. Due to the payola crisis (record labels paying radio stations to play their songs), the government mandated that only two songs per record label could be played on any given radio station each hour. To get around this, Gordy created several unique record labels under the Motown imprint, so his artists could be ensured more airtime.
Arguably the single biggest star of all time got his start on the Motown label as part of the Jackson 5, that’s right, Michael Jackson. He took this tour in October of 1988 while at a Detroit stop of his Bad World Tour and made the donation as described in the informational piece above. Loved see that he never forgot where he came from.
The secretary’s office at Studio A. People would come here and sit for hours, days even, for a chance to audition before Berry Gordy and the Motown Brass.
Cue the second cry. The tour guide shared this lovely story about little Stevie Wonder who was not only a child when he became a star, but also blind. He loved the candy bar in the fourth slot and the Motown employees would keep dimes on top the vending machine for him to use for one when he was in the studio. Well, museum patrons have taken to leaving dimes up there now and needless to say, this got us in our feels.
The sound mixing booth that overlooked Studio A.
Where the magic happened.
Being inside of here was like being on sacred ground. Seeing the floor worn away from where the executives would sit and tap their feet was honestly beyond moving. Just hearing the stories and how so many of the songs we all know came to be from inside this very room was such a rewarding experience and one I’ll eternally hold onto. Motown changed music forever.
The tour goes through a couple of different buildings, so it’s not as petite as it appears in this shot, but this structure here is the home of Motown Studio A. This experience is a strong 10/10 for me. Highly Recommend! It really was the perfect ending to a perfect trip!
This was a vacation I’d been wanting to take for quite a while and I’m beyond thankful we did. Michigan is an absolutely incredible state that offers so many unique experiences that truly cannot be duplicated anywhere else. I’m happy to share and advise anyone who might be wanting to travel there themselves. Trust me, don’t sleep on Michigan! Sleep IN Michigan instead when you’re there experiencing all this incredible destination has to offer!
As always, THANK YOU so much for viewing! Please feel free to leave me a comment below as I love reading and responding to them! I’ll return soon with another all-new post, so until then, I wish you all, all the best!
Working hard everyday towards achieving my goal of becoming an international best-selling author. Wrote the book, just need the agent and publisher. Received the ultimate endorsement when Britney Spears wrote me saying she'd be one of the first in line to buy my book! #FreeBritney
Always loved Motowns music would love to go and visit this place one day. I’m sure it was pretty neat and these are some great pictures.
You absolutely must go one day! You’ll be beyond thankful you did!