Legacy of Motown
Artists and genres Motown directly influenced — one hop forward on the family tree of music.
Dan HartmanartistDaniel Earl Hartman was an American pop rock musician. Among songs he wrote and recorded were "Free Ride" as a member of the Edgar Winter Group, and the solo hits "Relight My Fire", "Instant Replay", "I Can Dream About You", "We Are the Young" and "Second Nature". "I Can Dream About You", his most successful US hit, reached No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1984. The James Brown song "Living in America", which Hartman co-wrote and produced, reached No. 4 on March 1, 1986.
Kind of Like SpittingartistKind of Like Spitting is an American indie rock band. They formed in 1996 in Portland, Oregon. The band was led by singer-songwriter Ben Barnett, whose work has drawn comparisons to Elliott Smith, Mark Eitzel, Billy Bragg, and Robert Pollard.
Mac AyresartistMaclean Daniel Ayres, better known as Mac Ayres, is an American R&B singer-songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist.
Phil Lynottartist
Mable Johnartist
Eddie Hollandartist
Mary Wellsartist
The Miraclesartist
The Marvelettesartist- The Supremesartist
Diana Rossartist
The Four TopsartistThe Four Tops are an American vocal group formed in Detroit, Michigan, in 1953 as the Four Aims. They were one of the most commercially successful American pop music groups of the 1960s and helped propel Motown Records to international fame. The group's repertoire has incorporated elements of soul, R&B, disco, adult contemporary, doo-wop, jazz, and show tunes. Lead singer Levi Stubbs, along with backing vocalists Abdul "Duke" Fakir, Renaldo "Obie" Benson and Lawrence Payton remained together in the group for more than four decades, performing until 1997 without a change in personnel. Along with fellow Motown groups the Miracles, the Marvelettes, Martha and the Vandellas, the Temptations, and the Supremes, the Four Tops helped to establish the "Motown sound"; pop-friendly soul and R&B with a clean, polished production quality. They were notable for having Stubbs, a baritone, as their lead singer, whereas most other male and mixed vocal groups of the time were fronted by tenors.
- The Jackson 5artist
Stevie Wonderartist
Marvin Gayeartist
The Temptationsartist
The ContoursartistThe Contours are an American rhythm and blues vocal group. They recorded for Motown Records. They are known for their 1962 hit single "Do You Love Me", which sold over 1 million copies and became a major hit again in 1988.
Edwin StarrartistCharles Edwin Hatcher, known by his stage name Edwin Starr, was an American singer and songwriter. He is best remembered for his Norman Whitfield-produced Motown singles of the 1970s, most notably the number-one hit "War".
Martha and the Vandellasartist
The Velvelettesartist
The Spinnersartist
The Monitorsartist
Chris Clarkartist
Jr. Walker & The All StarsartistAutry DeWalt Mixon Jr., known professionally as Junior Walker, was an American multi-instrumentalist and vocalist who recorded for Motown during the 1960s. He also performed as a session and live-performing saxophonist with the band Foreigner during the 1980s.