Curated OER
Salad Sisters
Students practice and perform 8 and 16 beat rhythmic patterns in 4/4 using the song "Salad Sisters" as a basis in this elementary-level General Music lesson. An amazing lesson for teaching cooperative music composition techniques and...
Curated OER
Say It Loud!: A Celebration Of Black Music in America - Lesson 3
Students listen to many examples of Motown music and explain the relationship between the word "Motown" and the city of Detroit. They examine and identify distinctive musical elements of the early "Motown Sound."
Curated OER
The Motown Dynasty (1969-1980) Part 2
Students connect achievements of noted artists with their roles in the music industry. They identify many Black music industry leaders and their contributions with the Motown Sound.
Curated OER
Say It Loud!: A Celebration Of Black Music In America
Students listen to and discuss the characteristics of Motown music. They recognize Motown music by its titles.
Curated OER
Say It Loud!: A Celebration Of Black Music In America
Learners listen to a selection of early Berry Gordy songs and identify musical characteristics of Motown music and recognize the relationship between Detroit and the development of a recording industry leader.
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: The Supremes
The most popular female group of the sixties, The Supremes was headed by a singer named Diana Ross. Use this site to learn about their career, their hit songs, even the break-up of the group. Also included in this site is a timeline just...
Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia Britannica: Guide to Black History: Motown
Information on the popular style of music called Motown that developed from a recording company of the same name.
Georgia Humanities Council and the University of Georgia Press.
New Georgia Encyclopedia: Gladys Knight (B. 1944)
Explore the life and career of Motown's leading lady of soul, Gladys Knight. Along with the family music group "the Pips", she had numerous hits that reached the top of R&B and pop music charts.
Library of Congress
Loc: America's Story: Michigan
Discover the "Great Lakes State." Learn all of the different nicknames for Michigan. Library of Congress website gives us a wide range of information.
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: Dusty Springfield
Provides informative biographical details on Sixties pop recording diva, Dusty Springfield, a 1999 inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Includes a timeline of key events, recommended reading, and essential songs list.
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: Gladys Knight and the Pips
Includes comprehensive biographical details on soul group Gladys Knight and the Pips, 1996 inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Includes a timeline of key events and essential songs list.
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: Martha and the Vandellas
Read biographical details on Sixties pop-soul female group, Martha and the Vandellas, 1995 inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Includes a timeline of key events, recommended reading list, and essential songs.
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: Marvin Gaye
Provides comprehensive biographical details on soul musician Marvin Gaye, a 1987 inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Includes a timeline of key events, essential songs, and recommended reading list.
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: Smokey Robinson
Uncover many fascinating facts about the life of singer, songwriter, producer and talent scout, Smokey Robinson who was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1987. He had 27 Top Forty hits!
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: The Temptations
The Temptations typified what Motown was all about in the 1960s. Read the history behind this Grammy winning group that at one time ruled the Top Forty and were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1989.
John F. Kennedy Center
The Kennedy Center: Smokey Robinson
Read enlightening biographical details on the life and career of Motown singing star, Smokey Robinson, whose music has been described as "poetry".
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: The Jackson Five
Learn informative biographical details on popular Seventies Motown group, The Jackson Five, 1997 inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Includes a timeline of key events, recommended reading list, and essential songs.
Classical Bands
Classicbands: Smokey Robinson
Read biographical information and interesting facts about famous Motown legend, Smokey Robinson, award winning soul singer and songwriter.
John F. Kennedy Center
The Kennedy Center: Diana Ross
Explores the life and career of singer and actress, Diana Ross. As part of the group The Supremes and on her own, she defined the Motown sound in the Sixties and has won numerous entertainment awards.
English Club
English Club: History of Soul Music
Learn the history of soul music from its origins in gospel music, through Motown and Memphis Soul, to contemporary rhythm and blues. The site includes three videos: Sam Cooke singing "A Change is Gonna Come," from 1964, with images from...
Other
Stax Museum of American Soul Music
The Stax Museum of American Soul Music is all about Stax Records, and features a timeline and lists of hit singles.
Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia Britannica: The Four Tops
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features the Four Tops, an American vocal group that was one of Motown's most popular acts in the 1960s.
Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia Britannica: The Supremes
Features a biographical sketch of American pop-soul vocal group, the Supremes, whose tremendous popularity with a broad audience made its members among the most successful performers of the 1960s and the flagship act of Motown Records.
Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia Britannica: Martha and the Vandellas
Features an overview of the career of Martha (Reeves) and the Vandellas, popular female vocal group of the 1960s that was part of the Motown sound. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995.