Pretty much a straight-ahead instrumental soloist, he took an even more direct route as singer, aiming for visceral connection and power. There could be no more complete an outsider artist at Motown than R&B saxophonist Junior Walker.
Not only was this James’s strongest set of songs, with powerful arrangements and production by the artist, there was a cohesive vision, too, leaning heavily on ‘in the life’ observation and personal experience – Ghetto Life, Below The Funk, Mr Policeman, Super Freak – and sticky lurve interest from tough funk (Give It To Me Baby) to smouldering slow grooves (Fire And Desire). Be that as it may, 1981’s Street Songs, his fifth album, saw everything gel. There was no ‘punk’ as any MOJO reader might recognise the term in James’s hybrid, which was actually funk-rock-pop while his image was more Hollywood Pimp. A guitarist, singer, songwriter, bandleader and with Neil Young a former member of The Mynah Birds, James evolved what became known as punk funk. The Commodores were reliable hit-makers James was the maverick.
Motown records movie#
While Berry Gordy busied himself as a movie mogul, talent scouting was not an unalloyed success, but The Commodores and Rick James ploughed genuinely fresh territory for the label. Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye hired their own bands ubiquitous LA session men backed Diana Ross, Smokey Robinson, The Supremes and the other stars who remained Norman Whitfield followed Holland-Dozier-Holland through the out door and quit, as did four-fifths of The Jackson 5. The label had moved to Los Angeles and the core studio musicians – aka the Funk Brothers – who had recorded the distinctive, inventive backgrounds, were largely discarded. “She noticed my talent early on and I learned so much from her on my way up.In the ’70s, the Motown Sound ceased to be the Motown Sound. Reid’s publishing company, Hitco, and introduced me to the world of music publishing. “She provided me with the opportunity to intern there and that changed everything.”Īdded Habtemariam: “Another woman I owe a lot to is LaRonda Sutton, who created L.A. “Shanti Das at LaFace Records changed the course of my life,” said Habtemariam. Habtemariam also paid tribute to Shanti Das, who gave the young Habtemariam her first music industry experience as an intern at LaFace Records. “Shanti Das at LaFace Records changed the course of my life.”
I rarely hear artists and musicians label their music within a specific genre they all create from a pure place of emotion and feel.” “At its core, music is about an emotional connection between an artist and the audience. Let’s not act like there won’t be some incredible alternative pop, or that the grunge sound might not come back.’
“Even now, when people talk about hip-hop’s dominance, I’m the one saying, ‘Okay guys. It shouldn’t just be pop, or dance, or hip-hop, or R&B, or whatever the dominant genre is at the time. In an interview with Music Business Worldwide in 2019, Ethiopia Habtemariam said: “Every should be signing diverse music.
Motown records professional#
Ethiopia Habtemariam: Professional philosophy In the years that followed, Habtemariam dropped her responsibilities at UMPG to focus solely on her role as President of Motown. Cole, Chris Brown, Ester Dean, Hit Boi and Miguel.įollowing this success, in 2014, Habtemariam was promoted to the position of President of Urban Music/Co-Head of Creative at UMPG.Īlso in 2014, as part of a dual role (across Motown and UMPG), she was Promoted to President of Motown Records, after three years as the label’s EVP. There, she signed the likes of Ludacris, Justin Bieber, J. The Berkeley, CA-born, Atlanta-raised executive added: “I’ve always understood the power of music and the responsibility I have, not only to continue to be an advocate for artists and creators, but to forge new paths for entrepreneurs and to lift up our next generation of executives around the world.” Ethiopia Habtemariam: Career to dateĮthiopia Habtemariam began her career at Universal in 2003 by joining Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG). “I’ve always understood the power of music and the responsibility I have, not only to continue to be an advocate for artists and creators, but to forge new paths for entrepreneurs and to lift up our next generation of executives around the world.”Īnnouncing her acceptance of the Motown CEO role, Habtemariam said: “It’s an incredible honor to represent and define what Motown is today.” The company was previously a subsidiary of Capitol Music Group. Universal announced that Habtemariam was being promoted into the role in March 2021, while also confirming that Motown would now be acting as a frontline label at UMG.
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