I just found this old documentary on Stevie's life from around maybe 1994 or 95. It also shows him making the 'Conversation Peace' album. Couldn't find part five of the series, but I hope you all enjoy it.

Part 1:


Part 2:


Part 3:


Part 4:


Part 6:

That was from his 1995 biography special.

^^^ Check out the hot blonde chick (1st clip). That's Raynoma Gordy Singleton...she was very much involved w/ the founding of Motown itself as well as Berry's wife. It's always nice to see Miss Ray cuz they try too often to cut her out of the story.

brooksie said:

Right. Her story was fascinating to say the damn least. I often her, Anna Gordy and Gwen Gordy never get fully credit for being part of Berry's vision anyway.

Timmy84 said:

or was it Smokey's??


he's the one encourage Berry to start his own company

funkpill said:

Who knows? Every time I keep hearing the story about how Motown was started, I always get different responses.

The Gordy ladies raised SO much hell,,,,I firmly believe that had it not been for their strength and and support for their brother, there wouldn't be any Motown.

In terms of what eventually became Motown, both Smokey and Miss Ray were at ground zero. Smokey might have 1st said it, but Berry actually 1st did it w/ Raynoma. Unlike most people involved, she was classically trained in musi so she could read and notate the music. They started Rayber Records some time before they started Tamla. Rayber, run out of their apartment, was supposed to be both a publishing company and also finding artists for recording purposes. They found many of their Motown era people during the Rayber period...Mickey Stevenson, Mable John, David Ruffin, and Beans Bowles. (Super young Freda Payne looked like a possibility too, but it didn't happen then.) They used Rayber to handle alot of their Jackie Wilson dealings (Ruffin used to cut demos of Berry's stuff for Jackie). Oddly they did no official Rayber Records recordings, they recorded on the later Tamla label. (I believe "Got A Job" was rayber era, but was distributed on End Records) Raymona's biggest contribution was really starting up and handling Rayber/Jobete. She's the one who did music notation and insisted on copywriting everything. Berry owes most of his fortune to her and that's no joke.

She even sang background in the early Tamla years w/ the Rayber singers that predate the Andantes.

All of his sisters were involved. Anna started her own self titled label that shared artists w/ Tamla. Gwen also had a label w/ her hubby Harvey Furqua w/ the Harvey and Tri Phi labels which brought in Chess distribution. Louyce provided rehearsal space and Esther handled the money. His sisters Anna and Gwen were the hottest chicks around Detroit and had big connections at the Flame Show Bar. W/o these women, Motown as we know it probably wouldn't exist.

Of all these women, Raynoma tends to get written out or down played the most, but she was probably the most important of all. Over the years, he kept hiring her when he was having trouble because he could trust her to run things right.

brooksie said:

Mark Bego or somebody should write a book and call it "The First Ladies of Motown" and talk about the wonderful Gordy women and Raynoma. I'm getting tired of all the Supremes gossip books.

Timmy84 said:

Funny you should say that, Susan Whitall wrote:



Apparently this book left out Gladys tho How can you discuss this topic w/o her? Unfortunately too many of the people are dead and/or had their say for much fresh info to come out methinks. everbody's so damn bitter from Motown all the stories run together! Raynoma's book (1990) is probably the best "insider" look I've seen. They sell for $30-100 used...sheesh.

Have you ever read the Nelson George one?
[Edited 6/15/09 23:03pm]

For the record in his book "To Be Loved", Berry only disputes ONE thing in Ray's book. It had to do w/ taking her name off the BerBerry loan. He didn't contest anything else.

brooksie said:

Interesting. No I don't have the Nelson George one, but I heard it was good, lol.

I haven't read the one I posted above, but I did read the reviews. Nelson George's is quite good, but you have to watch out for his biases. He kinda think Motown was a bit of a sell out and doesn't hide it.

brooksie said:

Yeah that's why I can't stand him half the time.

Thanks.

I have this on tape somewhere. Great doc. It's great to see Syreeta in it too she made me laugh talking about the song "signed sealed delivered"

"they told us that song ain't pshh"

Also I love how Stevie is searching for "the right sound" when he performs "uptight"

Thats from a series called "the south bank show". They are english (but not BBC). Usually too high brow to do music artists, but their docs are some of the best around, and they never repeat them either.

NMuzakNSoul said:

Thats the thing I MOSTLY enjoyed about the docu-film, Rita's presence I posted this btw couple of months ago here and another board.

I never get tired of watching Ms.Wright, something was very endearing about that woman god rest her soul, she's sorely missed.

Harlepolis said:

YES! I was really sad when she passed, and it was strange 'cause I had just listened to "Syreeta" and "Stevie Wonder presents Syreeta" not too long before that. I have most of her music, what a beautiful voice and what a beautiful person and spirit. She never got the props she truly deserves. I can listen to her voice all day.