Berry Gordy
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Motown founder, songwriter, producer, director
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Honoree
A man of vision, drive, talent, and determination, Berry Gordy became a boxer, songwriter, producer, director, entrepreneur, and founded Motown—the hit-making enterprise born in Detroit, Michigan. He discovered and nurtured the careers of Smokey Robinson and The Miracles, Diana Ross and The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson and The Jackson 5, Marvin Gaye, Lionel Richie and the Commodores, Martha Reeves & the Vandellas, The Temptations, Gladys Knight & the Pips, and many other music greats and is responsible for the “Motown Sound” that reached out across a racially divided, politically and socially charged country, to transform popular music.
Recent Kennedy Center history: This is Berry Gordy’s first association with the Kennedy Center.
Celebrating Berry Gordy
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Berry Gordy's Motown Protégés
The Temptations Tribute to Smokey Robinson
The Temptations Tribute to Smokey Robinson
Berry Gordy has called Smokey Robinson, "the soul of Motown." Fellow Motown artists, The Temptations perform for him at the 2006 Kennedy Center Honors.
Smokey Robinson's Tribute to Stevie Wonder
Smokey Robinson's Tribute to Stevie Wonder
"Little Stevie Wonder" was with Motown Records when at age 13 he became the youngest artist ever to top the Billboard charts.
Gladys Knight
Gladys Knight
Gladys Knight & the Pips started their career with Motown Records in 1966.
More 44th Kennedy Center Honorees
Kennedy Center Honoree Justino Díaz
Kennedy Center Honoree Lorne Michaels
Kennedy Center Honoree Bette Midler
Kennedy Center Honoree Joni Mitchell
