[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 33 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 33

Honoring and saluting Motown Records of Detroit, Michigan, on its 50th 
                              anniversary.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 28, 2009

Mr. Conyers (for himself, Mr. Dingell, and Ms. Kilpatrick of Michigan) 
 submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to 
            the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
Honoring and saluting Motown Records of Detroit, Michigan, on its 50th 
                              anniversary.

Whereas, on January 12, 1959, Barry Gordy, Jr. received an $800 loan to start 
        Tamla Record Company from his family, the Ber-Berry Co-Op, which was 
        established by his eldest sister, Esther Gordy Edwards, and her husband, 
        George Edwards, and named after their parents Bertha and Barry Gordy, 
        Sr.;
Whereas the Motown record label was also established in 1959 and incorporated on 
        April 4, 1960;
Whereas within one year of creation, Motown Records produced two songs that 
        reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100 list, ``Money (That's What I 
        Want)'', performed by Barrett Strong, and ``Shop Around'', performed by 
        the Miracles and written by Berry Gordy, Jr., and Janie Bradford;
Whereas after one year, Motown Records produced its first Billboard Hot 100 
        number one song, ``Please Mr. Postman'', performed by the Marvelettes;
Whereas the Miracles, featuring Smokey Robinson, Bobby Rogers, Ron White, Pete 
        Moore, and Claudette Robinson, recorded the first Motown record to sell 
        1,000,000 copies, ``Shop Around'';
Whereas in 1965, six years after its inception, five Motown releases reached 
        number one on pop charts across the country, including ``I Can't Help 
        Myself'' by the Four Tops and ``Stop! In The Name of Love'' by the 
        Supremes;
Whereas Motown Records fostered the careers of recording legends Marvin Gaye, 
        Smokey Robinson, Martha Reeves, Diana Ross, Gladys Knight and the Pips, 
        Tammi Terrell, and the Isley Brothers; and
Whereas through the medium of music, during one of the most tumultuous times in 
        the history of the United States, Motown Records established a uniquely 
        American art form that defined the American experience for a generation 
        and for generations to follow: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That Congress--
            (1) congratulates and salutes Motown Records on its 50th 
        anniversary; and
            (2) directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to 
        make available enrolled copies of this resolution to Motown 
        Records for appropriate display.
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