[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 50 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 50

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


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           February 12, 2009

   Mr. Conyers (for himself, Mr. Levin, Mr. Baca, Mrs. Maloney, Mr. 
Rangel, Mr. Crowley, Mr. Roe of Tennessee, Mr. Serrano, Mr. Payne, Mr. 
 Grijalva, Mr. Kissell, Mr. McGovern, and Mr. Peterson) 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, Berry 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 Berry 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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