[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 550 Introduced in House (IH)]

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114th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 550

 Honoring the achievements of Berry Gordy, Jr. and the musical history 
                   he created through Motown Records.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            December 3, 2015

 Mr. Conyers (for himself, Mr. Goodlatte, Mr. Nadler, Ms. Judy Chu of 
California, Mr. Cohen, Mrs. Lawrence, Mr. Rangel, Ms. Jackson Lee, Mr. 
   Deutch, Mr. Pallone, Ms. DelBene, Mr. Upton, Mrs. Blackburn, Mr. 
  Jeffries, Mrs. Dingell, Mr. Benishek, Mr. Richmond, Mr. Kildee, Mr. 
Chabot, Ms. Lofgren, Mr. Butterfield, Mrs. Miller of Michigan, and Mr. 
 Cicilline) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
                     the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Honoring the achievements of Berry Gordy, Jr. and the musical history 
                   he created through Motown Records.

Whereas, on January 12, 1959, Berry Gordy, Jr., received an $800 loan to start 
        Tamla Record Company from his family saving club, the Ber-Berry Co-Op, 
        which was established by his eldest sister, Esther Gordy Edwards, and 
        her husband, George Edwards, and named after her parents Bertha and 
        Berry Gordy, Sr.;
Whereas Berry Gordy, Jr., established the Motown record label in 1959 and 
        incorporated it on April 4, 1960;
Whereas Motown Records fostered the careers of such recording legends as Smokey 
        Robinson and the Miracles, Mary Wells, Diana Ross and the Supremes, 
        Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, The 
        Temptations, Gladys Knight and the Pips, the Jackson 5, and more;
Whereas within one year of creation, Motown Records produced its first single to 
        reach number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 Pop Chart, ``Shop Around'', and 
        their first million seller, performed by Smokey Robinson and the 
        Miracles, and written by Smokey Robinson and Berry Gordy, Jr.;
Whereas in 1961, Motown Records produced its first Billboard Hot 100 Pop number 
        one song, ``Please Mr. Postman'', performed by the Marvelettes;
Whereas by 1965, 6 years after its inception, 11 Motown releases reached number 
        1 on Billboard's Hot 100 pop charts across the country, including 
        ``Dancing in the Street'' by Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, ``My 
        Girl'' by the Temptations, ``I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey 
        Bunch)'', by the Four Tops, and ``Stop! In the Name of Love'', by the 
        Supremes;
Whereas under Berry Gordy, Jr.'s, leadership, Motown Records created music that 
        communicated across racial barriers in a politically charged time;
Whereas Berry Gordy, Jr., was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 
        1988 for his endeavors ``to reach across the racial divide with music 
        that could touch all people, regardless of the color of their skin'';
Whereas Berry Gordy, Jr., was actively involved in the Civil Rights Movement and 
        released the recorded speeches of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.;
Whereas Berry Gordy, Jr., also found success in Hollywood, including as 
        Executive Producer of ``Lady Sings the Blues'', which earned 5 Academy 
        Award nominations;
Whereas Berry Gordy, Jr.'s, autobiography, ``To Be Loved: The Music, the Magic, 
        the Memories of Motown'', was released in 1994 and inspired ``Motown The 
        Musical'';
Whereas ``Motown The Musical'' opened on Broadway on April 14, 2013, garnering 4 
        Tony Award nominations, ran until January 18, 2015, after which it 
        launched a successful national tour, will return to Broadway in the 
        summer of 2016, and debut in London in February of 2016;
Whereas Berry Gordy, Jr., has received numerous awards, including the ASCAP 
        Founders Award, the GRAMMY Salute to Industry Icon's President's Merit 
        Award, the Rainbow Coalition's Man of the Millennium Award, the Ebony 
        Lifetime Achievement Award, the BET Visionary Award, and the Marian 
        Anderson Award; and
Whereas through the medium of music, during one of the most tumultuous times in 
        the history of the United States, Motown Records, led by Berry Gordy, 
        Jr., established a uniquely American art form that defined the American 
        experience for a generation and for generations to follow: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) recognizes the achievements of Berry Gordy, Jr., in 
        creating a lasting musical sound;
            (2) recommits itself to ensuring that musical artists such 
        as Berry Gordy, Jr., receive fair protection under the 
        copyright laws of the United States; and
            (3) directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to 
        transmit enrolled copies of this resolution to Berry Gordy, 
        Jr., or his assignee.
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