by Patti Beckert

Created on: August 20, 2009   Last Updated: September 30, 2009

It is virtually impossible to list Motown's greatest artists, when, in fact, in their own right, they are all great artists. The thing about Motown is that it produced a sound all its own, where the symbiotic relationship between superior songwriting, producing, vocal talent and instrumentals formed the perfect song. Without taking anything away from the artists, it is important to note that the combined process is what made them great. The genius behind this process was Berry Gordy, Jr. and his success in bringing the Motown sound to America is one of the greatest accomplishments in modern music history.

The music that came out of Motown ran the gamut from doo-wop to soul, from funk to rock and roll, and it was performed by individuals as well as groups. In the 1960's, there were great male singers such as Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Edwin Starr, David Ruffin, and Jimmy Ruffin, and there were great female singers such as Mary Wells, Brenda Holloway and Tammi Terrell.

Some of the more famous male singing groups in the 1960's included Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, The Temptations, The Four Tops, and the Jackson 5. Jr. Walker & the All Stars was in a class all its own with a combination of vocals and instrumentals. The top female singing groups during that decade included the Marvalettes, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, Gladys Knight and the Pips, and the Supremes.

The 1970's saw the addition of Eddie Kendricks, the Commodores, and Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, as well as the Pointer Sisters, Mary Wilson, Thelma Houston, and Ashford & Simpson. The Supremes became Diana Ross and the Supremes, due to the amazing success of Diana Ross. The disco era had arrived and these artists were at the forefront of that musical movement. However, even with a new era of pop ushering in, Stevie Wonder, the Supremes, and Smokey Robinson were able to hold their own, continuing to turn out timeless Motown hits.

The big changes came in the 1980's, with less doo-wop and more pop favorites. Disco was officially declared dead and artists became more diversified. Acts infused with more funk and rock, such as The Dazz Band and DeBarge enjoyed much celebrity as did Rick James, the Mary Jane Girls, and Billy Preston. Lionel Ritchie had hits that combined pop and soul, which carried on the tradition of Motown success.

Notably, the original Motown sound had pretty much come to an end; however, one element that found its way into the 1990's was the boy bands such as Boys II Men, 98 Degrees, and The Boys. The songs of these groups reminded one of the earlier Motown days with groups such as the Four Tops and The Temptations, where harmony and dance moves went hand in hand.

There is nothing like sitting around on a Saturday night with a special person or even by yourself, and listening to the old Motown favorites. This is the kind of music that gets better with age because it has the added element of bringing you back to a simpler time where music was just about all that mattered, and it really doesn't matter who the greatest Motown artists were because Motown, itself, was behind some of the best talent in modern history.

With hundreds of Motown hits topping the charts for these past five decades, anyone would be hard pressed to pick just one artist as a favorite. Ask the fans and you'll likely get a different answer every time.

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