A Befitting Farewell to “Motown’s Matriarch” Esther Gordy Edwards.

On Wednesday August 24, 2011 91-year-old Esther Gordy Edwards may have been surrounded by family and some friends when she died but certainly not all the friends this lady of Motown had. For they would have had to have a museum a thousand times bigger then the one she created for the Detroit’s recording studio she founded.

When you hear our city’s legacy it makes you wonder how all that music, all those artists, all those musicians and all those hits got cranked out of a garage ( Studio A ) of a house that has sat at 2648 West Grand Boulevard from the start, but they did. And that house would be transformed into “Hitsville USA”.

Motown Monday ~ Take Me In Your Arms ~ Kim Weston

“Take Me in Your Arms (Rock Me a Little While)”
Written by Holland / Dozier / Holland
Released in 1965

Kim Weston – vocals
The Funk Brothers – music

Another powerful voice of Motown but you wouldn’t know it since this was another artist Berry Gordy just left on the shelf.

Kim Weston born Agatha Natalie Weston was signed by Motown in 1963.

Motown Monday ~ The Velvelettes ~ Stop Beating Around The Bush

Written by Harvey Fuqua
Recorded in 1964

Mildred Gill, Bertha Barbee, Carolyn Gill, Betty Kelley & Norma Barbee

A Hot Motown Monday ~ Martha & The Vandellas ~ Heat Wave

Just the beginning of one. ENJOY IT!

Written by Holland–Dozier–Holland
Released in 1963

Martha Reeves – vocals
Rosalind Ashford – vocal
Annette Beard – vocals

Music – The Funk Brothers

Richard “Pistol” Allen: drums
James Jamerson: double bass
Joe Hunter: electric piano
Robert White: guitar
Eddie Willis: guitar
Thomas “Beans” Bowles: saxophone solo

Sultry Saturday ~ Jr. Walker & the All Stars ~ Cleo’s Mood

Written By Junior Walker, Harvey Fuqua and Willie Woods.
Originally Released in Sept. 1962 on the Harvey Label.

Junior Walker – Saxophone
Willie Woods – Guitar
Victor Thomas – Organ
James Graves – Drums

Re-Released on Tamla 1966

James Jamerson – Bass

Born Autry DeWalt Mixon, Jr., Walker Smoked on Sax.

Cleo’s Mood is my favorite song from this group.

It’s a raw, seductive, sultry bump and grind number. A combination of Blues & Jazz.

I only wished the song could of gone longer like 30 Minutes. But I’ll take what I can get.

Motown Monday ~ Reach Out, I’ll Be There ~ The Four Tops

Motown Monday ~ I Want A Love I Can See ~ The Temptations

Written by Smokey Robinson
Released in 1963

Lead vocals by Paul Williams
Background vocals by Eddie Kendricks,
Al Bryant, and Otis Williams
Instrumentation: The Funk Brothers

How in the world this didn’t become the very first hit for ” The Temptations ” is beyond me.