List of Motown artists
This article needs additional citations for verification. (December 2019) |
This is a list of artists signed to Motown or one of its many subsidiaries.
Name | Signed | Label | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
98 Degrees | 1990s | Motown | |
702 | 1980s/1990s | Motown | |
Akon | 21st century | Motown | |
The Allens | 1970s | Motown | |
Georgio Allentini | 1980s/1990s | Motown | |
Luther Allison | 1970s | Motown | |
Gerald Alston | 1970s | Motown | |
The Andantes | 1960s | Motown Records | Backing vocal group used on several recordings |
Another Bad Creation | 1980s/1990s | Biv 10 Records | |
Apollo | 1970s | Motown | |
India Arie | 21st century | Motown | |
Ashanti | 21st century | Motown | |
Ashford & Simpson | 1960s | Motown | The duo worked at Motown as songwriters and producers primarily, but Valerie Simpson recorded albums with the label and the duo recorded albums as an act at other labels |
Cholly Atkins | 1960s | Motown | Choreographer |
Avery | 21st century | Motown | |
AZ | 21st century | Motown | |
B.G.O.T.I. | 1980s/1990s | BGOTI | |
Babyface | 21st century | Motown | |
Erykah Badu | 1980s/1990s | Motown | |
Bankroll Freddie | 21st century | Motown | |
J. J. Barnes | 1960s | Ric-Tic Records | |
Drake Bell | 21st century | Motown | |
Yummy Bingham | 21st century | Motown | |
Will Biondo | 21st century | Motown | |
Black Coffey | 21st century | Motown | |
Blinky | 1960s | Motown | |
Bobby M | 1980s/1990s | Gordy | |
Bobby Taylor & the Vancouvers | 1960s | Gordy | |
The Boys | 1980s/1990s | Motown | |
Boyz II Men | 1990s | Motown | |
Brass Monkey | 1970s | Rare Earth | |
Toni Braxton | 21st century | Motown | |
Trina Broussard | 21st century | Motown | |
Dorsey Burnette | 1960s | Mel-o-dy Records | |
G. C. Cameron | 1970s | Motown | |
The Cats | 1970s | Rare Earth | |
Vita Chambers | 21st century | Motown | |
Charlene | 1980s/1990s | Motown | |
The Chi-Lites | 1960s | ||
Choker Campbell & His 16-Piece Band | 1960s | Motown Records | |
City Girls[1] | 21st century | Motown | |
Chris Clark | 1960s | V. I. P. Records | |
Tom Clay | 1970s | MoWest Records | |
Angela Clemmons | 1980s/1990s | Motown | |
Desiree Coleman | 1980s/1990s | Motown | |
Commodores | 1970s | MoWest and Motown | |
The Contours | 1960s | Gordy Records | |
Caroline Crawford | 1960s | Motown | |
Crystal Mansion | 1970s | Rare Earth | |
Bobby Darin | 1970s | Motown | |
Dazz Band | 1980s/1990s | Motown | |
Dean Debbie | 1960s | Motown | |
DeBarge | 1980s | Gordy | |
Bunny DeBarge | 1980s | Motown | |
Chico DeBarge | 1980s | Motown | |
El DeBarge | 1980s | Gordy | |
Kiki Dee | 1970s | Tamla | |
Donnie | 21st century | Motown | |
The Dynamic Superiors | 1970s | Motown | |
Earl Van Dyke and the Soul Brothers | 1960s | Motown | |
The Easybeats | 1970s | Rare Earth | |
Billy Eckstine | 1960s | Motown | |
Duane Eddy | 1970s | Motown | |
Dennis Edwards | 1970s | Gordy | |
The Elgins | 1960s | V. I. P. | |
The Fantastic Four | 1960s | Ric-Tic and Soul Records | |
Jose Feliciano | 1980s | Motown | |
Four Tops | 1960s | Motown | |
Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons | 1970s | MoWest and Motown | |
Siedah Garrett | 1980s/1990s | Gordy | |
Marvin Gaye | 1960s | Tamla | |
Valerie George | 1980s/1990s | Gordy | |
Nikita Germaine | 1980s/1990s | Motown | |
Johnny Gill | 1980s/1990s | Motown | |
Gladys Knight & the Pips | 1960s | Soul Records | |
The Good Girls | 1980s/1990s | Motown | |
Layton Greene | 21st century | Motown | |
Guinn | 1980s/1990s | Motown | |
Sam Harris | 1980s/1990s | Motown | |
Hearts of Stone | 1970s | V. I. P. | |
High Inergy | 1970s | Gordy | |
Eddie Holland | 1960s | Motown | |
Dave Hollister | 21st century | Motown | |
Brenda Holloway | 1960s | Tamla | |
Patrice Holloway | 1960s | V. I. P. | |
Thelma Houston | 1970s | Tamla | |
Reuben Howell | 1970s | Motown | |
Howl the Good | 1970s | Rare Earth | |
Willie Hutch | 1970s | Motown | |
Impact of Brass | 1970s | Rare Earth | |
The Isley Brothers | 1960s | Tamla | |
Mila J | 21st century | Motown | |
Chuck Jackson | 1960s | V. I. P. | |
Jackie Jackson | 1970s | Motown | |
Jermaine Jackson | 1970s | Motown | |
Michael Jackson | 1970s | Motown | |
The Jackson 5 | 1970s | Motown | |
Jada | 21st century | Motown | |
Rick James | 1970s | Gordy | |
Mable John | 1960s | Tamla | |
Marv Johnson | 1960s | Tamla | |
Wade Jones[2][3] | 1959 | Rayber | |
Jords | 2020s | Motown | First British rap act signed to Motown.[4] |
Jr. Walker & the All Stars | 1960s | Soul | |
Keff James | 1970s | Rare Earth | |
Kem | 21st century | Motown | |
Eddie Kendricks | 1970s | Tamla | |
Sebastian Kole | 21st century | Motown | |
Kreuz | 1980s/1990s | Motown | |
Lakeyah | 21st century | Motown | |
Latif | 21st century | Motown | |
Stacy Lattisaw | 1980s/1990s | Motown | |
Bettye LaVette | 1980s/1990s | Motown | |
Lil Baby | 21st century | Motown | |
Lil Durk | 21st century | Motown | The Voice of the Heroes with Lil Baby |
Lil Yachty | 21st century | Motown | |
Lindsay Lohan | 21st century | Motown | Only the single "Bossy") |
London | 21st century | Motown | |
Lost Boyz | 1980s/1990s | Motown | |
The Lost Nation | 1970s | Rare Earth | |
Love Sculpture | 1970s | Rare Earth | |
Lovesmith | 1960s | ||
Michael Lovesmith | 1960s | ||
Shorty Long | 1960s | Soul | |
Magic | 1970s | Rare Earth | |
Teena Marie | 1970s | Gordy | |
Martha and the Vandellas | 1960s | Gordy | Also billed as Martha Reeves and the Vandellas |
The Marvelettes | 1960s | Tamla | |
Mary Jane Girls | 1980s/1990s | Gordy | |
Matrix | 1970s | Rare Earth | |
MC Trouble | 1980s/1990s | Motown | |
Michael McDonald | 1980s/1990s | Motown | |
Carrie McDowell | 1980s/1990s | Motown | |
Brian McKnight | 1980s/1990s | Motown | |
Barbara McNair | 1960s | Motown | |
Meechy Baby | 21st century | Motown | |
Michael and the Messengers | 1970s | Rare Earth | |
Chrisette Michele | 21st century | Motown | |
Migos | 21st century | Motown | |
The Miracles | 1960s | Tamla | Also billed as Smokey Robinson & the Miracles |
Misa | 1980s/1990s | Motown | |
The Monitors | 1960s | V. I. P. Records | |
Debelah Morgan | 1980s/1990s | Motown | |
Mýa | 21st century | Motown | |
Nelly | 21st century | Motown | |
Ne-Yo | 21st century | Motown | |
Njomza | 21st century | Motown | |
The Originals | 1960s | Soul | |
The Ones | 1960s | Motown | |
Matt Ox | 21st century | Motown | |
Pal | 1980s/1990s | Motown | |
Bonnie Pointer | 1970s | Motown | |
The Pointer Sisters | 1980s/1990s | Motown | |
Poor Boys | 1970s | Rare Earth | |
Power of Zeus | 1970s | Rare Earth | |
Billy Preston | 1970s | Motown | |
The Pretty Things | 1970s | Rare Earth | |
Quavo | 21st century | Motown | |
Queen Latifah | 1980s | Motown | |
Barbara Randolph | 1960s | Soul | |
Dina Rae | 21st century | Motown | |
Rare Earth | 1970s | Rare Earth | |
The Rayber Voices | 1959 | Rayber | A backing vocal group[5]
|
La'Porsha Renae | 21st century | Motown | |
Repairs | 1970s | Rare Earth | |
Lionel Richie | 1980s | Motown | |
Jimmy Robbins | 21st century | Motown | |
Smokey Robinson | 1970s | Tamla | |
Rockwell | 1980s | Motown | |
Diana Ross | 1970s | Motown | |
Kevin Ross | 21st century | Motown | |
Kelly Rowland | 21st century | Motown | |
Bailey Rubero | 21st century | Motown | |
David Ruffin | 1960s | Motown | |
Jimmy Ruffin | 1960s | Soul | |
Rustix | 1970s | Rare Earth | |
SafetySuit | 21st century | Motown | |
Phyllis St. James | 1980s/1990s | Motown | |
Tiwa Savage | 21st century | Motown | |
San Remo Golden Strings | 1960s | Gordy | |
Remy Shand | 21st century | Motown | |
Shanice | 1990s | Motown | |
Sharissa | 21st century | Motown | |
Shiny Toy Guns | 21st century | Motown | |
Shontelle | 21st century | Motown | |
Valerie Simpson | 1970s | Tamla | |
Sounds Nice | 1970s | Rare Earth | |
Sparkle | 21st century | Motown | |
The Spinners | 1970s | V. I. P. | Also marketed as The (Original) Detroit Spinners in the United Kingdom to distinguish them from the British folk act |
Vince Staples | 21st century | Motown | |
Edwin Starr | 1960s | Soul | |
Rose Stone | 1970s | Motown | Also known as Rose Banks |
Stone City Band | 1980s/1990s | Gordy | |
Dennis Stoner | 1970s | Rare Earth | |
Stoney & Meatloaf | 1970s | Rare Earth | |
Barrett Strong | 1959 | Tamla | |
Suai | 21st century | Motown | |
Sunday Funnies | 1970s | Rare Earth | |
The Supremes | 1960s | Motown | Also billed as Diana Ross & the Supremes |
Switch | 1970s | Gordy | |
Takeoff | 21st century | Motown | |
Felicia Taylor | 1980s/1990s | Motown | |
R. Dean Taylor | 1960s | V. I. P. | |
The Temptations | 1960s | Gordy | |
Three Ounces of Love | 1960s | Motown | |
Tammi Terrell | 1960s | Gordy | |
Toe Fat | 1970s | Rare Earth | |
Today | 1980s/1990s | Motown | |
Tony! Toni! Toné! | 1980s/1990s | Motown | |
Trick Trick | 21st century | Motown | |
UFO | 1970s | Rare Earth | |
The Underdogs | 1960s | V. I. P. | |
The Undisputed Truth | 1970s | Gordy | |
UnoTheActivist | 21st century | Motown | |
The Valadiers | 1960s | Miracle | |
Vanity | 1980s/1990s | Motown | |
The Veer Union | 21st century | Motown | |
Táta Vega | 1970s | Tamla | |
The Velvelettes | 1960s | V. I. P. | |
Waii | 21st century | Motown | |
Leon Ware | 1970s | Motown | |
Jason Weaver | 1980s/1990s | Motown | |
Mary Wells | 1960s | Motown | |
Kim Weston | 1960s | Gordy | |
Bruce Willis | 1980s | Motown | |
Mary Wilson | 1970s | Motown | |
Wolfe | 1970s | Rare Earth | |
Stevie Wonder | 1960s | Tamla/Motown | Originally billed as Little Stevie Wonder |
Syreeta Wright | 1960s | Motown | Also billed as Rita Wright and Syreeta |
XIT | 1970s | Rare Earth | |
Val Young | 1980s/1990s | Gordy | |
YoungBoy Never Broke Again | 21st century | Motown | |
Yours Truly | 1980s/1990s | Motown | |
P Yungin | 21st century | Motown | |
Zhané | 1990s | Illtown/Motown Records | |
Zion | 21st century | Motown |
Sources cited
[edit]- Dahl, Bill (February 28, 2011). Motown: The Golden Years: More Than 100 Rare Photographs. Penguin Publishing Group. ISBN 9781440225574.
- Betts, Graham (June 2, 2014). Motown Encyclopedia. AC Publishing. ISBN 9781311441546.
- Waller, Don (1985). The Motown Story. New York City, New York, United States: Charles Scribner's Sons. ISBN 0684183471. LCCN 85002110.
References
[edit]- ^ "City Girls | Artists". Motown. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
- ^ Betts 2014, Wade Jones.
- ^ Waller 1985, p. 33.
- ^ Savage, Mark (May 26, 2023). "How Jords became the first UK rap act on Motown records". Entertainment & Arts. BBC News. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
- ^ Dahl 2011, Part 1: Motown 1959–1972: Defining the Sound of Young America.