It's Motown's birthday, here are some songs you should be listening to

By Jerilyn Jordan

Jan 12, 2018 at 11:56 am

Audio By Carbonatix

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Smokey Robinson

Today is a day steeped in musical significance. On Jan. 12, 1959, Motown was born.

On that auspicious day 59 years ago, songwriter Berry Gordy took an $800 loan from his family’s savings and added it to some modest royalties he had earned from writing for Jackie Wilson and decided to start a record company. With encouragement from Smokey Robinson, Gordy started a label called Tamla Records, which would later become Motown Record Corporation in 1960.

And the rest—as they say, is history.

Here are some of our favorite Motown hits to celebrate this music milestone:

Smokey Robinson & The Miracles - "You Really Got A Hold On Me"

The Supremes - "Stop In The Name Of Love"

Marvin Gaye - "Mercy, Mercy Me"

The Temptations - "Ain't Too Proud To Beg"

Martha Reeves & The Vandellas - "Nowhere To Run"

Stevie Wonder - "For Once In My Life"
Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell - "Ain't No Mountain High Enough"