Kerry Gordy

Last updated
Kerry Ashby Gordy
Born (1959-06-25) June 25, 1959 (age 64)
Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
OriginDetroit, Michigan
Genres
Occupation(s) Record executive, Intellectual property manager, personal manager, songwriter, record producer
Instrument(s)
Years active1973-present
Labels
  • Nu Vintage, LLC
  • Kerry Gordy Enterprises, LLC

Kerry Ashby Gordy (born June 25, 1959) is a career music executive, and fourth eldest child of the founder of Motown Records, Berry Gordy. Kerry is the chief executive officer of Kerry Gordy & Associates, Inc. LLC, KGIP Inc., and NuVintage, LLC., intellectual property and branding companies focused on entertainment.

Contents

Early years

Gordy was born in Detroit, Michigan to multi-instrumentalist, Motown songwriter and arranger, Raynoma Mayberry and Berry Gordy. He was born the same year that his father founded Motown Records on West Grand Boulevard which housed the Hitsville U.S.A/Motown recording studios. [1] [ relevant? ]

Gordy's mother, was a child prodigy in music and played eleven instruments. She orchestrated the early arrangements for Motown. Gordy lived with his mother until the age of 13, at which point he began to live full-time with his father.

In 1972, Gordy moved to Los Angeles, California with his father and became one of his protégés, along with best friend and business partner, Benny Medina.[ citation needed ]

Gordy and Medina met during their time at Beverly Hills High School, during which time, Medina came to live at the Gordy Estate. Together, they wrote arranged and produced records for Motown and also founded the teen band, Apollo. Teena Marie was an original member of the band as the groups female lead. Teena later dropped out of the band before the release of their first single, "Astro Disco" in 1979. [2]

In the early 80s Gordy acted in various commercials, T.V. shows and movies under the name Kerry Ashby, and in 1990, participated as a judge in the Miss USA Pageant.[ citation needed ]

Early professional career

Gordy's career began in 1973 working in the Motown Records mailroom. The early years of his career were spent in various administrative and creative capacities. In order for Gordy to separate himself at Motown from his father Berry, he dropped his surname and began using the name Kerry Ashby professionally.[ citation needed ]

In 1984, as an A&R representative for Motown, Gordy was instrumental in signing Rockwell's "Somebody's Watching Me", which became a hit for Motown and Gordy's first hit. He was then promoted to the position of Director of A&R, where he worked on projects with Gold and Platinum artists such as The Temptations, the Four Tops, Rick James and Billy Preston. He also worked on compilation albums for Diana Ross and Michael Jackson. [3] He became a senior executive for The Gordy Company (his father's company after selling Motown in 1988 [4] ) where he was responsible for supervising business affairs, A&R, product development, administration and personnel. Between 1991 and 1993 Gordy consulted Al Bell's independently distributed label, Bellmark Records. This union culminated with $26 million in sales and yielded the year's biggest international hit, "Whoomp! (There It Is)" by the group Tag Team. [5]

In 1993, Gordy became the vice president of two divisions for Paisley Park Records, A&R and artist development, (a joint venture between Time-Warner and Prince). [6] That same year, Gordy produced and co-wrote George Clinton's comeback hit "Paint the White House Black" collaborating with artists Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, Public Enemy, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. The following year, he orchestrated a joint venture between Prince's N.P.G. label and Bellmark Records. This union yielded the hit "The Most Beautiful Girl In The World". [7]

Gordy served as vice president of A&R for Warner Bros. Records Black Music Division, [8] where in 1995 the R.I.A.A. (Recording Industry Association of America) awarded him with gold records on Zapp and Roger's All the Greatest Hits and Prince's Come Album. His production of Belize's "I’m Looking Out For You" was the theme song for Real Stories of the Highway Patrol . Gordy also managed Rick James, who sold in excess of $25 million records and grossed over $40 million in concert revenue, from 1996 until his death in 2004. [9]

Entertainment consulting, IP and other ventures

In 1997, Gordy negotiated and obtained a three-act production deal with Interscope Records joint venture partner B-Rite Records. The first release from that venture (Gospel Gangstaz) enjoyed success, [10] reaching number three on Billboards Gospel album chart and was also nominated for a Grammy Award. [11] Between 1998 and 2001 Gordy was awarded Gold, Platinum, Double Platinum, and Triple Platinum sales awards by the R.I.A.A. in commemoration of licensing Rick James', controlled compositions, Salt n Pepa's Brand New Project, Erykah Badu's Live Project and Mary J. Blige's Share my World and My Life projects respectively. He has over 40 Gold, Platinum and Diamond plaques.[ citation needed ]

In 1998, Gordy partnered with Gordon Bizar under the name Gordy-Bizar to securitize artists' and publishers' royalties. Financing deals were signed with Alice Walton's investment banking firm Llama Company as well as Lehman Brothers.

In 2003, Gordy signed a deal with Clear Channel Entertainment to produce his company's first theatrical venture, “Hear No Evil.” He also signed a worldwide deal with the William Morris Agency to be represented in that arena.

In 2004, Gordy co-founded Siebers Style with Debbie Siebers who earlier that year struck a deal with BEACHBODY to sell the “Debbie Siebers Slim in 6” rapid weight loss program which grossed an excess of $250 million for Beach Body. [12] Siebers later became the fitness expert on the reality show The Swan on Fox TV. Gordy negotiated two book deals for Siebers with Silverback Publishing entitled Energy Boost and Nutritional Makeover. [ citation needed ]

In 2007, Gordy founded Kerry Gordy Enterprises, LLC., an intellectual property and branding company focused on entertainment. He also closed a seven-figure publishing deal for his long-time client, partner, and friend, Bruce Fisher (Writer of several number one hits including the standard "You Are So Beautiful") with Evergreen Publishing.[ citation needed ]

In recent years, Gordy has entered into a deal to produce The Last Dragon for Sony Pictures with John Davis, who has produced over 90 feature films that have earned over $4.8 Billion at the box office worldwide to date. He also entered into a partnership with entertainment mogul Ted Field and Radar Pictures in an intellectual property joint venture.

Gordy partnered with Stevie Wonder and the Duke Ellington School, in Washington, DC to raise $1 Million to help fund school programs, and support growing budget costs. Because of Gordy's efforts, other celebrity musicians, including Sting, Paul Simon and Aretha Franklin, Smokey Robinson and Patti LaBelle, lent their talents to help raise over $100 million for the institution. Their efforts allowed the Duke Ellington school to build a new state of the art campus.[ citation needed ]

Through his work in Copyright Recapture, as CEO of Kerry Gordy & Associates, Inc., Gordy has become known as "Robin Hood". [13] Working with artists like Smokey Robinson, Valerie Simpson, The Rick James Estate, Writer/Producer Teddy Riley; whose productions include Michael Jackson and Lady Gaga, Gordy has been responsible for over $80 Million in royalty payout increases and intellectual property branding deals.[ citation needed ] Some of his most successfully monetized songs include, "I Heard It Through the Grapevine", "Please Mr. Postman", "Just My Imagination", "Shop round", "Ain't Too Proud to Beg", "Tracks of My Tears", "I'm Every Woman", "Ain't No Mountain High Enough", "War", "Super Freak", "You Are So Beautiful" and "Somebody's Watching Me".

Represented by Geneva Bray of GVA Talent Agency, Gordy has been a guest speaker for UCLA, USC, Duke University, and a keynote speaker at the Harvard Business School. Through a partnership with Yellow Brick Music, Co., Gordy has teamed up with the Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music at NYU to provide 100 scholarships for underprivileged students. [ citation needed ] Gordy serves as an contributor to news organizations such as CNN and has appeared as himself on the TV series, Little Women LA as well as Inside Edition and Access Hollywood as a music industry expert. [14] He has also been featured in Forbes Magazine, where he shares his unique and insightful perspective on brand marketing. [13]

In 2021, Dakia Global/ Dakia Universal announced a joint venture with Gordy, IP to form Dakia-Gordy, IP. [15]

Gordy was featured in Steven Samblis' self-help book, 100 Habits from the worlds Happiest Achievers, where he discusses his personal philosophies on life business and personal achievement and satisfaction.[ citation needed ]

Family

The fourth eldest child of Berry Gordy, Gordy's paternal half-siblings are:

Gordy has one daughter named Juliet Gordy. [16]

Related Research Articles

Motown is an American record label owned by the Universal Music Group. It was founded by Berry Gordy Jr. as Tamla Records on January 12, 1959, and incorporated as Motown Record Corporation on April 14, 1960. Its name, a portmanteau of motor and town, has become a nickname for Detroit, where the label was originally headquartered.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Berry Gordy</span> American music executive and record producer (born 1929)

Berry Gordy III, known professionally as Berry Gordy Jr., is an American retired record executive, record producer, songwriter, film producer and television producer. He is best known as the founder of the Motown record label and its subsidiaries, which was the highest-earning African-American business for decades.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rick James</span> American musician (1948–2004)

James Ambrose Johnson Jr., better known by his stage name Rick James, was an American singer-songwriter, musician, and record producer. Born and raised in Buffalo, New York, James began his musical career in his teenage years. He was in various bands before entering the U.S. Navy Reserve to avoid being drafted into the army. In 1964, James moved to Toronto, Canada, where he formed the rock band the Mynah Birds, who eventually signed a recording deal with Motown Records in 1966. James's career with the group halted after military authorities discovered his whereabouts and eventually convicted him of desertion related charges. He served several months in jail. After being released, James moved to California, where he started a variety of rock and funk groups in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eddie Kendricks</span> American singer (1939–1992)

Edward James Kendrick, better known as Eddie Kendricks, was an American tenor singer and songwriter. Noted for his distinctive falsetto singing style, Kendricks co-founded the Motown singing group the Temptations, and was one of their lead singers from 1960 until 1971. He was the lead voice on such famous songs as "The Way You Do the Things You Do", "Get Ready", and "Just My Imagination ". As a solo artist, Kendricks recorded several hits of his own during the 1970s, including the number-one single "Keep On Truckin'".

Kennedy William Gordy, better known by his stage name Rockwell, is an American singer. He is most well known for his hit 1984 single "Somebody's Watching Me", which features Michael Jackson on chorus vocals. Gordy is the son of Motown founder Berry Gordy. Other relatives include half-siblings Redfoo, Rhonda Ross Kendrick and half-nephew Sky Blu.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ain't Too Proud to Beg</span> 1966 single by the Temptations

"Ain't Too Proud to Beg" is a 1966 song and hit single by The Temptations for Motown Records' Gordy label, produced by Norman Whitfield and written by Whitfield and Edward Holland Jr. The song peaked at number 13 on the Billboard Pop Chart, and was a number-one hit on the Billboard R&B charts for eight non-consecutive weeks. The song's success, in the wake of the relative underperformance of the previous Temptations' single, "Get Ready", resulted in Norman Whitfield replacing Smokey Robinson, producer of "Get Ready", as The Temptations' main producer. In 2004 it finished number 94 in AFI's 100 Years...100 Songs poll thanks to its inclusion in The Big Chill soundtrack.

Frederick James Perren was an American songwriter, record producer, arranger, and orchestra conductor. He co-wrote and co-produced songs including "Boogie Fever" by the Sylvers, "I Will Survive" by Gloria Gaynor, and "Shake Your Groove Thing" by Peaches & Herb.

<i>Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever</i> 1983 television special

Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever is a 1983 television special, produced by Suzanne de Passe for Motown Records, to commemorate Motown's 25th year. The program was taped before a live audience at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena, California on March 25, 1983, and broadcast on NBC on May 16. Among its highlights were Michael Jackson's performance of "Billie Jean", Smokey Robinson's reunion with the Miracles, a Temptations / Four Tops "battle of the bands", Marvin Gaye's inspired speech about black music history and his memorable performance of "What's Going On", a Jackson 5 reunion, and an abbreviated reunion of Diana Ross & the Supremes, who performed their final #1 hit, "Someday We'll Be Together" from 1969. The show was co-written by de Passe with Ruth Adkins Robinson, who would go on to write shows with de Passe for the next 25 years, including the follow-up label tributes—through "Motown 40", Buz Kohan was the head writer.

<i>Diana Ross Presents The Jackson 5</i> 1969 studio album by the Jackson 5

Diana Ross Presents The Jackson 5 is the debut studio album from Gary, Indiana-based soul family band the Jackson 5, released on the Motown label on December 12, 1969. The Jackson 5's lead singer, a preadolescent Michael Jackson and his four older brothers Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, and Marlon, became pop successes within months of this album's release. Diana Ross Presents the Jackson 5's only single, "I Want You Back", became a number-one hit on the US Billboard Hot 100 within weeks of the album's release. The album reached number 5 on the US Pop Albums chart, and spent nine weeks at No. 1 on the US R&B/Black Albums chart.

<i>United</i> (Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell album) 1967 studio album by Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell

United is a studio album by soul musicians Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, released August 29, 1967 on the Motown-subsidiary label Tamla Records. Harvey Fuqua and Johnny Bristol produced all of the tracks on the album, with the exception of "You Got What It Takes" and "Oh How I'd Miss You". Fuqua and Bristol produced "Hold Me Oh My Darling" and "Two Can Have a Party" as Tammi Terrell solo tracks in 1965 and 1966, and had Gaye overdub his vocals to them in order to create duet versions of the songs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">It's Your Thing</span> 1969 single by The Isley Brothers

"It's Your Thing" is a funk single by The Isley Brothers. Released in 1969, the anthem was an artistic response to Motown chief Berry Gordy's demanding hold on his artists after the Isleys left the label in late 1968.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Benny Medina</span> American record executive, talent manager, and television producer

Benny Medina is an American record executive, talent manager, and television producer.

<i>Reunion</i> (The Temptations album) 1982 studio album by The Temptations

Reunion is a 1982 album by The Temptations for Gordy Records. The album was released during the 1982 Temptations Reunion tour, which reunited David Ruffin and Eddie Kendricks with the Temptations after a decade-long absence. The album also features then-current Temptations Dennis Edwards, Glenn Leonard, Richard Street, and founding members Otis Williams and Melvin Franklin. Reunion featured the single "Standing on the Top", produced by and featuring Motown funk star Rick James, who had previously used the Temptations as the background vocalists for his 1981 hit "Super Freak". It was their first album to reach the top 40 since Wings of Love (1976).

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<i>Pressin On</i> 1982 studio album by Billy Preston

Pressin' On is a studio album by the American musician Billy Preston, released in 1982. It was his final album released on Motown Records, although he would briefly return to the label in 1986 to record one single. The song "I'm Never Gonna Say Goodbye" was used for the Ed Asner/Jodie Foster film O'Hara's Wife. Norman Seeff was the photographer for the album's cover. The album was produced primarily by Preston, Galen Senogles, and Ralph Benatar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Four Tops</span> American vocal quartet

The Four Tops are an American vocal quartet from Detroit who helped to define the city's Motown sound of the 1960s. The group's repertoire has included soul music, R&B, disco, adult contemporary, doo-wop, jazz, and show tunes.

The Gordys are an African-American family of businesspeople and music industry executives. They were born to Georgia-reared parents Berry "Pops" Gordy Sr. and Bertha Gordy and raised in Detroit, where most of the siblings played a pivotal role in the international acceptance of rhythm and blues music as a crossover phenomenon in the 1960s. The accomplishment is attributable to the creation of Motown, a company founded by the seventh-oldest sibling, Berry Gordy Jr..

Raynoma Mayberry Liles Gordy Singleton was an American R&B producer, songwriter, and vocalist perhaps best known for her association with ex-husband, Berry Gordy during the early days of Motown when she was often known as Miss Ray.

Apollo was an American R&B/disco group that recorded for Motown in the late 1970s. They are best known as the band of future music executives Benny Medina and Kerry Gordy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pops, We Love You (A Tribute to Father)</span> 1978 single by Diana Ross, Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson and Stevie Wonder

"Pops, We Love You " is a 1978 single recorded and released by Motown stars Diana Ross, Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson and Stevie Wonder, as a tribute to Berry "Pops" Gordy Sr., father of Motown founder Berry Gordy, who had died that year from cancer.

References

  1. ↑ "Berry Gordy Jr. Boulevard - Dedication to Motown's Legend Producer". Motown Museum. Retrieved 2021-01-22.
  2. ↑ "Apollo (2) - Astro Disco". Discogs. Retrieved 2021-01-22.
  3. ↑ "Kerry Ashby". Discogs. Retrieved 2021-01-22.
  4. ↑ "Motown Records Company L.P. | Encyclopedia.com". www.encyclopedia.com. Retrieved 2021-01-22.
  5. ↑ Billboard. 1993-07-10.
  6. ↑ Billboard. 1993-08-14.
  7. ↑ Billboard. 1994-06-11.
  8. ↑ Billboard. 1994-06-18.
  9. ↑ "Funk Legend Rick James Dies at 56". Jet. 2004-08-23.
  10. ↑ Billboard. 1999-06-19.
  11. ↑ Billboard. 2000-02-19.
  12. ↑ "Beachbody on Demand". www.beachbodyondemand.com. Retrieved 2021-01-24.
  13. 1 2 Steve Olenski. "Signed, Sealed, Delivered: My One-On-One With Kerry Gordy". Forbes. Retrieved 2021-01-24.
  14. ↑ "Kerry Gordy". IMDb. Retrieved 2021-01-24.
  15. ↑ "Kerry Gordy". Dakia Global. Retrieved 2021-01-24.
  16. ↑ "Juliet Gordy | Leah, Soundtrack Netflix, Father, Kerry Gordy, le Bal Debutante, Education, Relationship". 19 December 2019.

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