Michael Jackson forever tied to Motown

Legendary entertainer never forgot Detroit is where his success began

Susan Whitall / The Detroit News

Michael Jackson never lived in Detroit, but it was Berry Gordy and Motown Records that created the music, marketing and complete package that catapulted the Jackson 5 to fame and made his record-breaking solo career possible.

Jackson's amazing string of '80s blockbuster albums -- "Off the Wall," "Thriller," "Bad" -- was done for Epic Records, but it's Motown that's gotten the attention since his death Thursday. It was from Motown that people awaited official comment. And so in death he is once again connected to Motown, and Detroit.

The Jackson 5 already had a record out before they ever came to Detroit, "You've Changed," cut for Steeltown Records out of their hometown of Gary, Ind. In 1968. The boys -- Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon and particularly 10-year-old Michael -- had stolen dance moves from singers Jackie Wilson, Joe Tex and James Brown. The group was traveling and playing gigs, even weighing a recording offer from Atlantic, but dad Joe Jackson felt that Motown Records would be a better fit for his boys. Motown artist Bobby Taylor of the Vancouvers encountered the group and assured them a contract was a done deal.

In his memoirs, Gordy recalled riding up the elevator at Motown's office space in the former Donovan Building on Woodward Avenue and being cornered by Motown executive Suzanne de Passe, who had been prepped by Taylor. Gordy was reluctant to see the group. "I hate kids' groups, minors, the courts, tutors ... ," he complained.

But de Passe prevailed and an audition was arranged at the Donovan Building, available on detnews.com as a grainy video of Michael dancing and singing James Brown's "I Got the Feeling." Gordy was knocked out.

In the Motown founder's comments Thursday after hearing about Jackson's death, he talked about that first view of Jackson.

"When I first heard him sing Smokey's song, 'Who's Lovin' You' at 10 years old, it felt like he had lived the song for 50 years. Somehow, even at that first meeting with him, he had a hunger to learn, a hunger to be the best and was willing to work as hard and as long as it took."

Once Gordy saw the group and knew he was going to work with them, he hosted a party at Gordy Manor, his Boston Boulevard mansion, to introduce the Jacksons to the Motown family. The group performed for Motown staffers in the mansion's pool house.

Gordy set up Motown songwriter/producer Deke Richards and several other writers in rooms at the Hotel Pontchartrain, ordered in food and wouldn't let them out until they had the perfect debut song for Michael and the Jackson 5.

The result, which Gordy also worked on, "I Want You Back," had a distinctly soulful feel with a vocal by Michael that purposely evoked memories of another child singer, the '50s star Frankie Lymon.

Motown producer Clay McMurray recalls early recordings by the Jacksons at Motown's Studio A, but the bulk of their records were done in Los Angeles with the Motown team in place there.

Later, during the years of his monumental, post-"Thriller" fame, Jackson would sometimes meet up with his old boss Gordy at Gordy Manor for meals. Earlier, he and his brothers, never having a Detroit address, would always stay at Gordy Manor when they passed through on concert tours.

In the end, Jackson knew where it all had started for him -- Detroit.

The star decided he needed to give something back to Motown, to "put something back into the soil from which he came," Gordy said. Jackson donated the proceeds from one of his Detroit concerts to the Motown museum, which was just starting. He also donated one of his famous glitter gloves, a hat and a stage costume. There was just one stipulation: Gordy had to fly in as well, to meet him.

The two shared dinner at Gordy Manor. Gordy wrote that Michael remembered how he and his brothers used to run in stocking feet, sliding on the mansion's marble floors.

Always the "perpetual kid," Jackson asked if Gordy would do it with him. The two men took off their shoes and ran through the halls of Gordy Manor one more time.

swhitall@detnews.com (313) 222-2156