To Be Loved (PDF)

If you love the music of Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, or Smokey Robinson, you will love Berry Gordys life story. Founder of Motown, Gordy was instrumental in launching the careers of these and many other popular musicians, singers and songwriters.In this candid autobiography, Gordy gives an authentic personal account of his career--from the inception of his label, founded with $800 borrowed from his family, to the development of an entertainment empire sold to MCA for $61 million. Along the way, Gordy and his artists faced racism and both personal and professional challenges--and overcame them to leave an indelible mark on American popular culture.To Be Loved is the inspiration for Motown The Musical, which opened on Broadway in April 2013.This brought back memories long forgotten, memories of how I, and so many others like me, became stars. TO BE LOVED captures the spirit of those magical years when we were young and full of dreams and hope. We believed in him and he taught us to believe in ourselves. Ive seen him during his best times -Ive seen him during his worst times. For the first time he tells why and how it all happened. I know its all true because I was there from the beginning. -Smokey RobinsonBerry Gordy, as a young black man in the inhospitable 1950s, set out to make music for all people, whatever their color or place of origin. TO BE LOVED is the very frank, sometimes hilarious, always fascinating account of how he made his impossible dream come true. Berry fills his story, as he fills his life, with an unforgettable case of characters-including the stars you may think you already know-that you wont want to leave when the book is over. -Sidney PoiterAn astounding story not only of a great artist but a great visionary who did it all-developed the talents of others, achieved wealth and fame, and most of all, changed American music forever. -David Geffen