Motown infused LMFAO, yo.

Berry Gordy, born November 28, 1929 in Detroit, was Berry and Bertha Gordy's seventh child. Gordy Jr. had always been interested in music. His song "Berry's Boogie" even won a talent show! In the eleventh grade however, Gordy dropped out of school to become a professional boxer. Although he fought on the same card as the great Joe Louis, he ended his boxing career in 1950. Gordy found himself in Korea serving in the army from 1951 to 1953. Finding his true calling, Gordy opened a 3-D Record Mart: House of Jazz, however it went bankrupt since he refused to stock the Blues music the people were craving. After the closing of the record store, he worked at an assembly line for Ford's Lincoln-Mercury plant. In 1957 however, his passion for music resurfaced and he became a professional songwriter. Decca Records bought many of his songs including "Reet Petite" and "Lonely Teardrops" but Gordy quickly realized he could make much more money by owning them. It was then that he decided to borrow 700 dollars from his friend William "Smokey" Robinson to form his own company, making and selling records. Beginning with a house on Detroit's West Grand Boulevard where Gordy slept on the second floor and made records onthe first, Motown Records quickly spread throughout nine buildings on the same street.

LMFAO, an American "electro hop duo" consisting of Redfoo and SkyBlu. Redfoo, also known as Stefan Kendal Gordy, and SkyBlue, also known as Skyler Gordy, formed LMFAO in 2006. They call their music style "Party Rock" and all of their albums are a spin off of this style; they even have a clothing line known as Party Rock Clothing! Both Redfoo and SkyBlu grew up in Los Angeles in the Pacific Palisades. The group's name originates from a conversation that SkyBlu was having with his grandmother in which he told her that they were going to name their group the "Sexy Dudes" and she responded with LMFAO, standing for "Laughing My F*cking Ass Off." These accomplished DJs, rappers and clothing designers released their first major album in 2008, featuring the hit song "I'm in Miami B*tch." Party Rock music generally consists of 128 beats per minute, is melody-rich and is full of sing-song rap.

How, you may ask, does Motown have anything to do with the modern LMFAO? If it has not

clicked as of now, Stefan Gordy and Skyler Gordy are the son and grandson of Berry Gordy Jr.,

founder of Motown records. Stefan Gordy especially, was exposed to the Motown style on a daily basis. In an interview with the Detroit Free Press, Stefan Gordy said that although he wasn't there while the Motown was truly developing, "hearing the stories live from [his dad], and then reading the book ["To Be Loved"], and then seeing the footage, [he has] a pretty good idea how [Motown] was...even though [he] wasn't there during that time." During the '80s, Stefan Gordy was exposed to Rick James, the Commodores, Teena Marie, Marvin Gaye, Jackson 5 and many more by working with his mother in the video department at Motown and with his father doing some DVD work. Motown made dance songs and the LMFAO duo feel like their music is highly interactive and that is how they are related. LMFAO use a "Berry Gordy formula" when writing songs - known for their upbeat music while also incorporating heavy subjects. LMFAO even derives their style from Motown based upon the suits of the Temps and the Tops and the sparkly dresses from the Supremes. The Gordys dress how the music makes them feel and they think that this has made all the difference.

All-in-all, Motown has had a huge impact on LMFAO although sometimes we don't take the time to make the connection. Now, everytime I listen to a song by LMFAO, I think about all the Motown aspects that have influenced their music writing.

Pictures:

• http://bestofmichaeljackson.jclondon.com/2010/05/03/photo-before-motown-berry-gordy-was-a-professional-boxer/
• http://freshnewtracks.com/2010/12/31/electro-lmfao-party-rock-anthem/
• http://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-supremes-p5563

Information:

• http://www.freep.com/article/20110414/ENT04/104140349/0/NEWS01/Motown-rooted-LMFAO-ready-party-rock-Meadowbrook?odyssey=nav%7Chead
• http://www.starpulse.com/Music/Lmfao/Biography/
• http://www.notablebiographies.com/Gi-He/Gordy-Jr-Berry.html