Anna Gordy Gaye the female powerhouse behind Motown

When most people think about Motown, it is the founder Berry Gordy or names of the top performers who recorded at the studio that come to mind. Hits like My Girl by the Temptations, and It Takes Two by Marvin Gaye and Tammy Terrel, are etched in the psyche of music lovers of all generations. What may not be widely known is the role of a woman, who was behind the scenes of what began as Hitsville, USA in Detroit Michigan. Gordy's older sister Anna played a larger role in the hit making machine than most people may realize. Her accomplishments have not been celebrated as they should but today I sing her praises.

Over the decades I have read the autobiographies of many Motown artists including Diana Ross, Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye, and Mary Wells. In every one of these publications, at some point, the name Anna Ruby Gordy Gaye is mentioned. She was one of the biggest female influences at Motown during its heyday. Unfortunately she was in the shadow of her famous brother and husband. Anna was born on January 28, 1922, and died on January 31, 2014 at age 92. She was a businesswoman, songwriter, and composer who became a record executive in the mid-to-late 1950s.

Anna initially began distributing records released on the labels Checker and Gone Records before forming her own self-titled label with her sister Gwen Gordy and Billy Davis. Anna Gordy became known as a songwriter after she penned several hits including the Originals' "Baby, I'm for Real", and "The Bells"and at least two songs for then husband Marvin Gaye on his album What's Going On. Anna was the first wife of the iconic singer whose career began as a session musician on her Anna label before going to Motown. This is a fact that is rarely mentioned but is nonetheless true.

The two songs that Anna wrote for The Originals have a special quality about them. They were favorites back in the day at house parties where teens turned down the lights and slow danced. These songs were "mood music" and set the mood for couples to make out while on the dance floor or in a quiet corner. When such music was played everybody wanted to be on the floor and in someone's arms. This music alludes to a time that holds fond memories for many, who had no idea of the woman behind the music.

Marvin and Anna married in 1963 when she was 41 and he was only 23 and they divorced in 1977. They had one child, an adopted son named Marvin Pentz Gaye III. The evidence suggests that without Anna Gordy there is a strong possibility that Motown might not exist. Something to consider is that there is no way at this point and time to know the truth of all of her accomplishments. She may have been more valuable than anyone realized and Anna may have been responsible for so much more.

Anna is responsible for “Flying High (In the Friendly Sky)” and “God is Love,” on Gaye’s classic album “What’s Going On.” God is Love is actually an intro that is left out of many recordings of the hit song Mercy Mercy Me. She was also the inspiration for her husband's hit “Pride and Joy” and was in attendance in 1984 when Marvin Gaye was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Baby I'm for real video

Anna's role at Motown is chronicled in the hit Broadway production Motown: The Musical. It's been said, however, that even acknowledgment falls short in detailing her importance to her brother and the recording studio. The Guardian says that Anna Gordy left her imprint on the Soul music of the 60s and 70s but sadly the world will never know just how much she contributed to her brother's dynanstThe following is what has been recorded about her.

Berry Gordy benefitted by having his older siblings already working in the record industry. This gave the music mogul the connections, and eventually the confidence, to "strike out on his own." His sisters were responsible for Gordy having the capital he needed as both Anna and younger sister Gwen voted in the Ber-Berry Co-operative, which was the family loan system that gave their brother the $800 startup money needed for his first label, Tamla Records.

Flying High in the friendly sky video

In the 2019 film, Hitsville The Making of Motown, Benjamin and Gabe Truner do an even greater injustice to Anna Gordy. Her name is mentioned only twice in the entire movie. The first is when the fact was stated that both of Berry’s sisters worked for Motown. The second mention of Anna comes when her brother discusses the beginnings of his “love affair” with Diana Ross. Gordy was quoted as stating: ’When they say Motown was a family. They had no idea. Motown was really a family. Diane and I had a love affair. Marvin [Gaye] married my sister.”

Here is the summary of what we know about Anna Gordy. She was in the record industry long before her brother and even had her own label first. Marvin Gaye worked with Anna before becoming a part of the "Motown Machine." Anna along with sister Gwen is responsible for the $800.00 Berry needed to get his business off the ground. Ms. Gordy/Gaye was behind at least two of the hits of her famous husband and the inspiration behind a third. It is very clear that this woman's contributions have been downplayed and some things possibly ignored. She is yet another unsung female business leader who experienced sexism.

God Is Love- Mercy Mercy Me ( The Ecology ) video

Unlike many other black women entrepreneurs, Anna's mistreatment was not the result of racism and neither was it at the hands of white males in power. Anna, Ruby, Gordy, Gaye's accomplishments were downplayed by those of her own race, and the main individual being her own brother. Berry Gordy has received many honors and taken numerous bows over his lifetime, and like many others who rose to the top, he accepted all the accolades for himself.

Neither, Gordy, Smokey Robinson, nor anyone else once has given Anna Gordy Gaye the respect she is due. her name is always mentioned in passing but thanks to various writers, the bits and pieces can now be put together for the world to know her value to the music industry. A sad truth to this tale is the fact that Berry Gordy never emphasized that without his sisters Anna and Gwen he would never have even got his foot in the door. There is an old saying that goes: "Behind every good man is a strong woman" and it is still true today.