Robert Gordy

Background

Robert Gordy was born in Detroit, Michigan.

Career

The record reached #96 on the Billboard Hot 100 in November 1958. He recorded a second single on Gordy"s Anna label in 1959, "Never More", before working for a time in the postal service. As his older brother"s Motown company expanded, Robert returned to work for it, initially as a recording engineer

He also recorded two further singles as Bob Kayli, "Small Sad Sam" (an answer record to "Big Bad John", Tamla, 1961), and "Hold On Pearl" (Gordy, 1962).

Neither was successful, and his career as a recording artist ended. From 1961, he worked in Motown"s publishing arm, Jobete Music.

As a songwriter, he co-wrote several songs for early Motown artists including "You"re What"s Happening (In the World Today)," the B-Side to "I Heard it Through the Grapevine, Motown"s biggest single up until that time. As an actor, Robert Gordy also played the character "Hawk" in the 1972 film, Lady Sings the Blues.

By 1974, Jobete had a catalog of over 7,000 songs, with Robert Gordy stating that his aim for the company was to have a "well-rounded stable" of songs, including country and western as well as its established repertoire.

He continued to head Jobete until 1985. He now resides in California.

Achievements

• He is the youngest child of Berry Gordy, Senior and Bertha Fuller, and the brother of Motown founder, Berry Gordy, Junior.