Berry Gordy is a record executive, record producer, composer, film producer, and television producer from the United States. He is primarily known for founding the musical label Motown.
Quick Facts
| Real Name | Berry Gordy |
| Nick Name | Berry |
| Date Of Birth | November 28, 1929 |
| Age | 94 years old |
| Birthplace | Detroit, Michigan, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Songwriter, record executive |
| Height | 5 feet 9 inches |
| Weight | 78 kg |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Eye color | Black |
| Net Worth | $400 million |
Berry Gordy’s Age & Early Life
Berry Gordy was born on November 28, 1929, in Detroit, Michigan, USA. Berry Gordy III is his birth name. His father, Berry Gordy Sr., was a plastering contractor, and his mother, Bertha Fuller Gordy, was an insurance agent when he was born. He has seven siblings, four sisters, and three brothers. His sisters are Anna Gordy Gaye, Gwen Gordy Fuqua, Esther Gordy Edwards, and Loucye Gordy Wakefield, while his brothers are Fuller Berry, George, and Robert Gordy. He also has a half-brother called James. Gordy is an American citizen, yet his ethnicity is All-American. In terms of schooling, he attended Northeastern Senior High School.
Berry Gordy Height & Weight
Berry Gordy is 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighs 78 kg. He has black hair and black eyes. But, his shoe size, clothing size, and so on are not accessible.
Berry Gordy’s Net Worth
How much is Berry Gordy’s net worth? He has an estimated net worth of $400 million as of March 2024, which he has acquired via his professional career.
Career
Berry Gordy attempted but failed to start his own record shop, which included jazz music and 3-D glasses. The proprietor of the Flame Show Bar Talent Club introduced him to Jackie Wilson. Wilson co-wrote the song ‘Reet Petite’ with Berry Gordy’s sister Gwen and writer-producer Billy Davis, which became a smash and reached the Top 10 in the UK.
Gordy and Wilson collaborated for the following two years, recording six additional songs. He put his songwriting revenues into production and borrowed $800 from his family to start Tamla Records, an R&B record label. On January 12, 1959, the label started producing records. The Miracles’ album ‘Bad Girl’ was not a commercial success. In April 1960, the Tamla and Motown labels combined to become the Motown Record Company, which signed Mary Wells as the label’s second star.
Berry, too, relocated to Los Angeles in 1972 and released ‘Lady Sings the Blues,’ followed by ‘Mahogany’ in 1975 and ‘The Last Dragon’ in 1985. On June 28, 1988, he sold his stake in Motown Records to MCA and Boston Ventures for $61 million. ‘To Be Loved,’ his autobiography, was released in 1994.
Berry Gordy’s Wife & Marriage
Who is Berry Gordy’s wife? Berry Gordy is presently unattached. Before, in 1953, he married his fiancée Thelma Coleman. Hazel Joy (born August 24, 1954), Berry IV (born October 1955), and Terry James were born to the marriage (born August 1956). Nevertheless, their marriage ended in divorce in 1959. Following thereafter, in 1960, he married Raynoma Mayberry Liles. Prior to their marriage, the couple had a daughter called Kerry Gordy on June 25, 1959. The couple split in 1964, though.
He then dated Jeana Jackson, with whom he had a daughter called Sherry (born May 23, 1960), and with whom he had a son named Kennedy William (born March 15, 1964). After that, he dated Diana Ross for five years and had a daughter named Rhonda Suzanne (born August 14, 1971). Stefan Kendal Gordy, best known by his stage name Redfoo of the LMFAO combo, was conceived as a result of his romance with Nancy Leiviska. Additionally, he married Grace Eaton on July 17, 1990, however, the pair separated in 1993.
