Motown turns 50

Berry Gordy's former home was turned into Motown's Detroit HQ. Named Hitsville USA, it was in this building that the early songs of Smokey Robinson, the Supremes and Marvin Gaye were born Photograph: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty

Berry Gordy was the founder of Motown. His vision was to replicate the mass production methods of companies like Ford within the pop industry Photograph: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty

Barrett Strong scored Motown's first hit with Money (That's What I Want) in 1959. It was later covered by the Beatles and the Flying Lizards Photograph: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty

Smokey Robinson and the Miracles in 1967 (L-R: Bobby Rogers, Pete Moore, Smokey Robinson, Ronnie White). Smokey wrote so many hits for the label he earned the nickname 'King of Motown' Photograph: Michael Ochs Archives/Corbis

The original lineup of soul vocal group the Temptations (L-R: David Ruffin, Melvin Franklin, Eddie Kendricks, Paul Williams and Otis Williams), again one of the most successful groups to record for the label Photograph: Hulton Archive/Getty Images

The Contours were another early signing to Gordy's label, famous for their hit Do You Love Me Photograph: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty

This early portrait of Marvin Gaye shows the singer during his pop-orientated 1960s period, when he was the label's top-selling solo artist Photograph: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty

Here's a shot of Little Stevie Wonder. Like Gaye, Wonder went on to gain greater creative control, change his sound and have huge success in the 1970s Photograph: /Getty Images

The Velvelettes, whose hit records include Needle in a Haystack and He Was Really Sayin' Something. Both were produced by the legendary Norman Whitfield, who sadly died last year Photograph: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty

Motown was famous for its girl groups. The Marvelettes recorded the label's first US chart topper, Please Mr Postman, paving the way for others such as ... Photograph: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty

Diana Ross (centre) and the Supremes, performing in the mid 60s. The Supremes were Motown's most succesful act, notching up 12 No 1 singles in the US Photograph: Archive Photos/Getty Images

Motown recording star Tammi Terrell teamed up with Marvin Gaye for a string of hits including Ain't No Mountain High Enough. Her life was tragically cut short when she died from a brain tumour aged 24 Photograph: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

The distinctive baritone of Levi Stubbs, who died last year, helped the Four Tops achieve massive success Photograph: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty

... Martha Reeves and the Vandellas. Famous for Dancing in the Street among many other hits, Reeves is now an elected member of the Detroit City Council Photograph: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty

Jimmy Ruffin, whose brother David was in the Temptations, is best known for his song What Becomes of the Broken Hearted Photograph: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty

David Ruffin after he left the Temptations. Not everyone can pull off the fur collar and plastic specs look Photograph: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty

This 1970 shot shows the Jackson 5 tearing it up in their own backyard, at the family home in Encino, California Photograph: John Olson/ Time Life/Getty Images

Eddie Kendricks leads the Temptations during a concert at Madison Square Garden during their late-1960s psychedelic period Photograph: Walter Iooss Jr/Getty Images

Diana Ross plays Billie Holiday in the 1972 Motown movie Lady Sings the Blues Photograph: The Kobal Collection

Gladys Knight & the Pips had a string of hits for Motown, although they didn't reach the top of the US charts until Midnight Train to Georgia, by which time they had already left the label Photograph: Cine Text/Allstar

Marvin Gaye in the 1970s, when successful solo albums such as What's Going On and Let's Get It On helped to rejuvenate Motown, which by 1972 had relocated to Los Angeles Photograph: Jim Britt/Getty Images

Stevie Wonder reached a new level of critical acclaim in the 1970s, and his pioneering keyboard work is best heard on the albums Talking Book, Innervisions and Songs in the Key of Life Photograph: Jim Britt/Getty Images

The Commodores, backstage with the Jackson 5 in the 1970s Photograph: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty

Diana Ross in Mahogany, another Motown movie, this time co-directed by Berry Gordy and Tony Richardson Photograph: Ronald Grant

The Commodores in Thank God It's Friday, Motown's 1978 disco movie Photograph: The Kobal Collection

Teena Marie, who was one of Motown's few white artists between 1976 and 1982 Photograph: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty

Funk pioneer Rick James who wrote and performed for Motown in the late-70s and 80s Photograph: Paul Natkin/Getty

DeBarge were one of Motown's more succesful 80s acts Photograph: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty

Boyz II Men pose with their Grammy awards in 1995. They scooped the gongs for best R&B album (for II) and best R&B performance by a duo or group with vocals (for I'll Make Love to You) Photograph: Dan Groshong/AFP/Getty Images

Erykah Badu in 1997. Badu's latest album New Amerykah Part One (4th World War) was released last year through Universal Motown records Photograph: Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images

Motown became a subsiduary of Universal in 1999. It now has acts such as hip-hop artist Q-Tip, although the label may never regain the charm it had when it was a homegrown hit factory in 1960s Detroit Photograph: Nathaniel S. Butler/Getty