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Robert Gordy

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Robert Gordy
BornJuly 15, 1931
DiedOctober 21, 2022 (aged 91)

Robert Louis Gordy(July 15, 1931 – October 21, 2022) was an American songwriter,music publishingexecutive, and recording artist under the stage nameBob Kayli.He released the minor hit song "Everyone Was There" in 1958. He was the brother ofMotownfounderBerry GordyJr. and uncle ofRedfoo.

Early life

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Gordy was born inDetroit, Michigan,[1]on July 15, 1931.[2]He was the youngest of eight children of Berry "Pops" Gordy Sr. and Bertha Fuller.[2][3]Gordy followed in the footsteps of his brother Berry and became a boxer. He later performed at local music venues like theFlame Show Bar,where he also managed thedarkroomfor his sister Gwen.[4]

Career

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Gordy had a brief career as a recording artist and had a minor hit as Bob Kayli with thenovelty song"Everyone Was There" (1958), co-written with his brother Berry and leased by him to theCarltonlabel.[3]The record reached number 96 on theBillboardHot 100in November 1958 and he performed it on the Dick Clark TV Show.[5]However, the song's popularity declined precipitously when the public found out that he wasAfrican American.[3][6]

Gordy recorded a second single on Gordy'sAnnalabel in 1959, "Never More", before working for a time in the postal service.[3][7][8]As his older brother's Motown company expanded, Robert returned to work for it, initially as a recording engineer.[8]He also recorded two further singles as Bob Kayli, "Small Sad Sam" (a cover of Phil McLean'sanswer recordto "Big Bad John",Tamla,1961) and "Hold On Pearl" (Gordy,1962). Neither was successful and his career as a recording artist ended.[3][7]

From 1961,[5]Gordy worked in Motown's publishing armJobete MusicPublishing. In 1965 at age 34, he took over as general manager and vice-president of Jobete Music Publishing for more than 20 years following the death of his sister Loucye and being recognized as the number 1 chart publisher for 14 years.[3][8]As a songwriter, he co-wrote several songs for early Motown artists such as "You're What's Happening (In the World Today)", theB-sideto "I Heard it Through the Grapevine",Motown's biggest single up until that time. As an actor, Robert Gordy also played the drug pusher character" Hawk "in his first acting role in the 1972 filmLady Sings the Blues.By 1974 when Mr. Gordy was 54, 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, includingcountry and westernas well as its established repertoire.[9]He moved Jobete from a holder of copyrights into a highly profitable international publishing company. He continued to head Jobete until 1985.[5]

Personal life

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Gordy was married to Theresa until her death.[2]Together, they had four children.[1][2]One of them, Robert Jr., predeceased Gordy in June 2021.[10][11]One of Gordy's nephews was singer/rapperRedfoo.[12]

Gordy died on October 21, 2022, at his home inMarina del Rey, California.He was 91, and died of natural causes.[1][2][4]

Selected songwriting credits

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Song Co-writer(s) Performer(s) Ref(s)
"Everyone Was There" Berry Gordy Bob Kayli [4][13]
"Minnie the Ugly Duckling" None The Contours [14]
"The World Is Rated X" Ezra Bolton, Mel Bolton, Marilyn McLeod Marvin Gaye [15]
"You're What's Happening (in the World Today)" George Gordy, Allen Story Marvin Gaye [16]
"Your Kiss of Fire" Harvey Fuqua The Supremes [17][18]

References

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  1. ^abcMackay, Hannah (October 23, 2022)."Motown artist, songwriter, producer Robert Gordy dies at 91".The Detroit News.RetrievedOctober 27,2022.
  2. ^abcdeFleming, Chandra (October 23, 2022)."Music exec Robert Louis Gordy, brother to Motown founder, dead at 91".Detroit Free Press.RetrievedOctober 27,2022.
  3. ^abcdefHamilton, Andrew."Bob Kayli – Biography".AllMusic.RetrievedOctober 27,2022.
  4. ^abcWhite, Adam (October 26, 2022)."Robert Gordy, Who Led Motown's Publishing Division During Prime Years, Dies at 91".Billboard.RetrievedOctober 27,2022.
  5. ^abcWhitburn, Joel (2003).Top Pop Singles 1955–2002(1st ed.). Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. p.374.ISBN0-89820-155-1.
  6. ^Abrams, Alan (November 24, 1994)."For the Superstar of Motown, To Be Loved is the book of a dream come true: Berry Gordy".Windsor Star.p. X7.ProQuest254076608.RetrievedOctober 27,2022– viaProQuest.
  7. ^ab"Bob Kayli",SoulfulKindaMusic.net.Retrieved June 27, 2015
  8. ^abcGraham Betts,Motown Encyclopedia,AC Publishing, 2014
  9. ^Johnson, Herschel (June 1974)."Motown: The Sound of Success".Black Enterprise.Vol. 4, no. 11. Earl G. Graves, Ltd. pp. 71–80.ISSN0006-4165.RetrievedOctober 28,2022.
  10. ^Kean, Tricia (June 9, 2021)."Robert Gordy Jr., nephew of Motown founder Berry Gordy Jr., has died, family says".KTNV.RetrievedJune 25,2021.
  11. ^Miller, Shannon."Nephew of Motown founder died in Las Vegas on June 3, family says".FOX5 Las Vegas.Archived fromthe originalon June 12, 2021.RetrievedJune 25,2021.
  12. ^Yeung, Neil Z."Redfoo – Biography".AllMusic.RetrievedOctober 27,2022.
  13. ^"Everyone Was There by Bob Kayli – Track Info".AllMusic.RetrievedOctober 27,2022.
  14. ^"Minnie the Ugly Duckling".United States: All Music Guide.RetrievedJuly 1,2015.
  15. ^"The World is Rated X".United States: All Music Guide.RetrievedJuly 1,2015.
  16. ^"You're What's Happening (In the World Today)".United States: All Music Guide.RetrievedJuly 1,2015.
  17. ^Betts, Graham (June 2, 2014).Motown Encyclopedia.AC Publishing.ISBN9781311441546.
  18. ^Dahl, Bill (February 28, 2011).Motown: The Golden Years – More than 100 rare photographs.Penguin.ISBN9781440225574.
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