Music / Business & brands
Gwen Gordy Fuqua
1927–1999 · songwriter, record executive
Detroit-born Gordy sister who co-wrote Jackie Wilson's "Lonely Teardrops", co-founded Anna Records and later ran artist development and management at Motown.
- Born
Detroit, Michigan- Died
San Diego, California
aged 71- Birth name
- Gwendolyn Gordy
- Also known as
- Gwen Gordy
- Detroit years
- 1927–early 1970s
- Field
- Music, Business & brands
01 / The Detroit story
The Detroit story
Born in Detroit, Gwen Gordy ran the photo concession at the Flame Show Bar on John R Street after high school, which made her a fixture of the city's nightlife. She introduced her brother Berry to the club's manager Al Green, who had just signed Jackie Wilson, and with Berry and Billy Davis she wrote Wilson's first hits, from "Reet Petite" to "Lonely Teardrops", plus Etta James's "All I Could Do Was Cry". In 1958 she and Davis launched Anna Records, named after her sister, which distributed Barrett Strong's "Money". After marrying Harvey Fuqua she co-founded the Tri-Phi and Harvey labels, home of the Spinners and Junior Walker; Motown absorbed them in 1963. At Motown she co-headed artist development, managed acts such as the Spinners, Shorty Long and Tammi Terrell, and pushed for the Gaye–Terrell duets. She moved to California in the early 1970s.
Highlights
- Co-wrote "Reet Petite" and "Lonely Teardrops" for Jackie Wilson
- Co-founded Anna Records (1958)
- Co-founded Tri-Phi and Harvey Records with Harvey Fuqua
- Co-wrote lyrics for Marvin Gaye's "Distant Lover"
02 / Their Detroit places
Their Detroit places 2
Where they lived, worked, performed and liked to hang out. Closed and demolished places stay here too, because they are part of the city's history.
Worked here · 1950s
Flame Show Bar
Demolished · 1949–1963
She and sister Anna ran the club's photo concession; here she met the people who launched Jackie Wilson. Demolished in 1965.
Worked here · 1963–early 1970s
Motown Museum
She co-headed Motown's artist development, housed on West Grand Boulevard.