Record producer, and songwriter Berry Gordy, Jr.
Berry Gordy started Tamala Records, with an $800 loan
from his family along with royalties received from writing
for singer Jackie Wilson. He originally wanted to name
the new label “Tammy” Records, after the hit song by
Debbie Reynolds, but discovered it was already taken.
Tamala’s first release in 1959, in the Detroit area, was
”Come to Me” by Marv Johnson. It was released on the
United Artists label nationally. Tamala’s first hit was a
Barrett Strong number called “Money (That’s What I
Want)”, which went to number-two on the Billboard
R&B charts.
Marvin Earl Johnson (October 15, 1938 – May 16, 1993)
