University of Michigan Press I Hear a Symphony: Motown and Crossover R&B (Tracking Pop)

I Hear a Symphony opens new territory in the study of Motown’s legacy, arguing that the music of Motown was indelibly shaped by the ideals of Detroit’s postwar black middle class; that Motown’s creative personnel participated in an African-American tradition of dialogism in rhythm and blues while developing the famous “Motown Sound.” Throughout the book, Flory focuses on the central importance of “crossover” to the Motown story; first as a key concept in the company’s efforts to reach across American commercial markets, then as a means to extend influence internationally, and finally as a way to expand the brand beyond strictly musical products. Flory’s work reveals the richness of the Motown sound, and equally rich and complex cultural influence Motown still exerts. Review "[I Hear a Symphony] makes a substantial contribution to academic literature on Motown . . . [Flory] certainly takes an approach to Motown that is significantly different from any previous work on the subject." --Rob Bowman, Associate Professor of Ethnomusicology, York University "[Flory's] access to Motown archival materials, his scrutiny of the Michigan Chronicle, and his encyclopedic familiarity with seemingly every form of Motown's output and public circulation--recordings, covers, film, television appearances, commercials--brings readers closer than ever before to an understanding of the operations of the company and the sheer scope of Motown's presence in global popular culture." --Mark Burford, Associate Professor of Music at Reed College"I Hear a Symphony is a superb musicological investigation of Motown as a force in the pop marketplace over the past five decades. It presents a one-of-a-kind, multifaceted narrative whose themes include industrial history, cultural history, race, musical style and practice, repertory, intertextual influence, technology, marketing and branding, and pop music's transnational currents, all woven into a sophisticated history of one of pop's most fascinating and enduring institutions." --Albin Zak, Professor of Musicology at the University at Albany About the Author Andrew Flory is an Assistant Professor of Music at Carleton College.