Kerry Gordy - Early Years

Early Years

Born in Detroit, Michigan the same year that his father, music business legend Berry Gordy, Jr., founded Motown, Kerry was brought home from the hospital to live in the historic home that housed the famous Hitsville Motown Recording Studios that resided on West Grand Blvd. (which has recently been renamed Berry Gordy Jr. Blvd.) in the heart of Detroit. Kerry and his seven brothers and sisters grew up surrounded in the magic of Motown. Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson, Lionel Richie, Rick James, The Temptations, Diana Ross, Teena Marie, The Four Tops, and Marvin Gaye among others were like family to him. Kerry’s mother, Raynoma, was a child prodigy in music and played eleven instruments. She orchestrated the first arrangements for Motown. Kerry lived with his mother until the age of 13. Kerry followed in his mother’s footsteps and plays several instruments as well. Kerry then moved to Los Angeles with his father Berry and became one of his father’s many protégés. Benny Medina (currently a well known artist manager to stars such as Will Smith, P. Diddy, JLO, Mariah Carey, and Usher) attended Beverly Hills High School with Kerry. Years later Benny created the TV show Fresh Prince of Bel-Air a semi-autobiographical TV sit com loosely based on Kerry letting Benny move into the Gordy Estate in Bel Air while they were still teenagers. Benny was Kerry's first business partner. They wrote and produced records together for Motown and founded a teen idol band called Apollo on Motown Records. Teena Marie was originally in the group as the female lead but dropped out right before the band released their first single for Motown entitled Astro Disco . The group graced the covers of teen magazines, performed on national television shows and performed over 200 concerts in Asia alone according to executives in Motown. In the early 80's Kerry acted in various commercials, T.V. shows and movies.