No one has the lowdown on Motown quite like Pete Moore, bass singer and founding member of The Miracles. The group’s soulful harmonies and songwriting talents are legendary, and their success helped shape Motown into one of the most influential labels of all time. Without The Miracles, there would be no Motown.

Phil Barnes scored this incredible interview with Pete, who talks at length about Motown’s earliest days. He looks back on forming The Miracles with Smokey Robinson, and how fate brought the group to Barry Gordy, then a young, ambitious songwriter. Pete also describes scouting legendary acts like Stevie Wonder and The Supremes, as well as the kinship among Motown artists. There’s so much great, intimate, historical information here, so we spread this interview over two episodes.

The Interview

Pete Moore: Part 1 (Recorded 4/21/15, TMR premiere: 7/28/15)
19:33
18.8 MB
Pete Moore: Part 2 (Recorded 4/21/15, TMR premiere: 8/25/15)
20:30
19.7 MB
(Note: Due to copyright considerations, the podcasts contain excerpts of the Miracle songs included in the full program.)

The Music

Artist / Song / Album / Year

Part One:

The Miracles / Baby, Baby Don’t Cry / Time Out for Smokey Robinson & The Miracles / 1968

The Miracles / Bad Girl / Greatest Hits: From the Beginning / 1959

The Miracles / That’s What Love Is Made Of  / I Like It Like That / 1964

The Miracles / You’ve Really Got a Hold On Me / The Fabulous Miracles / 1962

Part Two:

Marvin Gaye / Ain’t That Peculiar / Moods of Marvin Gaye / 1966

The Miracles / (You Can’t Let the Boy Overpower) The Man In You / Single / 1964

The Miracles / The Tracks of My Tears / Going to a Go-Go / 1965