I Hear a Symphony

I Hear a Symphony opens new territory in the study of Motowns legacy, arguing that the music of Motown was indelibly shaped by the ideals of Detroits postwar black middle class; that Motowns 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 companys 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. Florys work reveals the richness of the Motown sound, and equally rich and complex cultural influence Motown still exerts.