OMAR NEWMAN MOTOWN COLLECTION

Lost Images of MOTOWN

byOmar Newman

The Lost Images of Motown is a multimedia production based around an extensive collection of long-forgotten professional photographs of the early days of Motown (1959-1971). It includes a presentation of stories, remembrances, and anecdotes from those who were there at Motown during that magical time in Detroit and a fine-art photographic coffee table book available for purchase by the public.

This unique collection of over 12,929 vintage professional photographs of stars, celebrities and other notable individuals, dating from 1959 to 1971, was left in Detroit by Motown Corporation when Motown was moved to Los Angeles. The collection was recovered, organized, restored, digitized, collated into 780 individual positive image proof-sheets, and indexed into a master searchable database. It was a massive task, involving thousands of professional man-hours, incorporating state-of-the-art improvements in digital technology and techniques that were not available at the time the negatives were originally exposed. This has enabled us to ensure a stunning presentation of these timeless images.

We then recruited noted award-winning designer Mark Zapico, currently Chair of Advertising at the College for Creative Studies in Detroit, Michigan, to select and organize the images for this collection and accompanying fine-art photography book. We recruited writers and conducted filmed interviews of the Motown stars and background personnel, so that their perspectives could be included. Together, we have created an incomparable time-capsule of this magical time in the history of music in Detroit and the world-at-large. It is now a collection that is a valuable reference for historians, educators, and music fans alike. The Lost Images of Motown have been found.