Gwendolyn Fuqua; Key Motown Figure

Gwendolyn Gordy Fuqua, who helped persuade her family to finance Berry Gordy’s Motown Records and founded several music companies as well as Motown’s legendary artist development program, died of cancer Monday at her home in San Diego. She was 71.

Considered the first entrepreneur of the eight Gordy children, Fuqua started in business as the operator of a photo concession at Detroit’s Flame Show Bar. She went on to found several record labels and play a major role in the development of Motown, the company that brought black music to the masses.

Motown was launched in 1959 after Fuqua and her sister Anna talked the Gordy family council into lending brother Berry $800 to make a master recording of singer Marv Johnson.

Later, while Berry Gordy focused on the quality of the Motown sound, Gwendolyn and Anna, who were known for their sense of style, concentrated on the artists’ looks.

Female artists were sent to charm school, where they learned how to sit, walk, style their hair and wear long gowns with white gloves on stage. Male artists were put through similar training, including sessions with a choreographer to polish their moves.

Through the artist development program--one of the first in the music industry--Fuqua helped guide such Motown stars as the Supremes, Martha and the Vandellas and the Temptations.

As an artist manager, record company executive, songwriter and producer, she also influenced the careers of Marvin Gaye, Tammi Terrell and the Spinners.

Early in her career she helped Berry Gordy write several hits for Jackie Wilson, including “Reet Petite,” “To Be Loved,” “Lonely Teardrops,” “That’s Why” and “I’ll Be Satisfied.”

She was married to Harvey Fuqua, leader of the Moonglows vocal group that included Marvin Gaye. She and her husband formed the Harvey and Tri-Phi labels, whose top talents included the Spinners, Johnny Bristol and Junior Walker and the All Stars. In 1963 the labels were closed and merged with Motown.

She also founded Anna Records and ran three other music companies: Gwen Glenn Productions, Der-Glenn Publishing Co. and Old Brompton Road Publishing Co.

She is survived by her son Glenn Gordy, sisters Esther Edwards and Anna Gaye, and brothers Robert, George and Berry.

A viewing will be held from 5 to 9 p.m. today at Faith Chapel, Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills, 6300 Forest Lawn Drive, Los Angeles. A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at Church of the Hills Chapel at Forest Lawn. Fuqua will be buried in Highland Park, Mich., after a service Monday in Detroit.