Tamla Motown Information Page
In the UK it was Fontana Records who first released Motown singles. This was followed by Oriole, Stateside and finally Motown in its own right through EMI. In the early 1960's it was Oriole Records that pressed and distributed all the Tamla Motown recordings.
John Schroeder was an executive at Oriole Records in London. Apparently he wined and dined Berry Gordy on a UK visit with the first Motown Review show and got the contract for the releases of Tamla Motown tracks in the UK. (Later John Schroeder was to make a great soul version of Agent 00 Soul).
The early Motown Review that showcased many of the subsequent stars, played at many USA Theatres. One of the originals was the Brooklyn Fox Theatre (see weblink below).