Final answer:
The Motown record label operated primarily from the late 1950s through the 1970s, with its golden age in the 1960s, popularizing African American music and contributing to the integration of pop music.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Motown record label, which became synonymous with a distinct sound and a roster of incredibly talented artists, primarily operated from its inception in the late 1950s through the 1970s, with its most influential period being in the 1960s. Motown was instrumental in bringing African American music into mainstream popularity and had a significant role in the racial integration of pop music during the tumultuous times of the civil rights movement. The sound of Motown could be purchased in local record shops, introducing the rhythms and melodies of black artists to a wider, predominantly white audience.
While Elvis Presley was not a Motown artist, he was one of the most famous youths to come out of Memphis during the 1950s, who similarly blended various regional musical styles. Presley's first record, produced by Sun Records in 1954, was pivotal in fusing R&B, gospel, bluegrass, country, and western music, contributing to the rock 'n' roll wave that swept the nation and paved the way for other genres to flourish, including the Motown sound.