Living a unique life through entertainment and philanthropy
Karla Gordy Bristol is a board member of Make Music LA, chair and executive producer of the Beverly Hills Centennial Documentary and a member of both Los Angeles Women in Music and Women In Film. (courtesy photo)
Imagine spending the holidays with iconic musicians like Lionel Richie, Smokie Robinson, or Quincy Jones. Some of music’s most iconic singers, writers and producers were apart of everyday life for Karla Gordy Bristol. She is the daughter of the late Motown singer Johnny Bristol and Iris Gordy and also the great-niece of iconic musical pioneer Berry Gordy.
“Growing up constantly having entertainment powerhouses around me was really inspiring,” Karla said. “People don’t realize that we, celebrities and people in the entertainment world, are just like you. So to me, seeing these people when I was growing up was normal to me. It’s just like people outside of the entertainment industry who have normal family friends and relatives.”
Born in Detroit, Michigan, Karla was raised from the age of six in Beverly Hills by her parents Johnny Bristol and Iris Gordy. She carries both of her parents’ last names because she believes both of them are equally impactful in her life. “I’m an entertainment person to the core because of my parents,” she said. Her father, Johnny, was a Grammy nominated singer, songwriter and producer. Her mother, Iris, was the former vice president and executive producer for Motown Records. “I recognize good songs and I know how to create good events because of what I’ve experienced through my life. Entertainment just makes me happy because I see it make others happy.”
Karla graduated Beverly Hills High School and studied business, broadcasting and dance at Michigan State University and Santa Monica College. In her early years, as a dancer, she performed in several music video’s, her first being Lionel Ritchie’s “All Night Long.” She also became a choreographer by working on projects like Smokey Robinson’s “One Heartbeat”. She worked in Motown Records Corporate Affairs Department where she procurred artists, writers, and was passionate about developing programs for their adopt-a-school program. After Motown, she became a real estate agent and sold homes to several people in the entertainment industry like Sinbad and Johnny Gill.
Karla Gordy Bristol and her grand uncle, Motown Records owner Berry Gordy. (courtesy photo)
The mother of two now dedicates a lot of her time as the chair and executive producer for the Beverly Hills Centennial Documentary, her entertainment company the Bristol Entertainment Group and conducting celebrity interviews for red carpet events. She has interviewed and worked with celebrities such as Angela Bassett, Whoopi Goldberg, Quincy Jones, Idris Elba, Loretta Devine and countless others.
But, organizing her family’s charity events for Friends of Fuller B. Gordy is one of her favorite things to be a part of. Friends of Fuller B. Gordy is a non-profit organization dedicated to work with the youth and support systems for those who are disadvantaged. One of their charitable events is the annual bowling “Friends of Fuller Strikefest,” held at Universal City Walk. She is the co-founder and co-producer of the event, which invites entertainment industry celebrities, executives and philanthropists for a live concert, bowling competition and silent auction to raise money for their charity.
“You have to know that you left this earth knowing that you bettered another person. Our charity Friends of Fuller is in remembrance of my grandfather Fuller Gordy who did just that,” said Bristol. Fuller Gordy, the oldest of eight children, was the vice president of Motown Records and the older brother of Berry Gordy. “He was a true mentor. He taught me what being a mentor was all about.”
Karla worked with her grandfather for several years at Motown Records and saw the countless thoughtful acts he would do for the homeless. “Grandpa Fuller would take homeless people off the street and bring them to his executive office in Motown and speak with them about their lives. Eventually he would talk to them about how to have a better life and would help them along the way,” said Karla.
The acts Karla saw her grandfather partake in inspired her to also be involved in their organization EmpowHer Institute. The institute empowers young girls created an educational plan for their desired careers.
“I want to be a great role model for people who aspire to be or do something. I always get a push to move forward in all the events that I do to show my children that things can be done. I want them to be better than me. People always think that because we are in the Gordy family things come easily, but we have to work hard to accomplish our individual dreams too,” Karla said.