The Man Who Created The Motown “M” Passes Away
Bernie Yeszin, the former Motown art director who designed many of the label’s famous album covers and created the iconic “M” logo, has passed away.
Detroit native Yeszin died on Tuesday morning (July 8) of apparent kidney and liver failure at Southern California Hospital in Culver City. He was 73.
Yeszin was hired by Berry Gordy, as Tamla Motown began to emerge as an industry force, in 1962, and worked at the company until 1968. For part of that time, he worked in a makeshift attic office space at Motown’s now celebrated house on West Grand Boulevard.
“I went in, met Berry Gordy and got a job in the art department,” he told LA Weekly last year. Soon, the only other staffer in the department left, and Yeszin was in charge. “I didn’t know a thing, really,” he said. “I just had an eye.” He recalled how he would play poker with Marvin Gaye, and let the pre-teen Stevie Wonder hang out in his office. 
Yeszin designed countless album covers, two of his earliest being Martha & the Vandellas’ ‘Come and Get These Memories’ and ‘Recorded Live: The 12 Year Old Genius,’ Wonder’s 1963 set that included his chart-topping live version of ‘Fingertips.’ 
But perhaps Yeszin’s most enduring contribution to the Motown legacy was the “M” logo seen on hundreds of the label’s releases to this very day, and currently prominent on Universal’s 40-track compilation ‘The Nation’s Favourite Motown Song,’ released in the UK this week.
Yeszin later pursued a career in television, winning an Emmy Award in 1990 for art direction on ‘The Tracey Ullman Show.’ He also published a book on the art of dog training, and appeared on the cable TV show ‘Animal Planet.’
“He had that spirit,” former Motown publicist Al Abrams told the Detroit Free Press. “I could bounce really wild ideas off of him, and he’d encourage it. He was the perfect person to be up in the attic with me.”
UK English
rita burton
July 12, 2014 at 11:29 am
What a delightful man, he will be sadly missed indeed. i bought the cd set 10th of july 2013. but of course i also bought the vinyl records in the 1960’s /1970’s such happy days indeed. rest in peace man and enjoy the music in heaven with your contempories.xx
Amy Color
September 20, 2021 at 7:45 pm
He was my art teacher and a huge influence on my art and career. I will always hear him saying “Angles, angles, angles.”
Hub Braden
September 10, 2023 at 12:49 pm
Reminders – Bernie was like a munchkin in height – about 5’-5” – like a comedian in personality – enthusiastic, slapping his hand’s together, “let’ us get started…” – jovial, sincerely being your best buddy, ever…! – however, Bernie stood his ground, determined in focus, arguing his point…! BERNIE was like a dog with a rag-ball, never letting go of his game play, determined to the end…! Bernie died at Mount Sinai Hospital, LA, of liver failure, July 8th, 2014 – b: 1940 – at the age of 73, sadly, a lonely old man surrounded by A choir of nursing aids – and doctors… and memories…!