The Supremes and Holland-Dozier-Holland – Picture: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Pictures
Emanating from Detroit, aka Motor Metropolis, the Motown sound eternally reworked the panorama of soul and pop music. For the final 60 years, guided by the imaginative and prescient of founder Berry Gordy, Motown’s music has transcended generations and left an indelible imprint upon tradition all around the world. Whereas the label created superstars like Diana Ross And The Supremes, 4 Tops, The Temptations, Gladys Knight And The Pips, and a plethora of others, the main forces behind the large success of “Hitsville USA” had been the songwriters and producers who labored behind the scenes to present the world “The Sound Of Young America.”
Listed below are 15 songwriters and producers who formed the Motown sound.
15: Ivy Jo Hunter
Ivy Jo Hunter is among the unsung heroes of Motown. Skilled in orchestral music, he started as a session participant, then grew to become a principal musician within the Motown home band earlier than settling in as a songwriter and producer. He co-wrote “Ask The Lonely” and “Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever” by 4 Tops, Martha And The Vandellas’ anthem “Dancing In The Street” and The Spinners’ ‘I’ll At all times Love You’, and he produced the 1968 High 40 hit single “You” for Marvin Gaye. As an integral a part of the Motown machine, Hunter achieved a lot with little fanfare.
Take a look at: “Dancing In The Street”
14: Clarence Paul
Clarence Paul is credited with mentoring “Little” Stevie Surprise, however he was additionally a author and producer on some legendary Motown songs. He composed “Hitch Hike” for Marvin Gaye and co-composed the energetic “Fingertips,” which, because the stay recording “Fingertips – Part 2,” Stevie Surprise took No.1 on the Billboard Sizzling 100, changing into the youngest artist ever to high the chart. Paul and Surprise started a fruitful songwriting partnership, leading to “Until You Come Back To Me (That’s What I’m Gonna Do)” and “Hey Love,” and he produced Surprise’s model of Bob Dylan’s “Blowin’ In The Wind,” which went to No.1 on the R&B chart and No.9 on the pop charts in summer time of 1966. Clarence Paul died in 1995, in Los Angeles, with Stevie Surprise at his bedside.
Take a look at: “Hitch Hike”
13: Harvey Fuqua
If Harvey Fuqua did nothing however set up the R&B and doo-wop group The Moonglows, with whom Marvin Gaye obtained his begin, that might have been sufficient. However Fuqua was instrumental within the early improvement of the Motown sound. Whereas married to Gwen Gordy, sister of Berry Gordy, he distributed Motown’s first hit single, Barrett Sturdy’s “Money (That’s What I Want)”, on their Anna Information imprint. When Fuqua bought Anna Information to Berry Gordy, he grew to become a songwriter and producer at Motown. Fuqua introduced Tammi Terrell to the label and commenced to provide her basic duets with Marvin Gaye, together with ”Ain’t No Mountain Excessive Sufficient,” “Your Precious Love,” “If This World Were Mine” and “If I Could Build My Whole World Around You.” A real pioneer in African-American music, Harvey Fuqua died in 2010.
Take a look at: “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”
12: Syreeta Wright
Syreeta Wright was not solely the muse, however the artistic accomplice of Stevie Surprise because the latter was growing into one of many main masterminds in music historical past. Collectively they wrote ‘It’s A Disgrace’ (recorded by The Spinners), “Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours)” and Surprise’s 1971 album, The place I’m Coming From – the primary mission on which Surprise had full artistic management, and in addition composed the delicate “If You Really Love Me,” which entered the High 10 on the Billboard Pop Charts. Over the course of her profession, Wright would proceed to work with Surprise; she additionally made vital recordings with keyboardist extraordinaire Billy Preston and centered on her personal solo work till her demise in 2004.
Take a look at: “If You Really Love Me”
11: Johnny Bristol
A protégé of Harvey Fuqua, Johnny Bristol was a serious part of the Motown sound of the late 60s and early 70s. He penned Motown requirements reminiscent of Gladys Knight And The Pips’ “I Don’t Want To Do Wrong,” Jr Walker And The All-Stars’ “What Does It Take (To Win Your Love)” and David Ruffin’s “My Whole World Ended (The Moment You Left Me).” Bristol additionally holds the excellence of being producer and co-writer of the ultimate singles for the Diana Ross-era Supremes and Smokey Robinson-era Miracles. With The Supremes’ “Someday We’ll Be Together” (1969), and The Miracles’ “We’ve Come Too Far to End It Now” (1972), Bristol gave Ross and Robinson becoming swansongs as they transitioned to solo acts. Bristol later resumed his personal recording profession, and continued to put in writing and produce till he handed away in 2004.
Take a look at: “Someday We’ll Be Together”
10: Frank Wilson
When Motown moved Detroit to Los Angeles, author/producer Frank Wilson was an integral a part of the transition, becoming a member of Motown within the mid-60s at its newly opened workplace on the West Coast. Wilson wrote a number of hits, amongst them “Chained” (for Marvin Gaye) and “You’ve Made Me So Very Happy,” (Brenda Holloway), which, two years later, change into a huge hit for Blood, Sweat And Tears. As The Supremes’ music started to replicate adjustments in society, Wilson penned “Love Child,” which soared to No.1 on the Billboard 100. He composed “All I Need” for 4 Tops’ thematic Nonetheless Waters album and in addition dealt with manufacturing on The Supremes’ first albums of their post-Diana Ross period. Wilson continued his scorching streak through the 70s, penning huge hits with Eddie Kendricks (“Keep On Truckin,” “Boogie Down,” “Shoeshine Boy”), which took Motown into the disco period. After leaving the label in 1976, Wilson grew to become a born-again Christian. He continued to put in writing and produce R&B and gospel music till his demise, in 2012.
Take a look at: “Keep On Truckin”
9: William “Mickey” Stevenson
Each nice file label wants an A&R particular person with an ear for songwriting and producing. At Motown, Mickey Stevenson was the person for the job. After his audition as a singer didn’t go nicely, Stevenson took Berry Gordy up on his supply to be the label’s A&R man. Probably the most necessary brains behind the Motown operation, Stevenson oversaw classics like “Dancing In The Street.” which he co-wrote with Ivy Jo Hunter and Marvin Gaye; “It Takes Two,” co-written with Sylvia Moy for Gaye and Kim Weston, Stevenson’s former spouse; “Ask the Lonely,” for 4 Tops; Jimmy Ruffin’s “What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted”, and Gaye’s “Stubborn Kind Of Fellow.” amongst others. Of all his noteworthy accomplishments as a songwriter and producer, Stevenson’s biggest feat could have been establishing the Motown home band, the legendary Funk Brothers.
Take a look at: “What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted”
8: Lionel Richie
Lionel Richie got here to Motown as a member and first author/producer of the funk band Commodores, and was as comfy writing ballads (“Just To Be Close,” “Easy,” “Three Times A Lady”) as he was funk hits (“Brick House,” “Lady (You Bring Me Up),” “Too Hot Ta Trot”). His duet with fellow Motown celebrity Diana Ross, “Endless Love,” is one probably the most beloved ever written, and sparked Richie’s solo profession.
After leaving Commodores, Richie catapulted into superstardom within the 80s. In 1982, the primary single from his eponymous debut album, “TrulyBillboard Hot 100, while “You Are” and “My Love” each reached the High 5. His subsequent album, Can’t Sluggish Down, was even greater, producing two No.1 hits, “All Night Long” and “Hello,” and incomes him a Grammy for Album of The 12 months. Through the 80s, Richie was probably the most embellished of Motown’s songwriters and producers.
Take a look at: “Too Hot Ta Trot”
7: The Company
After Holland-Dozier-Holland left Motown, label founder Berry Gordy assembled a workforce of writers and producers, as a result of he didn’t need any extra “backroom superstars”. Gordy, together with Alphonso Mizell, Freddie Perren, and Deke Richards, grew to become referred to as The Company, and their first mission was to create materials for Motown’s latest signees, Jackson 5. The Company (whose members had been by no means individually billed) got here out of the field smoking in 1969 with the No.1 hit “I Want You Back,” and adopted it up with “ABC,” “The Love You Save” and “I’ll Be There,” in 1970. A brief-lived ensemble, The Company disbanded in 1972, when Hal Davis took over producing duties for Jackson 5.
Take a look at: “I Want You Back”
6: Marvin Gaye
Often known as the “Prince Of Motown”, Marvin Pentz Gaye grew to become a celebrity solo act, however his work as a key songwriter and producer for Motown shouldn’t be overstated. He minimize his enamel writing ‘Beechwood 4-5789’ for The Marvelettes, in 1962, and “Dancing In The Street” for Martha And The Vandellas. For The Originals, who sang background on a few of Motown’s greatest releases, Marvin wrote and produced the doo-wop-influenced singles “Baby I’m For Real” (1969) and ‘The Bells’ (1970), each of which reached the High 15 on the Billboard Pop charts.
Transforming an unique thought by Renaldo “Obie” Benson, Gaye developed the basic tune “What’s Going On.” On this masterwork of the identical title, Gaye continued to develop his songwriting, composing “Mercy, Mercy Me (The Ecology)” and “Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler).” Shortly after, “Let’s Get It On” grew to become a No.1 hit for Gaye in 1973, and the mother or father album was each commercially profitable and revered by critics. All through the 70s, Gaye’s songwriting and producing resulted in additional landmark works reminiscent of ‘I Want You’ , “Got To Give It Up,” and numerous others.
Take a look at: “Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)”
5: Stevie Surprise
Baby prodigy “Little” Stevie Surprise would develop into the genius the world is aware of as, merely, Stevie Surprise. After working as an apprentice to The Funk Brothers and being mentored by Clarence Paul, Surprise was prepared to specific his virtuosity as songwriter and producer. He co-wrote ‘Tears Of A Clown’ in 1970, serving to to present Smokey Robinson And The Miracles their solely chart-topping single. That very same 12 months’s “Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours)” was Surprise’s first self-produced hit, peaking at No.3 on the US Pop chart.
Stevie entered the 70s together with his full artistry on show, composing “It’s A Shame” for The Spinners. He additionally co-wrote and produced Syreeta Wright’s first two albums In 1972, Surprise would embark on his “classic period”, throughout which he launched Music Of My Thoughts, Speaking Ebook (each 1972), Innervisions (1973), Fulfillingness’ First Finale (1974) and his magnum opus, Track In The Key Of Life (1976). He continued to attain hits all through the 80s. Although his work charge slowed within the a long time since, Stevie Surprise stays the consummate Motown songwriter and producer.
Take a look at: “Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours)”
4: Ashford and Simpson
Hailing from New York Metropolis, Ashford and Simpson introduced an East Coast sensibility to Motown. Becoming a member of the label as employees writers in 1966, the couple was assigned to Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, and so they wrote and/or produced all however one of many duo’s late-60s singles, together with a few of Motown’s finest duets, reminiscent of “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” “Your Precious Love,” “Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing” and “You’re All I Need To Get By.”
Their profitable streak continued by way of the 70s, when Ashford and Simpson wrote and produced virtually all of the songs on Diana Ross’ self-titled debut album, amongst them the gospel-inspired “Reach Out And Touch (Somebody’s Hand)” and Ross’ grandiose revision of “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.” On her Give up album they penned “Remember Me,” and so they additionally contributed The Boss’ disco-flavored title observe. After a partnership in each music and marriage that lasted virtually 50 years, Nick Ashford handed away in 2012.
Take a look at: “Ain’t Nothing Like The Real Thing”
3: Norman Whitfield
By grit and dedication, the incomparable Norman Whitfield ascended by way of Motown’s ranks and led the label into the 70s together with his interpretation of psychedelic soul. Beginning within the quality-control division, he went on to co-write Marvin Gaye’s hit “Pride And Joy,” The Marvelettes’ “Too Many Fish In The Sea,” and The Velvelettes’ “Needle In A Haystack.”
Whitfield changed Smokey Robinson as the primary producer for The Temptations in 1966, when his smash hit “Ain’t Too Proud To Beg” outperformed Robinson’s “Get Ready” on the pop charts. Alongside frequent collaborator Barrett Sturdy, Whitfield had an unprecedented run producing a few of The Temptations’ biggest songs, together with “(I Know) I’m Losing You,” “Cloud Nine,” “I Can’t Get Next to You,” “Ball Of Confusion (That’s What The World Is Today),” “Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)” and “Papa Was A Rollin’ Stone.” He additionally crafted ‘War’ for Edwin Star and “I Heard Through The Grapevine,” which Gladys Knight And The Pips tackled in 1967 earlier than Marvin Gaye made it a crossover smash the next 12 months. Whitfield was probably the most outstanding producer at Motown till his departure in 1975. He handed away in 2008, leaving a legacy of unforgettable music.
Take a look at: “Ain’t Too Proud To Beg”
2: Smokey Robinson
Bob Dylan known as him “America’s greatest poet”, and William “Smokey” Robinson has been the poet laureate of Motown for the reason that starting. Because the lead vocalist of The Miracles, Smokey composed some Motown’s best-known early materials, together with ‘Shop Around’ , which grew to become the label’s first million-selling hit file, “You’ve Really Got A Hold on Me,” “I Second That Emotion” and “Baby, Baby Don’t Cry,” in addition to co-writing the group’s solely No.1 hit throughout their Robinson years, “The Tears Of A Clown.” All in all, Smokey composed 26 High 40 hits for The Miracles. Moreover, he’s additionally chargeable for ‘My Guy’, which Mary Wells took to the highest of the charts; “The Way You Do The Things You Do” “My Girl,” “Since I Lost My Baby” and “Get Ready,” all gifted to The Temptations; and “Ain’t That Peculiar,” which grew to become Marvin Gaye’s second No.1. Even later in his profession, with hits like ”Quiet Storm” and “Crusin’”, his pen was nonetheless poetic. Smokey stays an envoy and undoubtedly one of many key architects of the Motown sound.
Take a look at: “My Guy”
1: Holland-Dozier-Holland
It could possibly be argued that Holland-Dozier-Holland are probably the most prolific songwriting and manufacturing workforce in pop music’s lengthy historical past. Over the course of 5 years, from 1962 to 1967, the trio wrote, organized and produced lots of the compositions that helped to determine the Motown sound. Lamont Dozier and Brian Holland served because the composers and producers for every tune, whereas Eddie Holland wrote the lyrics and organized the vocals. The end result was Motown magic.
H-D-H composed 25 No.1 hit singles, reminiscent of Martha And The Vandellas’ “Heat Wave” and Marvin Gaye’s “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You),” and so they additionally turned out classics for 4 Tops (“Baby I Need You Loving,” “Reach Out, I’ll Be There”) and The Supremes, penning ten out of the latter group’s 12 No.1 his, together with “Baby Love,” “Stop! In The Name Of Love” and “You Keep Me Hangin’ On.” With out query, Holland-Dozier-Holland was the engine that drove the Motown machine to success.
Take a look at: “Baby Love”
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