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| death_place = [[San Diego|San Diego, California]], U.S.
| death_place = [[San Diego|San Diego, California]], U.S.
| genre = {{hlist|[[Rhythm and blues]]|[[soul music|soul]]}}
| genre = {{hlist|[[Rhythm and blues]]|[[soul music|soul]]}}
| origin = [[Detroit|Detroit, Michigan]], U.S.
| occupation = Singer, songwriter, musician
| occupation = Singer, songwriter, musician
| instrument = Vocals, piano
| instrument = Vocals, piano
| spouse = {{marriage|Sandy White|<!--Unknown -->|2002|end=d.}}
| years_active = 1959–2023
| years_active = 1959–2023
| label = {{hlist|[[Motown]] (Tamla)|[[Anna Records|Anna]]|[[Epic Records|Epic]]|[[Capitol Records|Capitol]]|[[independent label|independent]]}}
| label = {{hlist|[[Motown]] (Tamla)|[[Anna Records|Anna]]|[[Epic Records|Epic]]|[[Capitol Records|Capitol]]|[[independent label|independent]]}}
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'''Barrett Strong Jr.''' (February 5, 1941 – January 28, 2023) was an American singer and songwriter. Strong was the first artist to record a hit for [[Motown]], although he is best known for his work as a songwriter, particularly in association with producer [[Norman Whitfield]].<ref name="oldies">{{cite web|url=http://www.oldies.com/artist-biography/Barrett-Strong.html |title=Barrett Strong Biography |publisher=OLDIES.com |access-date=2013-08-09}}</ref> Among his most famous work at Motown, Strong wrote the lyrics for many of the songs recorded by [[the Temptations]].
'''Barrett Strong Jr.''' (February 5, 1941 – January 28, 2023) was an American singer and songwriter. Strong was the first artist to record a hit for [[Motown]], although he is best known for his work as a songwriter, particularly in association with producer [[Norman Whitfield]].<ref name="oldies">{{cite web|url=http://www.oldies.com/artist-biography/Barrett-Strong.html |title=Barrett Strong Biography |publisher=OLDIES.com |access-date=2013-08-09}}</ref> Among his most famous work at Motown, Strong wrote the lyrics for many of the songs recorded by [[the Temptations]].


==Career==
==Early life==
Strong was born in [[West Point, Mississippi]], on February 5, 1941.<ref name="amg">{{cite web|author-link=Ron Wynn|first=Ron|last=Wynn |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/barrett-strong-mn0000117001/biography |title=Barrett Strong : Biography |publisher=AllMusic |date=February 5, 1941 |access-date=2013-08-09}}</ref>
Strong was born in [[West Point, Mississippi]], on February 5, 1941,<ref name="amg">{{cite web|author-link=Ron Wynn|first=Ron|last=Wynn |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/barrett-strong-mn0000117001/biography |title=Barrett Strong : Biography |publisher=AllMusic |date=February 5, 1941 |access-date=2013-08-09}}</ref> the only boy in a family of six children born to Barrett Strong Sr., a minister. His family moved to [[Detroit]] when he was four years old, and his father bought him a piano soon after.<ref name="wapo" /> Strong began singing at Hutchins Middle School in Detroit, where his classmates included [[Arethra Franklin]] and [[Lamont Dozier]].<ref>{{cite news |last=McCollum |first=Brian |date=2023-01-29 |title=Barrett Strong, Motown trailblazer with 'Money,' the Temptations and more, dies at 81 |url=https://www.freep.com/story/entertainment/music/brian-mccollum/2023/01/30/barrett-strong-motown-money-temptations-obituary/69852798007/ |work=[[The Detroit Free Press]] |access-date=2023-02-01}}</ref>


==Career==
Strong was among the first artists signed to [[Berry Gordy]]'s fledgling label, [[Tamla]] Records, and was the performer on the company's first [[hit single|hit]], "[[Money (That's What I Want)]]",<ref name="LarkinSM">{{cite book|title=[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music|The Guinness Who's Who of Soul Music]]|editor=[[Colin Larkin (writer)|Colin Larkin]]|publisher=[[Guinness Publishing]]|date=1993|edition=First|isbn=0-85112-733-9|pages=250/1}}</ref> which reached No. 2 US [[Rhythm and blues|R&B]] in 1960. The single was originally released on Tamla, Motown's first label, but was then leased to the [[Anna Records|Anna]] label as it was getting airplay, and it was on the Anna label that it was a hit. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a [[music recording sales certification|gold disc]] by the [[Recording Industry Association of America|RIAA]].<ref name="The Book of Golden Discs">{{cite book| first= Joseph| last= Murrells| year= 1978| title= The Book of Golden Discs| edition= 2nd| publisher= Barrie and Jenkins Ltd| location= London| page= [https://archive.org/details/bookofgoldendisc00murr/page/120 120]| isbn= 0-214-20512-6| url-access= registration| url= https://archive.org/details/bookofgoldendisc00murr/page/120}}</ref> "Money"<ref name="amg"/> was later recorded by a number of acts, including [[the Beatles]], [[the Rolling Stones]], [[Led Zeppelin]], [[the Kingsmen]], [[Richard "Popcorn" Wylie|Richard Wylie and His Band]], [[Jerry Lee Lewis]], [[The Searchers (band)|the Searchers]], [[the Flying Lizards]], [[the Sonics]], and [[Buddy Guy]]. Strong claimed that he co-wrote "Money" with Gordy and [[Janie Bradford]]; his name appears on the song's original copyright registration with the [[United States Copyright Office]]. Gordy disputed these claims, stating that Strong's name was only included because of a clerical error.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Larry |last=Rohter |date=August 31, 2013 |title=For a Classic Motown Song About Money, Credit Is What He Wants |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/01/arts/music/for-a-classic-motown-song-about-money-credit-is-what-he-wants.html |access-date=September 1, 2013 }}</ref>
Strong was among the first artists signed to [[Berry Gordy]]'s fledgling label, [[Tamla]] Records, and was the performer on the company's first [[hit single|hit]], "[[Money (That's What I Want)]]",<ref name="LarkinSM">{{cite book|title=[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music|The Guinness Who's Who of Soul Music]]|editor=[[Colin Larkin (writer)|Colin Larkin]]|publisher=[[Guinness Publishing]]|date=1993|edition=First|isbn=0-85112-733-9|pages=250/1}}</ref> which reached No. 2 US [[Rhythm and blues|R&B]] in 1960. The single was originally released on Tamla, Motown's first label, but was then leased to the [[Anna Records|Anna]] label as it was getting airplay, and it was on the Anna label that it was a hit. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a [[music recording sales certification|gold disc]] by the [[Recording Industry Association of America|RIAA]].<ref name="The Book of Golden Discs">{{cite book| first= Joseph| last= Murrells| year= 1978| title= The Book of Golden Discs| edition= 2nd| publisher= Barrie and Jenkins Ltd| location= London| page= [https://archive.org/details/bookofgoldendisc00murr/page/120 120]| isbn= 0-214-20512-6| url-access= registration| url= https://archive.org/details/bookofgoldendisc00murr/page/120}}</ref> "Money"<ref name="amg"/> was later recorded by a number of acts, including [[the Beatles]], [[the Rolling Stones]], [[Led Zeppelin]], [[the Kingsmen]], [[Richard "Popcorn" Wylie|Richard Wylie and His Band]], [[Jerry Lee Lewis]], [[The Searchers (band)|the Searchers]], [[the Flying Lizards]], [[the Sonics]], and [[Buddy Guy]]. Strong claimed that he co-wrote "Money" with Gordy and [[Janie Bradford]]; his name appears on the song's original copyright registration with the [[United States Copyright Office]]. Gordy disputed these claims, stating that Strong's name was only included because of a clerical error.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Larry |last=Rohter |date=August 31, 2013 |title=For a Classic Motown Song About Money, Credit Is What He Wants |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/01/arts/music/for-a-classic-motown-song-about-money-credit-is-what-he-wants.html |access-date=September 1, 2013 }}</ref>


Line 37: Line 40:
In 2010, Strong appeared in "Misery", his first music video in his fifty years of recording music, co-produced by Eliza Neals and Martin "Tino" Gross with Strong at the helm.<ref name="Misery">{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUmqlxZtTWs |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/xUmqlxZtTWs| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|title="Misery" Eliza Neals – Official Music Video |publisher=YouTube |date=June 21, 2010 |access-date=2013-08-09}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
In 2010, Strong appeared in "Misery", his first music video in his fifty years of recording music, co-produced by Eliza Neals and Martin "Tino" Gross with Strong at the helm.<ref name="Misery">{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUmqlxZtTWs |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/xUmqlxZtTWs| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|title="Misery" Eliza Neals – Official Music Video |publisher=YouTube |date=June 21, 2010 |access-date=2013-08-09}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
==Death==
==Death==
Strong died at his home in the [[La Jolla]] district of [[San Diego|San Diego, California]], on January 28, 2023, aged 81.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.soultracks.com/story-barrett-strong-dies |first=Chris|last= Rizik|title=Motown's first hitmaker, Barrett Strong, dies at 81|website=Soul Tracks|date= January 29, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |first=Gary |last=Graff |date=January 29, 2023 |title=Barrett Strong, 'Money' Singer and Motown Songwriter, Dies at 81 |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/barrett-strong-dead-1235207684/ |access-date=January 29, 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Rosenwald |first=Michael S. |date=2023-01-30 |title=Barrett Strong, Motown stalwart who sang 'Money,' dies at 81 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/obituaries/2023/01/30/barrett-strong-motown-singer-of-money-dead/ |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |access-date=2023-01-31}}</ref>
Strong died at his home in the [[La Jolla]] district of [[San Diego|San Diego, California]], on January 28, 2023, aged 81.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.soultracks.com/story-barrett-strong-dies |first=Chris|last= Rizik|title=Motown's first hitmaker, Barrett Strong, dies at 81|website=Soul Tracks|date= January 29, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |first=Gary |last=Graff |date=January 29, 2023 |title=Barrett Strong, 'Money' Singer and Motown Songwriter, Dies at 81 |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/barrett-strong-dead-1235207684/ |access-date=January 29, 2023 }}</ref><ref name="wapo">{{cite news |last=Rosenwald |first=Michael S. |date=2023-01-30 |title=Barrett Strong, Motown stalwart who sang 'Money,' dies at 81 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/obituaries/2023/01/30/barrett-strong-motown-singer-of-money-dead/ |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |access-date=2023-01-31}}</ref> He was survived by seven children and ten grandchildren. His wife of 35 years, the former Sandy White, died in 2002.<ref name="wapo" />


==See also==
==See also==

Revision as of 03:00, 2 February 2023

Barrett Strong
Strong in 1996
Background information
Birth nameBarrett Strong Jr.
Born(1941-02-05)February 5, 1941
West Point, Mississippi, U.S.
OriginDetroit, Michigan, U.S.
DiedJanuary 28, 2023(2023-01-28) (aged 81)
San Diego, California, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter, musician
Instrument(s)Vocals, piano
Years active1959–2023
Labels
Spouse
Sandy White
​
(died 2002)​

Barrett Strong Jr. (February 5, 1941 – January 28, 2023) was an American singer and songwriter. Strong was the first artist to record a hit for Motown, although he is best known for his work as a songwriter, particularly in association with producer Norman Whitfield.[1] Among his most famous work at Motown, Strong wrote the lyrics for many of the songs recorded by the Temptations.

Early life

Strong was born in West Point, Mississippi, on February 5, 1941,[2] the only boy in a family of six children born to Barrett Strong Sr., a minister. His family moved to Detroit when he was four years old, and his father bought him a piano soon after.[3] Strong began singing at Hutchins Middle School in Detroit, where his classmates included Arethra Franklin and Lamont Dozier.[4]

Career

Strong was among the first artists signed to Berry Gordy's fledgling label, Tamla Records, and was the performer on the company's first hit, "Money (That's What I Want)",[5] which reached No. 2 US R&B in 1960. The single was originally released on Tamla, Motown's first label, but was then leased to the Anna label as it was getting airplay, and it was on the Anna label that it was a hit. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc by the RIAA.[6] "Money"[2] was later recorded by a number of acts, including the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, the Kingsmen, Richard Wylie and His Band, Jerry Lee Lewis, the Searchers, the Flying Lizards, the Sonics, and Buddy Guy. Strong claimed that he co-wrote "Money" with Gordy and Janie Bradford; his name appears on the song's original copyright registration with the United States Copyright Office. Gordy disputed these claims, stating that Strong's name was only included because of a clerical error.[7]

In the mid-1960s, Strong became a Motown writer lyricist, teaming with producer Norman Whitfield.[5] Together, they wrote some of the most successful and critically acclaimed soul songs ever to be released by Motown, including "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" by both Marvin Gaye and Gladys Knight & the Pips; "War" by Edwin Starr; "Wherever I Lay My Hat (That's My Home)" by Marvin Gaye; "Smiling Faces Sometimes" by the Undisputed Truth; and the long line of "psychedelic soul" records by the Temptations, including "Cloud Nine", "I Can't Get Next to You", "Psychedelic Shack", "Ball of Confusion (That's What the World Is Today)", and "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone", amongst others.[5] Strong received a Grammy Award for Best R&B Song in 1973 for "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone". Strong and Whitfield also co-wrote the ballad "Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)",[5] a 1971 Billboard No. 1 that also marked the last Temptations single to feature original members Eddie Kendricks and Paul Williams.

After Motown moved its operations base from Detroit, Michigan, to Los Angeles, California, Strong left the label and resumed his singing career.[5] He signed with Epic in 1972.[5] Strong left the label for Capitol Records,[5] where he recorded two albums in the 1970s.[2]

In the 1980s, Strong recorded "Rock It Easy" on an independent label, and wrote "You Can Depend on Me", which appeared on The Dells' The Second Time album (1988).[2] He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2004.[8]

Strong released his album, Stronghold II, which he wrote and composed in collaboration with Eliza Neals in 2008, in digital format only.[9]

In 2010, Strong appeared in "Misery", his first music video in his fifty years of recording music, co-produced by Eliza Neals and Martin "Tino" Gross with Strong at the helm.[10]

Death

Strong died at his home in the La Jolla district of San Diego, California, on January 28, 2023, aged 81.[11][12][3] He was survived by seven children and ten grandchildren. His wife of 35 years, the former Sandy White, died in 2002.[3]

See also

Discography

Albums

Singles

  • 1959: "Let's Rock" / "Do the Very Best You Can" – Tamla 54022
  • 1959: "Money (That's What I Want)" / "Oh I Apologize" (No. 23 Pop / No. 2 R&B) – Tamla 54027[13] (re-released as Anna 1111)
  • 1960: "Yes, No, Maybe So" / "You Knows What to Do" – Tamla 54029[14] (re-released as Anna 1116)
  • 1960: "Whirlwind" (with The Rayber Voices)" / "I'm Gonna Cry (If You Quit Me)" – Tamla 54033[15]
  • 1961: "Money and Me" / "You Got What It Takes" - Tamla 54035
  • 1961: "Misery" / "Two Wrongs Don't Make a Right" - Tamla 54043
  • 1962: "Seven Sins" / "What Went Wrong" – ATCO 6225[16]
  • 1964: "Make Up Your Mind" / "I Better Run" – Tollie 9023
  • 1967: "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" - Marvin Gaye, co-written with Norman Whitfield
  • 1971: "Just My Imagination" - The Temptations, co-written with Norman Whitfield
  • 1972: "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" – The Temptations, (US #1, UK #8) originally recorded by the Undisputed Truth
  • 1973: "Stand Up and Cheer for the Preacher" / (instrumental version) – Epic 5-11011[17]
  • 1975: "Surrender" / "There's Something About You" – Capitol 4120[18]
  • 1975: "Is It True" / "Anywhere" – Capitol 4052[19]
  • 1976: "Man Up in the Sky" / "Gonna Make It Right" - Capitol 4223
  • 1980: "Love Is You" / "You Make Me Feel the Way You Do" - Coup CP-2007
  • 1981: "Rock It Easy" / "Love Will Make It Alright" - Phase II WS8 02048[20]

References

  1. ^ "Barrett Strong Biography". OLDIES.com. Retrieved August 9, 2013.
  2. ^ a b c d e Wynn, Ron (February 5, 1941). "Barrett Strong : Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved August 9, 2013.
  3. ^ a b c Rosenwald, Michael S. (January 30, 2023). "Barrett Strong, Motown stalwart who sang 'Money,' dies at 81". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
  4. ^ McCollum, Brian (January 29, 2023). "Barrett Strong, Motown trailblazer with 'Money,' the Temptations and more, dies at 81". The Detroit Free Press. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g Colin Larkin, ed. (1993). The Guinness Who's Who of Soul Music (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. pp. 250/1. ISBN 0-85112-733-9.
  6. ^ Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 120. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
  7. ^ Rohter, Larry (August 31, 2013). "For a Classic Motown Song About Money, Credit Is What He Wants". The New York Times. Retrieved September 1, 2013.
  8. ^ "Barrett Strong". IMDb.com. Retrieved January 1, 2008.
  9. ^ "iTunes – Music – Stronghold II by Barrett Strong". Phobos.apple.com. February 5, 1941. Archived from the original on August 6, 2011. Retrieved August 9, 2013.
  10. ^ ""Misery" Eliza Neals – Official Music Video". YouTube. June 21, 2010. Archived from the original on December 12, 2021. Retrieved August 9, 2013.
  11. ^ Rizik, Chris (January 29, 2023). "Motown's first hitmaker, Barrett Strong, dies at 81". Soul Tracks.
  12. ^ Graff, Gary (January 29, 2023). "Barrett Strong, 'Money' Singer and Motown Songwriter, Dies at 81". Billboard. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
  13. ^ "Barrett Strong – Money (That's What I Want) / Oh I Apologize (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved August 9, 2013.
  14. ^ "Barrett Strong – You Knows What To Do / Yes, No, Maybe So (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved August 9, 2013.
  15. ^ "Barrett Strong And Rayber Voices* – Whirlwind / I'm Gonna Cry (If You Quit Me) (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs.com. August 31, 1960. Retrieved August 9, 2013.
  16. ^ "Barrett Strong – Seven Sins / What Went Wrong (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved August 9, 2013.
  17. ^ "Barrett Strong – Stand Up And Cheer for the Preacher at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved August 9, 2013.
  18. ^ "Barrett Strong – Surrender (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved August 9, 2013.
  19. ^ "Barrett Strong – Is It True (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved August 9, 2013.
  20. ^ "Barrett Strong Discography - USA - 45cat". 45cat.com. Retrieved July 9, 2021.
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