It’s no exaggeration to say that Motown made an indelible impact on music as we’ve come to know it. Without Motown, artists like Muddy Waters, The Rolling Stones, and even Led Zeppelin simply wouldn’t exist.
Recently, pianist and founding Motown member, Barrett Strong , passed away at the age of 81. Now, the music community at large has come together in order to honor his memory and appreciate the gift of his music.
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The Music World Has Lost A True Legend.
Iconic pianist and songwriter Barrett Strong passed away on Sunday, January 29th. He was 81 years old.
Barrett Strong Was A Founding Member Of Motown.
The revered artist was considered by many to be one of the troupe’s most gifted songwriters.
Barrett Is Best-Known For His Vocals On Motown’s Career-Defining Single, ‘Money (That’s What I Want).’
Barrett later collaborated with Norman Whitfield on I Heard It Through The Grapevine , War , and Papa Was A Rollin’ Stone.
Motown Founder, Berry Gordy, Released An Official Statement On Strong’s Passing.
“Barrett was not only a great singer and piano player, but he, along with his writing partner Norman Whitfield, created an incredible body of work ,” Berry said.
Barrett Was Still A Teenager When He First Began Recording With Berry.
Less than a year after signing with Berry, Barrett made history by selling over a million copies of Money (That’s What I Want).
Years After The Song’s Release, Barrett Had To Fight For Ownership Rights.
Barrett never achieved the same level of success again, but he and Norman Whitfield became a formidable songwriting team in their own right.
Together, They Went On To Release ‘I Wish It Would Rain’ And ‘Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)’
The songwriting duo also wrote timeless classics for a number of chart-topping artists.
Marvin Gaye And Gladys Knight Owe Much Of Their Success To Strong And Whitfield.
Later on, as Motown became more political, their songwriting style/approach began to see a dramatic shift.
Strong And Whitfield Famously Wrote ‘Cloud Nine’ And ‘Psychedelic Shack’ For The Temptations.
They also wrote Edwin Starr’s quintessential protest song, War — whose refrain is still widely sung even to this day.
Strong Was Inspired To Write ‘War’ After His Paratrooping Cousin Was Injured In The Vietnam War.
“I also knew a guy who used to sing with Lamont Dozier that got hit by shrapnel and was crippled for life,” Strong told LA Weekly in 1999.
Strong Would Go On To Inspire Generations Of Music Artists.
Over the years, Strong-Whitfield’s songs have been covered by The Rolling Stones, Aretha Franklin, and Bruce Springsteen.
In The Early ’70s, Strong Made His Departure From Motown.
He went on to record a handful of solo albums, including Stronghold and Love Is You.
Back In 2004, Strong Was Voted Into The Songwriter’s Hall Of Fame.
During his induction, strong was regaled as ” a pivotal figure in Motown’s formative years.”
Strong’s Influence In The Music Community Was Undeniable.
His memory will continue to live on through his music, and his legacy will never be forgotten.