Lamont Dozier, Motown songwriter, dies aged 81

Lamont Dozier, the Motown legend behind hits for artists such because the Supremes, the 4 Tops and the Isley Brothers, has died aged 81.

The information was confirmed by his son Lamont Dozier Jr on Instagram. No explanation for loss of life has been launched as but.

As one third of manufacturing staff Holland–Dozier–Holland, Dozier was answerable for 10 of the Supremes’ 12 US No 1 singles, together with Child Love and You Hold Me Hanging On.

The trio was inducted into the Songwriters Corridor of Fame in 1988 and the Rock and Roll Corridor of Fame in 1990.

Ronnie Wooden, who lined the trio’s 1963 single Leaving Dwelling in 2001, paid tribute to Dozier on Twitter. “God bless Lamont,” he wrote. “His music will reside on.” Mick Hucknall, who labored with Dozier within the Eighties, additionally tweeted his condolences calling him “One of many best songwriters of all time.”

Born in Detroit, Michigan on 16 June, 1941, Dozier began his musical profession working for a number of Detroit labels with little success. His luck modified in 1962 when he and songwriting brothers Brian and Eddie Holland began work at Motown. They hit the bottom operating, scoring three hits – Come and Get These Reminiscences, Heatwave, and Quicksand – for Martha and The Vandellas.

They have been adopted in 1964 by The place Did Our Love Go, the primary of 10 US chart-toppers the trio would write for The Supremes. 4 years later, having helped outline the Motown sound, Holland–Dozier–Holland left the label to start out the Invictus and Sizzling Wax labels. Dozier would go on to document as a soloist for each labels.

After leaving Holland–Dozier–Holland in 1973, Dozier targeted on his solo profession, with certainly one of his early singles, Going Again To My Roots, later turning into an enormous success for disco group Odyssey in 1981.

Seven years later Dozier collaborated with Phil Collins on the US No 1 Two Hearts, successful the pair a Golden Globe and a Grammy. Dozier additionally labored with different British artists throughout the 80s, together with Alison Moyet and Merely Purple.

Dozier is survived by his six youngsters.

This text was amended on 9 August 2022. An earlier model acknowledged that Dozier was survived by his second spouse, Barbara Ullman Dozier. She died in 2021.