MOTOWN GIANT NORMAN WHITIELD PASSES....ONE OF MY HEROS!

[Ronn Nichols]

WHITFIELD WAS A PART OF THE LEGENDARY MOTOWN SONGWRITING TEAM
Norman Whitfield, the man behind many of Motown’s biggest hits, has died in the United States after a long bout with diabetes.

Whitfield began writing for Motown when he was 19 years old.

Some of the classic songs he wrote for Motown artists, we covered by some of the biggest acts in the world. The Beatles’ covered ‘Money (That’s What I Want), The Stones did a version of his ‘Ain’t Too Proud To Beg’, Creedence Clearwater Revival did a cover of his ‘I Heard It Through The Grapevine’.

Between 1966 and 1974, Whitfield produced nearly every song by The Temptations.

He died on September 16.

Highlights of the hits of Norman Whitfield are:

1963: "Pride & Joy" - Marvin Gaye
1964: "Too Many Fish in the Sea" - The Marvelettes
1964: "Needle in a Haystack" - The Velvelettes
1964: "He Was Really Sayin' Somethin'" - The Velvelettes
1964: "Girl (Why You Wanna Make Me Blue)" - The Temptations
1966: "Ain't Too Proud to Beg" - The Temptations
1966: "Beauty Is Only Skin Deep" - The Temptations
1966: "(I Know) I'm Losing You" - The Temptations
1967: "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" - Gladys Knight & the Pips, also recorded by Marvin Gaye and Creedence Clearwater Revival
1967: "You're My Everything" - The Temptations
1967: "I Wish It Would Rain" - The Temptations
1968: "I Could Never Love Another (After Loving You) - The Temptations
1968: "The End Of Our Road" - Gladys Knight & The Pips
1968: "Cloud Nine" - The Temptations
1969: "Friendship Train" - Gladys Knight & the Pips
1969: "Runaway Child, Running Wild" - The Temptations
1969: "Too Busy Thinking About My Baby" - Marvin Gaye
1969: "I Can't Get Next to You" - The Temptations
1969: "Don't Let The Joneses Get You Down" - The Temptations
1970: "You Need Love Like I Do (Don't You)" - Gladys Knight & The Pips, also recorded by The Temptations
1970: "Psychedelic Shack" - The Temptations
1970: "Hum Along and Dance" - The Temptations (later covered by Rare Earth and The Jackson 5)
1970: "Ball of Confusion (That's What the World Is Today)" - The Temptations
1970: "War" - Edwin Starr
1971: "Smiling Faces Sometimes" - The Undisputed Truth, originally recorded by The Temptations
1971: "Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)" - The Temptations
1972: "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" - The Temptations
1973: "Masterpiece" - The Temptations
1973: "Let Your Hair Down" - The Temptations
1976: "Car Wash" - Rose Royce
1976: "I'm Going Down" - Rose Royce
1976: "I Wanna Get Next to You" - Rose Royce
1977: "Ooh Boy" - Rose Royce
1977: "Wishing on a Star" - Rose Royce
1978: "Love Don't Live Here Anymore" - Rose Royce

WATCH THIS SPACE................... OVER THE NEXT WEEKS I WILL POST ALL THE SONGS LISTED AS WE PAY TRIBUTE TO AN AMERICAN MUSIC MASTER

[Edie Antoinette]

I'm saddened to hear this--he was an integral part of our musical heritage. Man! Well I'll be here front and center to absorb what you share with us. I have one Temptation track that really is the essence of Whitfield to me: Zoom! which is my JAM!

[moonlight58]

So sorry to hear of his passing...that is so sad. I know Motown is grieving as well, for they have lost a giant & icon in the business as well as a good man and phenominal artist.

[Ronn Nichols]

Moon.........Thank you not many people know how good a person he was. Did you know he started writing at MOTOWN when he was onl 17 years old! EDIE........... I LOVE you for posting something as great as ZOOM as the first song of this "Living Eulogy" HERE IS ANOTHER!

[Edie Antoinette]

I really appreciate you bringing this sad news to my attention Ron. I didn't know. I'll be right here to support you..and thank you for what you've posted so far. I didn't realize Marvin could jam on the keys like that! He was jammin for that stiff crowd! Ha ha ha ha..look at em! They are fossilized mummies!!!

[Ronn Nichols]

You are so right.ROFLMAO!

[Edie Antoinette]

I know Marvin was appalled at those 'statues'..I mean c'mon Ron--when he got up from the piano they should have been rockin and bobbin some heads or SOMETHIN'!!! And one po' lil statuette to his right was so uncomfortable that she hid her face when he got up--literally!

They was some sad gymshoe creepas for an audience...

I know Marvin couldn't WAIT to get out from in front of those wax museum figures..

[Ronn Nichols]

Norman Whitfield worked with everyone at Motown, but his favorites were The temptations.......and Marvin Gaye! Here is Classic he wrote!

[Edie Antoinette]

Interesting video! Whitfield left us such a treasure chest to enjoy, bless his heart.

Thanks Ron.. you adorable suggah man *purr*

[Edie Antoinette]

Rare Earth's most satisfying LP, Norman Whitfield wrote and produced all five songs. "Ma," the title track, had been done by Temptations and Undisputed Truth but nobody rocked the sucker like Rare Earth; they jam for 17:17 on the funkiest mama song ever. "Hum Along and Dance," first appeared on the Temptations' Psychedelic Shack; Rare Earth gives the groover and update, a rolling organ sets it off. Lead, Gil Bridges brags about his musical ability on the loud, horn dominated stomper "Big John In My Name."A haunting arrangement of "Smiling Faces Sometimes" will make you shiver. And you don't getmore… much more sensual than the soft and lush "Come With Me," where a female simulates an orgasm that puts Donna Summers' exhibition on "Love to Love You Baby" to shame; it's the only new song on the LP, but who's quibbling, MA is da bomb!

[Ronn Nichols]

Norman's writing was "Cutting Edge"..............Case in point: Vietnam,1970,Edwin.....

[Tonya Anderson]

WOW! I'd never heard of this group before. You learn something new each day.

[Ronn Nichols]

OH Yeah..................."Rare Earth" was a kicking group of "White Bois" and MOTOWN was right on top of them at the hieght of their popularity. YouTube.com has a good number of their videos.................check them out!