Barrett Strong
Barrett Strong | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Birth name | Barrett Strong Jr. |
Born | West Point, Mississippi, U.S. | February 5, 1941
Origin | Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
Died | January 28, 2023 San Diego, California, U.S. | (aged 81)
Genres | |
Occupation(s) |
|
Years active | 1959–2023 |
Labels | |
Spouse(s) |
Sandy White (died 2002) |
Barrett Strong Jr. (February 5, 1941 – January 28, 2023) was an American singer and songwriter known for his recording of "Money (That's What I Want)", which was the first hit single for the Motown record label.[1] He is also known for his songwriting work in association with producer Norman Whitfield;[2] together, they penned such songs as "I Heard It Through the Grapevine", "War", "Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)", and "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone".[1]
In 2004, Strong was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame alongside Whitfield.[3]
Early life
Strong was born in West Point, Mississippi, on February 5, 1941,[4] the only boy of six children born to Barrett Strong Sr., a minister. His family moved to Detroit, Michigan, when he was four years old, and his father bought him a piano soon after.[5] Strong began singing at Hutchins Middle School in Detroit, where his classmates included Aretha Franklin and Lamont Dozier.[6]
Career
Tamla Records and Motown
Strong was among the first artists signed to
"Money"[4] 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 expressed that he co-wrote "Money" with Gordy and Janie Bradford; and his name appears on the song's original copyright registration with the United States Copyright Office.
In the mid-1960s, Strong became a Motown writer lyricist, teaming with producer
Strong received a
Albums and founding Blarritt Records
After Motown moved its operations base from Detroit, Michigan, to Los Angeles, California, Strong left the label and resumed his singing career.[7] He signed with Epic in 1972.[7] Strong left the label for Capitol Records,[7] where he recorded two albums in the 1970s:[4] Stronghold (1975) and Live & Love (1976).[10] The former reached No. 47 on Billboard's Black Albums chart.[11]
In the 1980s, Strong recorded "Rock It Easy" on an
Later career
Alongside Whitfield, Strong was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2004.[3]
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.[14]
Death
Strong died at home in the La Jolla district of San Diego, California, on January 28, 2023, aged 81.[5] He was survived by seven children and ten grandchildren. His wife of 35 years, Sandy White, died in 2002.[5]
Discography
Albums
Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Ref(s) | |
---|---|---|---|---|
US | US R&B | |||
Stronghold | — | 47 | [11] | |
Live & Love |
|
— | — | [10][15] |
Love Is You |
|
— | — | [1] |
Stronghold II |
|
— | — | [3] |
Singles
Year | Title | Peak chart positions | Ref(s) | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
US | US R&B | CAN | FRA
|
UK
| |||
1959 | "Let's Rock" / "Do the Very Best You Can" | — | — | — | — | — | [16] |
1959 | "Money (That's What I Want)" / "Oh I Apologize" | 23 | 2 | — | — | — | [17][18] |
1960 | "Yes, No, Maybe So" / "You Knows What to Do" | — | — | — | — | — | [19][20] |
1960 | "Whirlwind" (with the Rayber Voices) / "I'm Gonna Cry (If You Quit Me)" | — | — | — | — | — | [21] |
1961 | "Money and Me" / "You Got What It Takes" | — | — | — | — | — | [22] |
1961 | "Misery" / "Two Wrongs Don't Make a Right" | — | — | — | — | — | [22] |
1962 | "Seven Sins" / "What Went Wrong" | — | — | — | — | — | [23] |
1964 | "Make Up Your Mind" / "I Better Run" | — | — | — | — | — | [24] |
1967 | "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" Recorded by Gladys Knight & the Pips Co-written with Norman Whitfield |
2 | — | — | — | 47 | [25] |
1967 | "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" Recorded by Marvin Gaye Co-written with Whitfield |
— | — | 8 | 88 | 1 | [26][27][28] |
1971 | " Just My Imagination" Recorded by the Temptations Co-written with Whitfield |
1 | 1 | 72 | — | 8 | [25][29] |
1972 | "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" Recorded by the Undisputed Truth Co-written with Whitfield |
63 | 24 | — | — | — | [30] |
1972 | "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" Recorded by the Temptations Co-written with Whitfield |
1 | — | 12 | 42 | 8 | [31][32] |
1973 | "Stand Up and Cheer for the Preacher" / (Instrumental version) | — | 82 | — | — | — | [33] |
1975 | "Surrender" / "There's Something About You" | — | — | — | — | — | [34] |
1975 | "Is It True" / "Anywhere" | — | 45 | — | — | — | [35] |
1976 | "Man Up in the Sky" / "Gonna Make It Right" | — | — | — | — | — | [10] |
1980 | "Love Is You" / "You Make Me Feel the Way I Do" | — | — | — | — | — | [36] |
1981 | "Rock It Easy" / "Love Will Make It Alright" | — | — | — | — | — | [10][37] |
See also
- List of 1960s one-hit wonders in the United States
References
Citations
- ^ a b c Italie, Hillel (January 29, 2023). "Barrett Strong, Motown artist known for 'Money,' dies at 81". Associated Press. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
- ^ "Barrett Strong Biography". Oldies.com. Retrieved August 9, 2013.
- ^ a b c d e Genzlinger, Neil (January 30, 2023). "Barrett Strong, Whose 'Money' Helped Launch Motown, Dies at 81". The New York Times. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
- ^ a b c d Wynn, Ron (February 5, 1941). "Barrett Strong : Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved August 9, 2013.
- ^ 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.
- The Detroit Free Press. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
- ^ ISBN 0-85112-733-9.
- ^ 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.
- ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
- ^ ISBN 978-0879306533.
- ^ a b "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Week of June 14, 1975)". Billboard. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
- ^ Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Motown Legend Barrett Strong re-releases 'Stronghold II' to itunes for Digital Distribution" (Press release). HJN Consulting. October 14, 2008. Retrieved February 3, 2023 – via PRLog.
- ^ "'Misery' Eliza Neals – Official Music Video". June 21, 2010. Archived from the original on December 12, 2021. Retrieved August 9, 2013 – via YouTube.
- Newspapers.com.
- ISBN 978-0671787004.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942–2004. Record Research. p. 554.
- ^ Broven 2010, p. 336.
- ^ "Reviews of This Week's Singles". Billboard. May 23, 1960. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
- ^ Broven 2010, p. 335.
- ^ "Reviews of This Week's Singles". Billboard. September 19, 1960. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
- ^ ISBN 978-0684182933.
- ^ "Reviews of New Singles". Billboard. May 26, 1962. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
- ISBN 978-0873492867.
- ^ ISBN 0-89820-089-X
- ^ "I heard it through the grapevine in Canadian Top Singles Chart". Library and Archives Canada. Archived from the original on February 8, 2015. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
- ^ "I heard it through the grapevine in French Chart" (in French). Dominic DURAND / InfoDisc. July 17, 2013. Archived from the original on July 3, 2013. Retrieved July 17, 2013. You have to use the index at the top of the page and search "Marvin Gaye"
- ^ "Marvin Gaye". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
- ^ "Image: RPM Weekly". Bac-lac.gc.ca. Library and Archives Canada. July 17, 2013. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
- ISBN 978-0823076772.
- ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 4234". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. July 17, 2013. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
- ^ "Papa was a rollin' stone in French Chart". Dominic DURAND / InfoDisc. Archived from the original on September 20, 2013. Retrieved June 16, 2013. You have to use the index at the top of the page and search for "Temptations"
- ^ "Billboard Hot Soul Singles". Billboard. September 15, 1972. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
- ^ "Billboard's Top Single Picks". Billboard. August 16, 1975. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
- ^ "Billboard Hot Soul Singles". Billboard. June 14, 1975. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
- ^ "Love Is You / You Make Me Feel the Way I Do". 45cat. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
- ^ "Barrett Strong Discography – USA". 45cat. Retrieved July 9, 2021.
General and cited references
- Broven, Josh (2010). Record Makers and Breakers: Voices of the Independent Rock 'n' Roll Pioneers. University of Illinois Press. ISBN 978-0252077272.
External links
- Barrett Strong at AllMusic
- Barrett Strong discography at Discogs
- Barrett Strong at IMDb