William Stevenson (songwriter)
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William Stevenson | |
---|---|
Detroit, Michigan, U.S. | |
Occupation(s) | Songwriter, producer |
Labels | Motown |
William "Mickey" Stevenson (born January 4, 1937) is an American former songwriter and record producer for the Motown group of labels from the early days of Berry Gordy's company[1] until 1967.
Life and career
He was born William Stevenson and, after spending his formative years recording
He wrote and produced many
In 1969, he founded a label called People Records, which recorded Kim Weston and other acts such as Hodges, James & Smith, but the label dissolved around the time James Brown's unrelated label of the same name was founded in 1971. He was appointed head of Venture Records in 1969, a subsidiary of MGM, with a brief to develop their share of the soul and rhythm and blues market, continuing in this role until the mid-1970s. Subsequently, he owned another California label, Raintree, releasing a single by Willard King in 1975.[5]
In recent years,[ He married Michelle Stevenson on November 11, 2021.
Chart hits and other notable songs written by William “Mickey” Stevenson
Year | Song | Original artist | U.S. Pop | U.S. R&B
|
UK Singles Chart | Other charting versions, and notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1961 | "Twistin’ Postman" | The Marvelettes | 34 | 13 | - | Written by Stevenson (as Stevens), Bateman, and Holland |
"Jamie" | Eddie Holland | 30 | 6 | - | Written by Stevenson, and Barrett Strong | |
1962 | "Playboy" | The Marvelettes | 7 | 4 | - | Written by Stevenson, Bateman, Holland, and Horton |
"Beechwood 4-5789" | The Marvelettes | 17 | 7 | - | Written by Stevenson, Gaye, and Gordy | |
"Hitch Hike" | Marvin Gaye | 30 | 12 | - | Written by Stevenson, Paul, and Gaye | |
1963 | "Love Me All the Way" | Kim Weston | 88 | 24 | - | Written by Stevenson |
"Pride and Joy" | Marvin Gaye | 10 | 2 | - | Written by Stevenson, Marvin Gaye, and Norman Whitfield | |
"Dancing in the Street" | Martha and the Vandellas | 2 | 8 | 4 | Written by Stevenson, and Marvin Gaye | |
1964 | "Devil with the Blue Dress" | Shorty Long | - | - | - | Written by Stevenson, and Frederick “Shorty” Long |
"What Good Am I Without You" | Marvin Gaye and Kim Weston | 61 | 28 | - | Written by Stevenson, and Higdon | |
"Needle in a Haystack" | The Velvelettes | 45 | 31 (C) | - | Written by Stevenson, and Norman Whitfield | |
"He Was Really Sayin' Somethin'" | The Velvelettes | 64 | 21 | - | Written by Stevenson, Holland, and Norman Whitfield | |
"What's the Matter with You Baby" | Mary Wells and Marvin Gaye | 17 | 2 (C) | - | Written by Stevenson, and Paul | |
1965 | "My Smile is Just a Frown (Turned Upside Down)" | Carolyn Crawford | - | 39 | - | Written by Stevenson, Smokey Robinson, and Bradford |
"Can You Jerk Like Me" | The Contours | 47 | 15 | - | Written by Stevenson, and Hunter | |
1966 | "Nothing’s Too Good For My Baby" | Stevie Wonder | 20 | 4 | - | Written by Stevenson, Hank Cosby, and Sylvia Moy |
"My Baby Loves Me" | Martha and the Vandellas | 22 | 3 | - | Written by Stevenson, Ivy Jo Hunter, and Sylvia Moy | |
"What am I Going to Do Without Your Love?" | Martha and the Vandellas | 71 | - | - | Written by Stevenson, and Sylvia Moy | |
"It Takes Two" | Marvin Gaye and Kim Weston | 14 | 4 | 16 | Written by Stevenson, and Sylvia Moy | |
1967 | "I Got What You Need" | Kim Weston | 99 | - | - | Written by Stevenson, and Doug Brown |
"Stranded in the Middle of Noplace" | The Righteous Brothers | 72 | - | - | Written by Stevenson | |
1970 | "She Said Yes" | Wilson Pickett | 68 | 20 | - | Written by Stevenson, Pickett, Covay, and Nash |
1974 | "Loving You" | Johnny Nash | 91 | 40 | - | Written by Stevenson |
1977 | "Try and Understand" | Jaisun | - | ? | - | Written by Stevenson |
References
- AMG. Retrieved 17 May 2010.
- ^ William "Mickey" Stevenson biography at Motown Forever – A Tribute To The Classic Sound.
- ^ "Mickey Stevenson – Artist Biography", AllMusic.
- ^ a b c Ankeny, Jason (8 May 2009). "William "Mickey" Stevenson – Music Biography, Credits and Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2 November 2012.
- ^ "William "Mickey" Stevenson | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
- ^ "Welcome to Jaisun's Place". Jaisunsplace.com. Retrieved 2 November 2012.