Few music fans would ever guess who had Motown’s first chart success. That person was Barrett Strong…
OBITUARY by Ian Woolley
Barrett Strong (photo credit Tamla Motown)
When Berry Gordy launched Tamla Records, one of his first songwriting signings was Barrett Strong. Born in West Point, Mississippi, Strong went on to eventually write some of pop’s most loved Motown records.
In 1960, “Money (That’s What I Want)” became the label and Strong’s first chart success when it reached no.2 in the US R& B charts. Covered by many acts at the time including the Beatles and Rolling Stones. In 1979, the Flying Lizards’ cover made the top 5 of the UK charts.
Despite the song’s success, however, years later, Strong had to fight to have the co-writing credits he undoubtedly deserved. The session musicians present during the recording said that he had written the iconic piano riff and guitar lines in the hit.
“Songs outlive people,” Strong told the New York Times some time later. “The real money is in the publishing, and if you have published, then hang on to it … If you give it away, you’re giving away your life, your legacy.”
After a brief time away from music, Strong returned as a staff songwriter and along with Norman Whitfield, wrote many of the label’s most iconic and remembered pop songs. Marvin Gaye’s “I Heard It Through The Grapevine“, Edwin Starr’s “War” and Temptation’s “Papa Was A Rolling Stone” with the latter earning him a 1973 Grammy. It was with the Temptations that the songwriting pair would have their greatest success, with “Cloud Nine” paving the way in 1968.
In 2004, Strong was indicted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
In 2009, he suffered a stroke and a short time later he found that he was struck off the writing credits of his first hit. For the remainder of his life, he fought a legal battle to get a share in it’s royalties.
In a statement issued to Variety, Berry Gordy said “I am saddened to hear of the passing of Barrett Strong, one of my earliest artists, and the man who sang my first big hit Money (That’s What I Want) in 1959.”
“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, primarily with the Temptations”…
“My heartfelt condolences go out to his family and friends. Barrett is an original member of the Motown family and will be missed by all of us”.
His death was confirmed on Monday 29th January by the Motown Museum. He was 81 years of age and as yet the cause of death hasn’t been confirmed.