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Motown songwriter Whitfield dies | Motown songwriter Whitfield dies |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Motown songwriter and producer Norman Whitfield, whose credits include hits I Heard It Through The Grapevine and War, has died in Los Angeles. | Motown songwriter and producer Norman Whitfield, whose credits include hits I Heard It Through The Grapevine and War, has died in Los Angeles. |
Whitfield - believed to be 67 - worked at the legendary label in the '60s and '70s, adding a rock edge to soul music. | Whitfield - believed to be 67 - worked at the legendary label in the '60s and '70s, adding a rock edge to soul music. |
Many of his hits were co-written with Barrett Strong, with whom he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002. | Many of his hits were co-written with Barrett Strong, with whom he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002. |
The pair won a Grammy in 1972 for Papa Was A Rolling Stone by The Temptations. | The pair won a Grammy in 1972 for Papa Was A Rolling Stone by The Temptations. |
'Live forever' | 'Live forever' |
The Temptations' chart hits were all Whitfield's work, and he was their chief producer from 1966-74. | The Temptations' chart hits were all Whitfield's work, and he was their chief producer from 1966-74. |
The songwriter also co-wrote and produced songs for Gladys Knights and The Pips. | The songwriter also co-wrote and produced songs for Gladys Knights and The Pips. |
He scooped another Grammy award in 1976 for the theme tune to Car Wash, which went on to become a chart hit for Rose Royce. | He scooped another Grammy award in 1976 for the theme tune to Car Wash, which went on to become a chart hit for Rose Royce. |
The 1970 politically-charged War, performed by Edwin Starr and produced by Whitfield, reached number one in the US and number three in the UK. | |
Whitfield's only UK number one was I Heard It Through The Grapevine - in 1969 - which also topped the charts in the US. | |
The classic track, sung by Marvin Gaye, was recently ranked at 65 in Billboard's 100 most successful tracks of the last 50 years. | |
Singer Smokey Robinson, one of Motown's best-known artists, hailed Whitfield as "one of the most prolific songwriters and record producers of our time". | Singer Smokey Robinson, one of Motown's best-known artists, hailed Whitfield as "one of the most prolific songwriters and record producers of our time". |
"He will live forever through his great music," he added. | "He will live forever through his great music," he added. |
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