American singer Barrett Strong, historic pillar of the famous American soul music label, Motown, has died at the age of 81. This was announced on Sunday January 29 by the Motown Museum.
Barrett Strong wrote some of Motown’s best-known hits. ” It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of legendary Motown singer and songwriter Barrett Strong. “, wrote on Twitter the museum based in Detroit, in the north of the United States.
It is with great sadness that we share the passing of legendary @ClassicMotown singer and songwriter Barrett Strong.
The voice behind @motown‘s first hit, the iconic “Money (That’s What I Want),” was born in West Point, Mississippi on February 5, 1941 and was raised in Detroit. pic.twitter.com/RvINyjJgcc
— Motown Museum (@Motown_Museum) January 30, 2023
Born in Mississippi, he grew up in the American capital of the automobile and was released in 1959 Money (That’s What I Want)the first hit of Motown, a major black record label that would acquire an immense influence on soul, rhythms and blues and beyond.
Along with another Motown Records producer, Norman Whitfield, he would co-write the label’s other big hits, including I Heard It Through the Grapevine, made famous by Marvin Gaye in 1968, and many Temptations tracks, such as Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me) (1971).
Barrett Strong had gone from singer to man in the shadows. ” I never felt comfortable as an artiste”, he had declared to the specialized magazine Billboardin 2016. ” I had to work to support my family. I’m not looking to be in the limelight, glamor, or that sort of thing. I just like to work in my studio and see what we can do. »
His songs written with Norman Whitfield ” were groundbreaking in sound and embodied the spirit of that era Motown founder Berry Gordy said on Sunday, still quoted by Billboard. ” Barrett was a founding member of the Motown family, and he will be dearly missed. “, he also added.
(With AFP)