Barrett Strong
| Barrett Strong | |
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 Barrett Strong |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Barrett Strong |
| Born | February 5, 1941 West Point, Mississippi, United States |
| Genres | Rhythm and blues, Soul |
| Occupations | Singer, songwriter |
| Years active | 1959–present |
| Labels | Motown (Tamla), Anna, Epic, Capitol, independent |
| Associated acts | The Temptations, Marvin Gaye, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Edwin Starr, The Undisputed Truth |
Barrett Strong (born February 5, 1941, West Point, Mississippi)[1] is an American singer and songwriter. Strong was the first artist to record a hit for Motown, although he is best remembered for his work as a songwriter, particularly in association with producer Norman Whitfield.[2] Among his most famous work at Motown, Strong wrote the lyrics for many of the songs recorded by The Temptations.
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His career [edit]
Strong was among the first artists signed to Berry Gordy's Motown corporation, and is the performer on the company's first hit, "Money (That's What I Want)", which reached No. 2 U.S. R&B in 1960. Written by Gordy and Janie Bradford, the single was originally released on the Tamla record label, a forerunner of Motown, but was then leased to the Anna label as it was getting airplay, and it was on Anna label that it was a hit. "Money", which gave Strong his only major hit as a vocalist,[1] was later recorded by a number of acts, including The Beatles, The Kingsmen, Richard Wylie and His Band, Jerry Lee Lewis, The Searchers, The Flying Lizards, The Sonics and Buddy Guy.
In the mid 1960s, Strong became a Motown writer lyricist, teaming with producer Norman Whitfield. Together, Strong and Whitfield wrote some of the most successful and critically acclaimed soul songs ever to be released by Motown, including "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" by both Marvin Gaye and Gladys Knight & the Pips; "War" by Edwin Starr; "Smiling Faces Sometimes" by The Undisputed Truth; and the long line of "psychedelic soul" records by The Temptations, including "Cloud Nine", "I Can't Get Next to You", "Psychedelic Shack", "Ball of Confusion (That's What the World Is Today)", and "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone", amongst others. Strong received a Grammy Award for Best R&B Song in 1973 for "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone". Strong and Whitfield also co-wrote the ballad "Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)", a 1971 Billboard No. 1 that also marked the last Temptations single to feature charter members Eddie Kendricks and Paul Williams.
After Motown moved its operations base from Detroit, Michigan, to Los Angeles, California, Strong left the label and resumed his singing career. In 1972 he signed with Epic. But after one failed single, Strong moved on, recording two albums for Capitol Records in the mid 1970s.[1]
Strong continued into the 1980s, recording "Rock It Easy" for an independent label and writing and arranging "You Can Depend on Me", which was included on The Dells' The Second Time album in 1988.[1] He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2004.[3]
Strong has re-released his last album, Stronghold II, which he wrote and composed in collaboration with rocker/songwriter Eliza Neals in 2008, in digital format only.[4]
In 2010, Strong has 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.[5]
See also [edit]
Discography [edit]
Albums [edit]
- 1975: Stronghold (#47 – Billboard Black Albums chart)[1]
- 1976: Live & Love
- 2008: Stronghold II
Singles [edit]
- 1959: Let's Rock/Do the Very Best You Can
- 1959: Money (That's What I Want)/Oh I Apologize (#23 Pop/#2 R&B)
- 1960: Yes, No, Maybe So/I'm Gonna Cry
- 1960: Whirlwind (w/ The Rayber Voices)/You Knows What to Do
- 1961: Money and Me/You Got What It Takes
- 1961: Misery/Two Wrongs Don't Make a Right
- ????: Gonna Take a Journey
- ????: I Better Run
- ????: Make Up Your Mind
- 1962: Seven Sins/What went wrong--ATCO #6225
- 1964: I Better run--Tollie #9023
- 1975: Is it true/Anywhere--Capitol #4052
- Lets rock is a 1960 Tamla #54022
- Money was released as 1960 Tamla #54027 but rereleased as Anna #1111
- Yes,No was released as 1960 Tamla #54029 but when Money became a hit rereleased as Anna #1116
this information added from my personal record collection and can be supported with Jerry Osbornes Rockin Records discography book.
References [edit]
External links [edit]
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