By fayette (152.163.188.68) on Tuesday, March 18, 2003 - 09:51 am:

how many writers and producers at these two
record companies where actually singers
themselves or example,smoky robinson,stevie
wonder etc.

By Ralph (209.240.198.62) on Tuesday, March 18, 2003 - 10:57 am:

Fayette,
Good question. I would venture to guess that most were singers or musicians.

By Eli (151.197.5.12) on Tuesday, March 18, 2003 - 11:12 am:

Mc Fadden and Whitehead
Bunny Sigler
Kenny Gamble
Thom Bell
Linda Creed
Ron Tyson
Bruce Gray
Buddy Turner

By TonyRussi (68.18.230.25) on Tuesday, March 18, 2003 - 11:46 am:

Lamont Dozier, Eddie Holland, Clarence Paul,R. Dean Taylor, Deke Richards, Debbie Dean,Stevie Wonder are the Motown writers/producers that were also vocalist/muscians off the top of my head.

By soulie dave (62.254.64.5) on Tuesday, March 18, 2003 - 02:15 pm:

How about Frank Wilson and R Dean Taylor. I believe Eddie Holland was an artist long before HDH.

By RonS (12.251.115.153) on Friday, March 21, 2003 - 11:59 pm:

Other Motown writers and performers:
Marv Johnson
The Lewis Sisters
Marvin Gaye
Valerie Simpson

By John Lester (81.132.43.11) on Saturday, March 22, 2003 - 02:42 am:

Mickey Stevenson (see Marvelettes album) Harvey Fuqua, Johnny Bristol, Ivy Jo Hunter, Carolyn Crawford, members of the Miracles and Temps particularly Eddie Kendricks...even dearest Martha Reeves is noted as a writer!

It has been my experience that at Motown it was more a case of who couldn't sing that is the exception to the rule and I am told that the number one person who could NOT sing was Norman Whitfield.....has anyone heard him sing? How about Berry Gordy - I know that there is an acetate of him teaching Chris Clark the song "Day By Day Or Never" and although he's no Levi Stubbs, he can, at least, carry a tune.

By Davie Gordon (193.122.21.42) on Saturday, March 22, 2003 - 04:13 am:

I tend to agree with John - Motown producers who
were not singers themselves were probably the
exceptions that prove the rule. The only other
non-singing producer I can think of offhand is
Hank Cosby and I'm not sure about him not singing.

Sylvia Moy was another all-rounder, as were
some of the Contours, Hal Davis, Bobby Taylor,
Jerry Marcellino.

Did Tom Baird sing with HUB ? - I can't remember

By John Lester (81.132.43.11) on Saturday, March 22, 2003 - 06:59 am:

Our Clay sung the demo of "Walk With Me, Talk With Me, Darling"

All we need to do is get Clay to let us hear it!!!

By John Lester (81.132.43.11) on Saturday, March 22, 2003 - 07:02 am:

.......and then there is our own Ralph.

Hey Ralph, can you give us a tune?

By Ralph (209.240.198.62) on Saturday, March 22, 2003 - 09:32 am:

john,
Even though I never considered myself a singer, I CAN sing. My brother actually produced a project on me a few years back that came out rather well. All in all though I still prefer sitting on the control room side of the glass.

Re Tom Baird...He had a great voice. He did an album with Dino Fekaris and Nick Zesses. I'm trying to remember the name of the album. Maybe someone can help me here. Anyway, one of the songs on the LP was A Dream For The Longest Night sung by Tom. Absolutely haunting.

By John Lester (81.132.43.11) on Saturday, March 22, 2003 - 09:56 am:

Ralph

Where can I hear this project of yours?

By Ralph (209.240.198.62) on Saturday, March 22, 2003 - 10:05 am:

John,
It was never released. The masters are still sitting in my studio.

By P.J. (209.166.149.61) on Saturday, March 22, 2003 - 01:52 pm:

Tom, Dino, Nick= Matrix

By Ralph (209.240.198.62) on Saturday, March 22, 2003 - 02:56 pm:

Thanks P.J. How could I have forgotten that?

By Davie (193.122.21.42) on Saturday, March 22, 2003 - 03:17 pm:

Ralph,

I've never heard that Matrix album - I'll now be keeping an eye out for a copy,.

It's ages since I heard it but I seem to remember
that HUB (Hoorelbeke - Urso - Baird)
recorded "A Dream For The Longest Night"

Incidentally I had a quick scan through the new
issue of Mojo and that piece about Power of Zeus
is in it - a full page as one of their "Buried
Treasure" series focussing on "lost" albums.

By BankHouseDave (195.93.50.9) on Monday, March 24, 2003 - 04:04 am:

Harvey Fuqua sang with the Moonglows before he became a producer.

By Ralph (209.240.198.62) on Monday, March 24, 2003 - 09:26 am:

Davi, I'm sure I had a Matrix album at one time. Must be with one of my ex's. I'll have to track it down. I remember that it was quite good. Thanks for the heads up on the Mojo piece also. I'll have to get it. Kind of nice to know I'm responsible for " buried treasure ".

By John Lester (217.40.200.166) on Thursday, March 27, 2003 - 10:07 am:

Ralph

Your next task is to try to remember which ex!!!

lolol

By Ralph (209.240.198.62) on Thursday, March 27, 2003 - 10:15 am:

John my friend, THAT could be a problem.

By TonyRussi (68.18.49.228) on Thursday, March 27, 2003 - 12:47 pm:

Mary Wells was a writer and later a producer too.

By Kegtapper (65.58.39.200) on Thursday, March 27, 2003 - 05:06 pm:

Literally hundreds-
I thought it was a trick question until I read the thread.
Example- Marvin Gaye
singer (everybody knows the hits)
Drummer (I call it Pretty Music-Stevie Wonder)
Writer- Originals (The Bells)
Producer- What's Going On

In fact 1971: "What's Going On" alone he wrote, produced, sang, and played some of the instruments.

By stephanie (64.63.221.103) on Friday, March 28, 2003 - 11:07 pm:

Isnt our hero Deke Richards a singer too?
Stephanie

By Weldon A. Mc Dougal III (68.80.164.254) on Saturday, March 29, 2003 - 01:03 pm:

I was bass singer of the Larks, did background singing on all Eddie Holman, Barbara Mason, Lee Garrett,Larry Clinton, The Twilights, and the early Blue Notes,in the early sixty, this was the begining of the Philly sound.
WELDON

By MEL&THEN SOME (195.219.7.81) on Saturday, March 29, 2003 - 01:59 pm:

Right-On Weldon(andthensome).
Regards
The Groover-at-the-go-go.

By Sly fan (64.169.107.107) on Saturday, March 29, 2003 - 02:41 pm:

Wow Mr. Mc Dougall!! I am really honored!! I didnt know that!!