Forever associated with the legendary Motown songwriting powerhouse Holland-Dozier-Holland, Lamont Dozier died today, aged 81.
A message from his son, Lamont Dozier Jr, on Instagram confirmed the news. "Rest in Heavenly Peace, Dad!!!"
He was one third, with brothers Eddie and Brian Holland, of a songwriting group that cemented Motown's place at the pinnacle of pop and soul music in the 1960s. Together they composed, arranged and produced hit after hit for the likes of The Four Tops, The Supremes and The Isley Brothers.
Hit credits include Reach Out I'll Be There, Where Did Our Love Go, Heat Wave and Baby Love.
Early Career
Dozier was born in Detroit, Michigan in 1941 and cut his musical chops singing in a local Baptist church. He worked, unsuccessfully, for several local labels before getting eventually his big break.
He signed with Berry Gordy's Motown label in 1962, teaming up with the Holland Brothers. He was considered to be the 'ideas man' - taking inspiration quite often from childhood (such as with the phrase Sugar pie, honey bunch - which is something his grandfather used to say).
They first started writing songs for The Vandellas, before having their first big hit with The Supremes' Where Did Our Love Go (US #1). That was to be the first of nine Billboard number ones that the trio put together. Dozier and Brian Holland primarily arranged and produced the tunes, while Eddie Holland did much of the lyric writing and vocal production.
They left Motown in 1967, founding Invictus Records and Hot Wax Records and making hits for more stars like Freda Payne and Chairmen of the Board.
Going solo and later life
Dozier parted ways with the trio in 1973, choosing to release his own music, including a number of solo albums.
The 1980s saw him team up with Phil Collins to record a new version of his Two Hearts for the Buster soundtrack (1988). Alison Moyet had a hit with one of his tunes, Invisible.
Holland-Dozier-Holland were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990, before also getting a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2015. Dozier also composed tracks for Kanye West, Rod Stewart, Lil Wayne and Solange, to name a few.
Nile Rodgers was one of the first to lead tributes, referring to Dozier as a "music composing genius." Ronnie Wood from the Stones added, "Ah - God Bless Lamont. His music will live on." BBC Radio 2 DJ and presenter of their Soul show, Tony Blackburn, called Dozier "Mr Motown" who wrote "so many songs which will be played forever."
(From - BBC News online & Music-News.com - 9 August 2022)
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