Lamont Dozier, one of the founding members of Detroit’s renowned “Motown Sound” of the 1960s and 1970s, along with his songwriting and producing collaborators Brian and Eddie Holland, passed away on Monday in Arizona. He was 81.
How Did Motown songwriter Lamont Dozier Die?
The Detroit musician was a member of Holland-Dozier-Holland, which produced some of Motown’s biggest singles in the 1960s.
His son Lamont Dozier Jr. posted a message on Instagram today announcing his death. Lamont Jr. simply wrote, “Rest in Heavenly Peace, Dad,” without elaborating on the situation or providing any further information.
Lamont Dozier cause of death
Lamont Dozier Jr., his son, posted a confirmation of the news on Instagram. The reason of death has not yet been made public.
Dozier produced 10 of the Supremes’ 12 US No. 1 singles, including Baby Love and You Keep Me Hanging On, as one-third of the production trio Holland-Dozier-Holland.
Both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame inducted the group in 1988 and 1990, respectively.
Lamont Dozier biography
Dozier began his musical career on 16 June 1941, working unsuccessfully for a few Detroit labels. He was born in Detroit, Michigan. When he and the songwriting brothers Brian and Eddie Holland began working at Motown in 1962, his luck altered. They got right to work, giving Martha and The Vandellas three successes with Come and Get These Memories, Heatwave, and Quicksand.
Where Did Our Love Go, the first of the trio’s 10 US chart-toppers for The Supremes, came next in 1964. Holland-Dozier-Holland quit the label four years later to launch the Invictus and Hot Wax labels after contributing to the creation of the Motown sound. Later, Dozier would make solo albums for both companies.
When questioned about the order of events, he added: “A title or a simple melody occasionally.
“I was regarded as the guy of ideas. For instance, I had a bassline for “I Can’t Help Myself” by [the Four Tops]. Those words. When I was a child, my grandfather used to say, “Sugar pie, honey bunch,” and that simply stuck with me and ended up in the song.
Many of my childhood memories came flooding back, so I began using them as song titles.
Dozier concentrated on his solo career after leaving Holland-Dozier-Holland in 1973. One of his early tracks, Going Back To My Roots, subsequently became a massive hit for disco group Odyssey in 1981.
Seven years later, Dozier and Phil Collins worked together on the US No. 1 song Two Hearts, which earned the duo a Grammy and a Golden Globe. In the 1980s, Dozier also collaborated with Simply Red and Alison Moyet, two British musicians.
Lamont Dozier career
The Supremes’ chart-topping singles “Where Did Our Love Go” and “Baby Love,” as well as a slew of other Motown classics by The Four Tops (“Baby, I Need Your Loving,” “I Can’t Help Myself [Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch]”), The Isley Brothers (“This Old Heart of Mine,” and Marvin Gaye’s “Can I Get A Witness?”), were all produced by the legendary Holland-Dozier-Ho
Eddie Holland handled the majority of the lyrics, while Dozier and Brian Holland often concentrated on musical arrangement and production.
After leaving Motown, Dozier established and ran Invictus Records and Hot Wax Records, where he produced success singles for The Honey Cone, Chairmen of the Board, and Freda Payne.
Dozier, a native of Detroit, joined Motown in 1962 along with the Holland Brothers, and during the course of his career, he co-wrote and produced 14 U.S. No. 1 songs as well as four No. 1 successes in the UK.
In order to start their own Invictus and Hot Wax labels, the trio departed Motown in 1968. Around that time, Dozier started to sing and act on stage by himself. Despite some modest chart success, he was never as successful as the artists and singers he had assisted in the creation of.
Dozier composed and performed the second theme song for the ABC sitcom That’s My Mama for television. He resumed writing hits in the 1980s when he teamed up with Phil Collins to co-write the Golden Globe-winning song “Two Hearts,” which was used in the movie Buster.
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Dozier and the Holland brothers acquired their own stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame after being elected into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1990.
Motown songwriter Lamont Dozier family
The song “Invisible” by Dozier, which was popularised by British vocalist Alison Moyet, was released in 1984. In 1987, Dozier penned the song “Without You,” which was performed by Peabo Bryson and Regina Belle for the Bill Cosby movie Leonard Part 6.
1990 saw the induction of Holland-Dozier-Holland into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
Dozier is survived by his wife Barbara Ullman Dozier, five additional kids, and his son Lamont Jr.
Condolences from fans and followers
Nile Rodgers, a guitar legend who subsequently transitioned into musical theatre, led the tributes on Tuesday and referred to Dozier as a “music writing genius.”
#riplamontdozier music composing genius. He’s had a positive affect on so many lives. We’ve lost a giant. pic.twitter.com/64JnMSyAtX
— Nile Rodgers (@nilerodgers) August 9, 2022
Dozier was a collaborator with Mick Hucknall’s Simply Red, who referred to him as “one of the finest songwriters of all time.”
RIP dear Lamont Dozier. 💔One of the greatest songwriters of all time. Truly privileged to have written 4 songs together- Infidelity, Suffer, Turn It Up and You’ve Got It. Rest well Soul Brother. 🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/pkNnfPZgI9
— Simply Red (@SimplyRedHQ) August 9, 2022
Ronnie Wood, a guitarist for the Rolling Stones, said, “Ah, God Bless Lamont.” His music will endure.
“To me, he was Mr. Motown… thankyou for writing so many beautiful tunes that will be played forever,” DJ Tony Blackburn wrote on his blog.
The late songwriter was praised by Grammy-nominated producer Brandon Williams for “everything you accomplished for me and for the world at large… you absolutely made this place better.”
In addition to DJs Lorraine King and Dave Pearce, songwriters Brian Wilson and Billy Bragg also paid their tributes.
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