Barrett Strong facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Barrett Strong |
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Strong in 1996
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| Background information | |
| Born | February 5, 1941 West Point, Mississippi, U.S. |
| Died | January 28, 2023 (aged 81) Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter, musician |
| Instruments | Vocals, piano |
| Years active | 1959–2023 |
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Barrett Strong (born February 5, 1941 – died January 28, 2023) was an American singer and songwriter. He was famous for being the first artist to have a hit song for the Motown record label. Barrett Strong is also well-known for writing many popular songs. He often worked with producer Norman Whitfield. Together, they wrote lyrics for many songs, especially for the famous group the Temptations.
Early Life and First Hit Song
Barrett Strong was born in West Point, Mississippi, on February 5, 1941. He was one of the first artists to sign with Berry Gordy's new record company, Tamla Records.
Strong sang the very first hit song for Motown. It was called "Money (That's What I Want)". This song became a big hit in 1960. It sold over one million copies! Many other famous bands later recorded "Money". These included the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, and Led Zeppelin.
There was a disagreement about who wrote "Money". Strong said he wrote it with Berry Gordy and Janie Bradford. His name was on the original copyright papers. But Berry Gordy said Strong's name was put there by mistake.
Becoming a Songwriter
In the mid-1960s, Barrett Strong started working as a songwriter for Motown. He teamed up with producer Norman Whitfield. They became a very successful songwriting team.
They wrote some of the most popular soul songs ever released by Motown. Their hits include:
- "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" sung by Marvin Gaye and Gladys Knight & the Pips
- "War" sung by Edwin Starr
- "Wherever I Lay My Hat (That's My Home)" sung by Marvin Gaye
- "Smiling Faces Sometimes" sung by the Undisputed Truth
Strong and Whitfield also wrote many "psychedelic soul" songs for the Temptations. These songs had a unique sound. Some of their famous songs for The Temptations were:
- "Cloud Nine"
- "I Can't Get Next to You"
- "Psychedelic Shack"
- "Ball of Confusion (That's What the World Is Today)"
- "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone"
Barrett Strong won a Grammy Award for Best R&B Song in 1973 for "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone". He and Whitfield also wrote the beautiful song "Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)". This song was a number one hit in 1971.
Later Career and Recognition
After Motown moved its main office from Detroit to Los Angeles, Barrett Strong left the label. He decided to start singing again. He signed with Epic in 1972. Later, he moved to Capitol Records and released two albums in the 1970s.
In the 1980s, Strong released a song called "Rock It Easy". He also wrote "You Can Depend on Me" for the group The Dells. In 2004, Barrett Strong was honored for his songwriting. He was added to the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
In 2008, Strong released an album called Stronghold II. He wrote all the songs on this album with Eliza Neals. In 2010, he appeared in his first music video ever, for the song "Misery".
Barrett Strong passed away in Detroit on January 28, 2023, at the age of 81.
See also
- List of 1960s one-hit wonders in the United States
In Spanish: Barrett Strong para niños
