Sylvia Moy facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sylvia Moy
Background information
Birth name	Sylvia Rose Moy
Born	(1938-09-15)September 15, 1938 Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Died	April 15, 2017(2017-04-15) (aged 78) Dearborn, Michigan, U.S.
Genres	Soul music
Occupation(s)	Songwriter, record producer
Associated acts	Stevie Wonder

Sylvia Rose Moy (born September 15, 1938 – died April 15, 2017) was an amazing American songwriter and record producer. She worked with Motown Records, a famous music company. Sylvia was the first woman at Motown to write and produce songs for their artists. She is most famous for the songs she wrote with and for the legendary singer Stevie Wonder.

Sylvia Moy's Early Life and Music Career

Sylvia Moy grew up in Detroit, Michigan. She loved music from a young age. She studied and performed jazz and classical music at Northern High School.

In 1963, famous singers Marvin Gaye and Mickey Stevenson saw her perform in a club. They were very impressed! Motown Records then offered Sylvia contracts for recording and songwriting.

However, Motown soon asked her to focus mostly on songwriting. The company needed more songs for their many talented artists. Sylvia became a key part of the Motown team.

How Sylvia Moy Helped Stevie Wonder

Sylvia Moy played a huge role in Stevie Wonder's career. According to Berry Gordy, the founder of Motown, Stevie Wonder was almost dropped from the label. This was because his voice was changing as he grew older.

Sylvia went to Berry Gordy and asked him to reconsider. She promised to write a hit song for Stevie. Gordy agreed, and Sylvia kept her promise!

Her first big success was the song "Uptight (Everything's Alright)". She wrote it with Henry "Hank" Cosby. They got the idea after hearing Stevie Wonder playing around on the piano. Sylvia wrote the words and sang them into Stevie's headphones as he recorded. This helped him learn the lyrics as he sang.

Famous Songs Sylvia Moy Wrote

Sylvia Moy wrote and produced many hit songs while at Motown. Many of these were for Stevie Wonder. Some of his famous songs she worked on include:

• "My Cherie Amour"
• "I Was Made to Love Her"
• "Never Had a Dream Come True"

She also wrote popular songs for other Motown artists. For Martha and the Vandellas, she wrote "Honey Chile" and "Love Bug Leave My Heart Alone". She also helped write "This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak for You)" for the Isley Brothers. And she co-wrote "It Takes Two" for Marvin Gaye and Kim Weston.

Later Work and Legacy

After her time at Motown, Sylvia Moy continued to work in music. She wrote theme songs for several television shows. She also helped create music for movies.

In 2006, Sylvia Moy was honored for her amazing work. She was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. This is a special place for people who have written many great songs. Her fellow Motown songwriter, Hank Cosby, was also inducted with her.

Sylvia also cared deeply about her community. She started a non-profit group called the Center for Creative Communications. This group helped children in Detroit who needed support.

Sylvia Moy passed away on April 15, 2017, at the age of 78. She left behind a wonderful legacy of music.

Awards and Recognition

In 1969, Sylvia Moy won three BMI Awards. These awards celebrate great achievements in music. She won for her songs "Honey Chile," "I Was Made to Love Her," and "Shoo-Be-Doo-Be-Doo-Da-Day."

Selective Discography

Singles