They were too young to see action in World War II and too old to participate in the fun of the Summer of Love. Composer: Car Wash. Music producer, arranger, and songwriter Norman Jessie Whitfield was born on May 12, 1941 in New York City. Lakewood Memorial Park. Norman Whitfield; . Had he worked for a label like Columbia or RCA Victor in the middle/late '50's, with a roster of artists spanning the musical spectrum, Whitfield might well have been cutting R&B, country, pop, and rock & roll (and vocal and instrumental) versions of his songs. Survived by his daughter, Irasha; sons, Norman; Michael; Johnnie; and Roland; a brother, Bill; eight grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. This year is also the year of personal relationships and family. From 1966 to 1974 Norman produced numerous enormously successful records for the Temptations. View popular celebrities life details, birth signs and real ages. [1] He found a songwriting collaborator in lyricist Barrett Strong, the performer on Motown's first hit record, "Money (That's What I Want)", and wrote material for the Temptations and other Motown artists such as Marvin Gaye and Gladys Knight & the Pips, both of whom recorded Whitfield-produced hit versions of the Whitfield/Strong composition "I Heard It Through the Grapevine". Mr. Whitfields songs were recorded by a string of Motown luminaries, who besides Mr. Gaye included the Temptations and the Jackson Five. Family Norman Whitfield was born in USA. He is from USA. 'Papa Was A Rollin' Stone': Temptations And Norman Whitfield Strike Again songs would or would not be released as singles. Motown producer/songwriter Norman Whitfield, . When is Norman Whitfields birthday? The psychedelic soul records Whitfield produced for the Temptations and other artists such as Edwin Starr and the Undisputed Truth experimented with and updated the Motown sound for the late-1960s. At age 18 he wrote and produced songs for Detroit's Thelma Records. Beginning with the single "I Wish It Would Rain," written in collaboration with lyricist Eddie Holland, he moved both the group and Motown into a new era, which opened up the subject matter as well as the sound of their songs. Norman was a W.W.II, U.S . Beginning with their soundtrack to the movie Car Wash, the group enjoyed a series of three hit albums and accompanying hit singles for Whitfield's label. Whitfield worked extensively with the Temptations as a producer and songwriter, producing eight of their albums between 1969 and 1973. Nora Evelyn . The trio never hit again as big as they did with that song, as Whitfield concentrated most of his efforts on the Temptations, but he used the Undisputed Truth to try out funk and psychedelic experiments, both with his own songs (including the first version of "Papa Was a Rolling Stone") and covers of other writers' songs. Whitfield did return to Motown briefly in the early '80s to produce the Temptations' "Sail Away," and also the soundtrack album to the movie The Last Dragon. NORMAN WHITFIELD - Michigan Rock and Roll Legends He was not imprisoned because of health problems such as diabetes. Norman Jesse Whitfield is part of the Silent Generation, which followed after the G.I. That success was complicated by the growing antipathy of the Temptations themselves, who sometimes felt like backup participants on their own records amid Whitfield's production efforts -- and Whitfield's prominent visual presence on Masterpiece's artwork -- a rare level of prominence for a producer -- couldn't have helped matters with the group. Using his keen eye for observation, Whitfield found a mentor in Motown founder Berry Gordy. In 1983, Whitfield teamed up with Motown again, and produced The Temptations hit single Sailing Away while in 1985 he produced the original soundtrack of another Schultz movie, the martial arts cult classic The Last Dragon. This article will clarify Norman Whitfield's Wife, Songs, Net Worth, Daughter, and other information. again with Motown; he produced the 1983 hit single "Sailing Away" by It is certain that these achievements helped Whitfield to further increase his wealth. Richard Whitfield, of Whitfield Hall living in 1332, was father of Robert de Whitfield, of Whitfield Hall, living 1370. [1] He has been credited as one of the creators of the Motown Sound and of the late-1960s subgenre of psychedelic soul. Norman Jesse Whitfield, songwriter and record producer, born May 12 1941; died September 16 2008, He co-wrote and produced some of Motown's greatest hits, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning, 2023 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies. Whitfield left Motown in 1975 to start his own Whitfield Records label, scoring his last greatest success with the band Rose Royce, which earned him a second Grammy for the Car Wash soundtrack, followed by several hits at the end of the decade. Your email address will not be published. THE FOUR TOPS HOT NIGHTS album and 2000 NORMAN WHITFIELD project Your email address will not be published. Advertisement. He wanted Berry Gordy (head of Motown Records) to have Marvin Gaye record "I Heard It Through the Grapevine". Whitfield created a new group around this time out of the ruins of a failed Motown act called the Delicates and one ex-member of a group called the Preps -- he put Billie Rae Calvin, Brenda Joyce Evans, and Joe Harris together as the Undisputed Truth and, calling all of the shots for the group as far as songs and recordings, they became one of his two principal vehicles for his musical ideas. LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Motown producer and songwriter Norman Whitfield, who helped create some of the legendary label's most important anthems, including Marvin Gaye's "I Heard It Through the. Norman Whitfield. Norman passed away in 2008. He was born on January. Skip Ancestry main menu Main Menu. Born in New York in 1943, Whitfield wasn't yet in his teens when R&B began exerting itself as a major musical force. Norman Whitfield - Soul Music Biographies, News and Reviews Norman Whitfield Obituary (2015) - Sandy Run, SC - The State - Legacy.com From 1963 onward, Whitfield had produced most of their recordings of his own songs, and by 1966, he'd completely taken over producing the Temptations in the wake of their huge hit "Ain't Too Proud to Beg," as well as "Beauty Is Only Skin Deep" and "I Know I'm Losing You."