In 1969, Whitfield won three BMI Awards for the songs "I Heard It Through the Grapevine," "I Wish It Would Rain," and "You're My Everything."[5]. She was a 1993 graduate of Hubbard High School and obtained a Bachelors Degree from Ohio State University and a Masters Degree from UCLA. She was preceded in death by her father; grandparents, Julius and Annie Graham, William and Gertrude Whitfield; and 3 aunts. And even as the label's fortunes were starting to turn downward, Whitfield and the Temptations generated a triple-decker award-winning single in "Papa Was a Rolling Stone," which won two Grammys plus a songwriter's award. "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" (1972) was done first by the Undisputed Truth, before Whitfield rerecorded the song with the Temptations for a longer, more definitive (and massively successful) version. He paved the way for classics such as What Going On and Innervisions within Motown, plus hard-hitting political statements by the likes of the O'Jays and the Isley Brothers outside of it. Her first husband, from 1974 to 1978, was Vantile Whitfield. In 1983, she appeared in the comedy film Doctor Detroit (1983), playing the supporting role of Thelma Cleland. Award-winning actress Lynn Whitfield and her movie director ex-husband Brian Gibson share a beautiful daughter named Grace Gibson who fell in love with her parents' career and followed in their footsteps. Whitfield joined Motown's in-house songwriting staff, co-writing the Marvin Gaye hit "Pride & Joy", the Marvelettes's "Too Many Fish in the Sea" and the Velvelettes's "Needle in a Haystack". Many, including I Heard It Through the Grapevine, memorably recorded both by Marvin Gaye and Gladys Knight & the Pips, were written with his frequent collaborator Barrett Strong. He worked with The Temptations as a producer and songwriter and produced eight of their albums. Norman Whitfield | Artist | GRAMMY.com Artist Norman Whitfield WINS* 2 NOMINATIONS* 4 19th Annual GRAMMY Awards WINNER Album Of Best Original Score Written For A Motion Picture Or Television Special Car Wash View All Nominations For This Artist Through the 65th GRAMMY Nominations Norman Whitfield News View All News A native of Harlem, Whitfield spent his early teen years hanging out in local pool halls. In the 1990s, Whitfield played leading roles in a number of made-for-television movies and had several starring roles in theatrical films, including A Thin Line Between Love and Hate (1996), Gone Fishin' (1997), Eve's Bayou (1997), Stepmom (1998), Head of State (2003), Madea's Family Reunion (2006), and The Women (2008). He started there as a tambourine player; known for his keen ear, he was eventually put in charge of quality control by the labels founder, Berry Gordy Jr. [1] The Undisputed Truth scored their second biggest hit in 1976 with the disco song "You + Me = Love", their first single on Whitfield Records. Norman Whitfield net worth: Norman Whitfield was an American songwriter and producer who had a net worth of $10 million. Childhood. Norman Whitfield was born in Harlem on May 12, 1940. Born in New York in 1943, Whitfield wasn't yet in his teens when R&B began exerting itself as a major musical force. of 1. [18][19] The series also starred Keith David, Merle Dandridge, Kim Hawthorne, and Oprah Winfrey. His interest in R&B dates from his mid-teens, and it was not long after that the New York-born Whitfield found himself stranded in Detroit, when his father's car broke down while on the way back from a relative's funeral in California. 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. I could match him though, rhythm for rhythm, horn for horn., Norman Whitfield, Motown Songwriter and Producer, Dies at 68, https://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/18/arts/music/18whitfield.html. Barrett Strong, Motown Icon And 'Money' Singer, Dies At 81 He was survived by his daughter and four sons from who he had eight grandchildren. When it comes to his personal life, Norman Whitfield managed to keep it private he had five children but details of their mother(s) is lacking. Shere Whitfield Shares New Photo of Daughter Kaleigh Whitfield | Style She later co-starred in the films The Slugger's Wife, Silverado, and Jaws: The Revenge. 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 Jesse Whitfield (May 12, 1940 - September 16, 2008) was an American songwriter and producer, who worked with Berry Gordy 's Motown labels during the 1960s. Norman Whitfield Beckford, aged 97, of Hill Street, Seven Hills Estates and formerly of Matthew Town, Inagua, died at his daughter's residence on Sunday, December 12 th, 2021.. [24], In 2018, Whitfield co-starred opposite Sanaa Lathan in the romantic comedy film Nappily Ever After, which was released on Netflix. [1] He also composed the theme song for the 1977 motion picture Which Way Is Up?, performed by Stargard. The critic Greil Marcus remembers friends who pulled their cars over the first time they heard Papa Was a Rollin' Stone and sat "waiting, shivering, as the song crept out of the box and filled up the night". He was a longtime Motown producer and founded his own record label, Whitfield Records, in 1973. In 2004, Norman was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Who is Teesha Renee? She was a 1993 graduate of Hubbard High School and obtained a Bachelor's Degree from Ohio State University and a Master's Degree from UCLA. He spent the last few months at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Centre in Los Angeles. The cause of death was heart and kidney failure due to diabetes. Norman Whitfield Net Worth In the mid-1970s, Mr. Whitfield left Motown to start his own label, Whitfield Records. Even amid all of this activity with the Temptations, he found other important outlets for his compositions, most notably in the person of Edwin Starr. In his late teens his family moved to Detroit, Michigan so that his father could join his sister and work in her husband's chain of drug stores, and Norman began attending Northwestern High School. His first professional engagement came at his age of 19, when he began serving in Motown headquarters Hitsville U.S.A. in its quality control department. Norman Whitfield. Following the death of Isaac Hayes last month, it's been a bad year for fans of heavily orchestrated, epic soul. Whitfield played the leading role of Lady Mae Greenleaf, the imperious minister's wife and the power- and money-hungry matriarch of the family. Photos by Larry Parham. Until yesterday I was still holding out the slenderest hope of somehow securing an interview with Norman Whitfield, the reclusive genius of psychedelic soul. 14240 Visits. Her mother is a founding member of the Baton Rouge chapter of The Links Incorporated and is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority. From 1966 to 1974, Whitfield produced virtually all of the Temptations' music, experimenting with sound effects and other production techniques. Award-Winning Songwriter/Producer Norman Whitfield Dead at 68 Mastered At - Sound Mastering Ltd Designed At - the-unknown.co.uk Marketed By - Ace Distributed By - Ace Credits The Temptations' version earned a second Grammy Award for Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group for Whitfield and the Temptations, and Whitfield and Strong shared the songwriters' award for Best Rhythm and Blues Song. In the meantime, he became an admirer of Berry Gordy as the latter emerged as the most promising new music entrepreneur in Detroit. That year he left Motown to set up Whitfield Records but his only subsequent major success was Rose Royce, who released the likes of Car Wash and Wishing on a Star, and he retired from music in the early 80s. In 2005, he was sentenced to six months house arrest for tax evasion, avoiding imprisonment only because of diabetes and other health problems. His "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" one of the most played songs of the 20th century on American radio and TV. Rickey Smiley opens up about his son's death, talks addiction: 'He used CNN . He produced soul group Masterpiece in 1980. NORMAN WHITFIELD - Michigan Rock and Roll Legends United States. He had been with Motown for several years without scoring a major hit, but in 1970 he enjoyed the biggest single of his career with "War," co-written by Whitfield and Holland. Either way, he changed the landscape of soul. 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. / music: "Which Way Is Up? By age five, Whitfield decided she wanted to be in them. Ball of Confusion (That's What the World Is Today), Gonna Keep On Tryin' Till I Win Your Love, I Could Never Love Another (After Loving You), Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me), (Loneliness Made Me Realize) It's You That I Need, Mama I Gotta Brand New Thing (Don't Say No), Superstar (Remember How You Got Where You Are), You Make Your Own Heaven and Hell Right Here on Earth, 2003-2023 Norman Whitfield Born 12 May 1940, New York, NY, United States Died 16 September 2008, Los Angeles, CA, United States Member of Popcorn and The Mohawks The Temptations, , Marvin Gaye, The Undisputed Truth, Rose Royce Also Known As Norman Jesse Whitfield [birth name] Genres Motown Sound Share Tweet Follow 7 followers ADVERTISEMENT Discography 3 In this Digital Exclusive, Lynn Whitfield's daughter Grace asks the group how they manage to support each other and stay connected during these times.Find OW. Whitfield received positive reviews from critics for her performance. Gordy also soon learned to trust Whitfield's bouts of seemingly reckless enthusiasm. She was a member of the Burlington Seventh Day Adventist Church serving as treasurer for eight years and was a Life Member of Athens V.F.W. While we work diligently to ensure that our numbers are as accurate as possible, unless otherwise indicated they are only estimates. Buy Meta Added by Bastien Works 87 Discussions 1 All 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 gave the song to Gladys Knight and the Pips, who made it Motown's bestselling single at the time. Norman Whitfield. The Gladys Knight & the Pips' version was the best-selling Motown single so far, but it was surpassed a year later by Gaye's version. Facing charges of tax evasion on more than $2 million worth of income, he was sentenced to six months of house confinement and a $25,000 fine. Whitfield enjoyed some success as a composer with "Too Many Fish in the Sea" by the Marvelettes, and "Needle in a Haystack" by the Velvettes, but it was his drive and his vision as a producer that allowed him to take over the helm of the Temptations' records. Norman Whitfield was born in Harlem, New York in May 1940 and passed away . Daughter Mignon Strong said her father's strength of spirit persisted through his final days. Ball Of Confusion (That's What the World Is Today) - The Temptations. She won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie and received a Golden Globe Award nomination for her breakout performance as Josephine Baker in the HBO biographical film The Josephine Baker Story (1991). Norman Whitfield was one of the architects of the Motown sound, from its early peak as a national label through its waning days of major chart success. Mrs. Estelle Whitfield, age 98, passed away November 23, 2020. We welcome all corrections and feedback using the button below. This was after Gordy had rejected the idea of recording it with Gaye, the Miracles, or the Isley Brothers. But Masterpiece's critical notices were better than its sales, and Whitfield soon found himself, like most of the label's other producers, being discouraged from further recordings as ambitious as that, particularly as Motown's fortunes declined. Gordy then agreed to have Gaye record it, and Gaye's version remains Motown's biggest hit single. NEW YORK (AP) Barrett Strong, one of Motown's founding artists and most gifted songwriters who sang lead on the company's breakthrough single "Money (That's What I Want)" and later collaborated with Norman Whitfield on such classics as "I Heard It Through the Grapevine," "War" and "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone," has died . His songwriting career began in the early 1960s when he was included in co-writing The Marvelettes hit single Too Many Fish in the Sea, Marvin Gayes Pride & Joy and later Needle in a Haystack written for The Velvelettes. Facebook. He is interred in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills). War was recorded by the Temptations before Edwin Starr, and Papa Was a Rollin' Stone was tried out on Whitfield's pet group the Undisputed Truth prior to the Temptations. [1] "WAR" by Norman Whitfield & Barret Strong performed by - YouTube More than that, however, Whitfield and his personal drive became an important part of the psychological dynamic of the label, often pushing Motown founder Berry Gordy to try out songs and sounds that he didn't fully appreciate himself, to their mutual benefit. Barrett Strong, Whose 'Money' Helped Launch Motown, Dies at 81 Motown Final Flashcards | Quizlet Submit a correction suggestion and help us fix it! Norman was raised in Harlem where he spent the majority of his spare time in pool halls. 2023 Celebrity Net Worth / All Rights Reserved. [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". http://www.allmusic.com/artist/norman-whitfield-mn0000957729. It absolutely called upon everything I thought I could do at that point. Barrett Strong, Motown artist known for 'Money,' dies at 81 The dawn of the '70s and the success of albums such as Marvin Gaye's What's Going On and Stevie Wonder's Innervisions saw the company enter a last, great flowering in its recordings. Lynn Whitfield - Wikipedia WHITFIELD Alan Victor of Darlington aged 77 years on 18th February, peacefully at home with his loving wife Joan and daughter Dawn by his side. Norman Whitfield Obituary (2008) - Los Angeles, CA - Legacy By way of Wilson's contemporary work with the Four Tops, Whitfield's influence extended to other corners of the Motown stable during this era. 1 on the R&B charts in 1966. He wound up in Detroit when his father's car broke down on the way back from his grandmother's funeral in California and the family settled in. He was also widely recognized for his work with The Temptations, producing eight of their studio albums, as well as for his own record label Whitfield Records. A junior figure at Hitsville, hungry for his big break, he hung around the studio watching more established producers such as Holland-Dozier-Holland at work. 04:13. He then started his own label, Whitfield Records, in 1975, which yielded the Rose Royce hit "Car Wash". Lisa Wright always knew she was adopted, but had no idea her biological mother was a star on one of her favorite television shows. Your email address will not be published. Norman Whitfield, who co-wrote a string of Motown classics including "War" and "I Heard It Through the Grapevine," has died at 67. In the early 1980s, Whitfield began working as a producer for Motown again, helming the Temptations' 1983 hit single "Sail Away" and the soundtrack to The Last Dragon.[1]. Her daughter has opted to pursue a career in music, and Lynn has been very supportive of her endeavors. He also changed the main subjects of his lyrics, from love to social issues such as politics, war and poverty. In late 1962, Whitfield became part of the early boom era at Motown Records, joining the ranks of Harvey Fuqua, Mickey Stevenson, and the Holland-Dozier-Holland songwriting team. He co-wrote "I Heard It Through the Grapevine", "Papa Was A Rollin' Stone", "Ball of Confusion", "War", "Smilin' Faces", and "Just My Imagination (Runnin' Away with Me)". During his last months alive, Whitfield was bed-ridden at Los Angeles's Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where he underwent treatment for diabetes and other ailments. According to sources, it is estimated that the total amount of Norman Whitfields net worth, as of early 2017, would exceed the sum of $10 million, acquired by his prosperous career in the music industry which spanned almost 50 years. "[6] The New York Times added that Whitfield "powerfully captures her [Baker's] passionate determination. Alongside his Motown lyrical collaborator Barrett Strong, he was inducted into the Songwriter's Hall of Fame in 2004. "He and Norman Whitfield were the only songwriters who successfully produced political/social protest songs against Gordy's standing order not to do so," Mr. Posner said. Estelle leaves behind two daughters, Lynn Whitfield and Kathy Carroll (John), grandsons, Chad Carroll and Kevin Carroll (Lauren), two great-grandchildren, Ryleigh and Isaiah Carroll. [23] The series ended in 2020 after five seasons and 60 episodes. Mini Bio (1) Music producer, arranger, and songwriter Norman Jessie Whitfield was born on May 12, 1941 in New York City. The title track on the Temptations' album Masterpiece (1973) was the quintessential effort in this direction, an epic-length production propelled by a driving beat and lush instrumentation (in several layers) and filled with lyrics steeped in the urban landscape of the time -- ironically, as impressive as the latter was as a production, five people who were not entirely pleased with the track or the album were the Temptations themselves, who felt that they'd taken something of a back seat to the instrumentation and the overall production on what was supposed to be their album. She began her acting career in television and theatre before progressing to supporting roles in film. Lynn Whitfield Wiki Bio, Daughter, Nationality, Wealth. Married? 34 Parker Richardson Whitfield Premium High Res Photos - Getty Images Robert M Whitfield (1926-2005) *78, Grave #59173735 - Sysoon Whitfield's rise was down to a cocktail of talent, ego, luck and, most of all, persistence. 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. Death notices in The Northern Echo between February 24 and March 3 When he was a teenager, he and his family settled in Detroit after their car broke down there. Norman Jesse Whitfield (May 12, 1940 - September 16, 2008) was an American songwriter and producer, who worked with Berry Gordy 's Motown labels during the 1960s. - Anti-Vietnam War song recorded by Temptations, on album Psychedelic Shack. Norman Whitfield Biography. After several years fighting diabetes, Norman Whitfield passed away at the age of 68, on the 16th September 2008 in Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California. In 2005 he faced tax evasion charges apparently between 1995 and 1999 he earned around $500,000 per year but failed to report a total income of over $2 million. Nova Whitfield is best known for being the daughter of DcYoungFly, a rapper, comedian, and performer who has starred on MTV's Wild N Out. Norman moved with his family to Detroit, Michigan when he was in his late teens. He pleaded guilty and was ordered to pay $25,000 fine and spend the next six months in house confinement. 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Norman Whitfield. Gordy wasn't always tolerant of the young man's presence at Motown's studios, and occasionally chased him off the premises, but not so often that Whitfield didn't pick up what he needed to know: watching recordings being made and songs being fine-tuned. She also starred as Dorothea Garibaldi in the Disney Channel films The Cheetah Girls and The Cheetah Girls 2. Thanks to him, songs could pass the 10-minute mark, use every studio trick available and speak to the concerns of a tougher, angrier black America. Norman Whitfield was born in Harlem, New York in May 1940 and passed away in September 2008. Whitfield wrote or co-wrote more than 60 hits on the UK charts and 90 on the US charts. Yesterday I heard through the grapevine that he passed away on Tuesday afternoon. The single's instrumental B-side earned Whitfield and arranger Paul Riser a Grammy Award for Best R&B Instrumental Performance. Beloved brother to Keith, Sheila, Derek and the late . Though largely invisible professionally in his later years, he did re-emerge in the news in 2005 when he pleaded guilty to settle a tax evasion case from the late '90s. Leonard Levi Whitfield (1932-2021) - Memorial Find a Grave Psychedelic Soul - Produced By Norman Whitfield - Ace Records Have you ever wondered how much wealth he accumulated for life? After Temptations lead singer David Ruffin was replaced by Dennis Edwards in 1968, Whitfield moved the group into a harder, darker sound that featured a blend of psychedelic rock and funk heavily inspired by the work of Sly & the Family Stone and Funkadelic. 12: Daughter: Ida Whitfield. The first Temptations single to feature this new psychedelic soul style was "Cloud Nine" in late 1968, which earned Motown its first Grammy Award for Best Rhythm & Blues Performance by a Duo or Group, Vocal or Instrumental). NormanIs That You? Adam White - Fell in love with jazz guitarist, Slim Gaillard's young daughter, Janis Hunter. Motown hitmaker Norman Whitfield dies in L.A | Reuters Mr. Whitfield joined Motown in the early 1960s, when he was not much more than 20. Your email address will not be published. He was to see sides and potential in that group's sound that would enhance both of their careers in the decade to follow. Norman Whitfield | Artist | GRAMMY.com Norman Whitfield's Funeral - imageevent.com Norman Whitfield - Soul Music Biographies, News and Reviews Norman Whitfield - Bio, Age, net worth, Wiki, Facts and Family - in4fp.com Norman Whitfield Wiki: Salary, Married, Wedding, Spouse, Family Music producer, arranger, and songwriter Norman Jessie Whitfield was born on May 12, 1941 in New York City. - Written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong. Starr's version of "War" w Show more. Family Life He fathered four sons and one daughter. Whitfield is an honorary member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated. [1] He has been credited as one of the creators of the Motown Sound and of the late-1960s subgenre of psychedelic soul. This memorial website was created in memory of Robert M Whitfield, 78, born on December 30, 1926 and passed away on March 2, 2005. Norman Jesse Whitfield Profile: American songwriter and producer (born May 12, 1940, in Harlem, New York - died September 16, 2008, in Los Angeles) best known for his work with Berry Gordy 's Motown label during the 1960s. [6] He added contemporary song topics, moving from love songs to the social issues of the time, such as war, poverty and politics. SecondHandSongs is building the most comprehensive source of cover song information. He took over Smokey Robinson's role as the main producer for the Temptations in 1966, after his "Ain't Too Proud to Beg"[2] performed better than Robinson's "Get Ready" on the pop charts. [2] She also was a regular cast member in the short-lived 1988 ABC female-driven medical drama series HeartBeat alongside Kate Mulgrew, Laura Johnson, and Gail Strickland. Norman studied briefly at a technical school in Detroit before joining Thelma Records, a local label, when he was about 19. Tallahassee, Florida. Read Full Biography. Jason, Scott, Shelly, Wanda,Taylor & Brad Stone. [17], In 2015, Whitfield was cast as the main villain in Greenleaf, the Oprah Winfrey Network original scripted drama series about the unscrupulous world of the Greenleaf family and their sprawling Memphis megachurch. Salli Richardson-Whitfield and daughter Parker during Golden Globe Gifting Suite - Boom Boom Room at Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood, CA, United States. When Whitfield wasn't producing the albums himself, Frank Wilson, using techniques and approaches he'd learned from Whitfield, was in charge. Marvin Gaye, "Let's Get it On" (1973) - Written . . But success corrupted the once-shy outsider. "[22] She won the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in 2019 and 2020 as well as the Gracie Award for Outstanding Female Actor in a Supporting Role in a Drama Series in 2017. Mr. Whitfields songs were recorded by a string of Motown luminaries, who besides Mr. Gaye included the Temptations and the Jackson Five. Mr. Whitfield won a Grammy for the album, recorded by the band Rose Royce. Tribute: Irasha Graham Whitfield - WKBN.com Funeral Home website by. February 28, 2023 (76 years old) View obituary. After writing hits for Marvin Gaye, the Marvelettes and the Velvelettes, he wrested creative control of the Temptations from Smokey Robinson in 1966 with the success of Ain't Too Proud to Beg. July 15, 2022 11:34 AM EDT. Until yesterday I was still holding out the slenderest hope of somehow securing an interview with Norman Whitfield, the reclusive . Mr. Whitfield, who had been charged with failing to report more than $4 million in income, was fined $25,000 and sentenced to six months home detention. Their separation was brief, however, as Shirley passed away on August 14, 2021. He turned around and annoyed Gordy intensely, finally cajoling him into okaying another attempt at the song by Gladys Knight & the Pips. [9][10] At the time of filming, Lawrence was 12 years younger than Whitfield, who was then 42. The following year, Gordy finally succumbed and Gaye's version was even bigger. Whitfield made her professional screen debut in 1981 as Jill Thomas in the critically acclaimed NBC serial drama Hill Street Blues. Whitfield later was cast in a leading role in Greenleaf's planned spinoff.