Motown’s Lamont Dozier Started as a Janitor. Then He Wrote 500 Songs.
In his new book “How Sweet It Is: A Songwriter’s Reflections on Music, Motown and the Mystery of the Muse,” the legendary songwriter reflects on his life in the music business.
In The Groove is WDET’s award-winning series that highlights the music that has defined the lives of creatives from all walks of life.
Lamont Dozier has cleaned up in the music business over the past 65 years.
“I’ve written over 500 songs and I’m still doing it! I’m still loving it!” — Lamont Dozier, songwriter and producer
He’s written more than 500 songs in that time including a bevy of Motown hits that still endure today including 10 out of the Supremes’ 12 US No. 1 singles like “Baby Love” and “Stop! In The Name of Love.”
But Dozier started out by cleaning up the floors of the now-defunct Anna Records — a Detroit-based label that pre-dated Motown and was ran by Berry Gordy’s sister Anna.
Click the player above to hear Lamont Dozier talk about growing up in the city’s Black Bottom neighborhood to being the first African-American to buy a home in Palmer Woods.
When Berry Gordy launched Motown in 1959, he would play early versions of songs for Dozier as he worked — including “Money” by Barrett Strong, the first big hit for the nascent label.
“I said, ‘Man, that’s a hit!'” recalls Dozier, who admired Berry Gordy for his “get-up-and-go, refuse-to-die attitude.” He also respected Gordy because he hired the former janitor to become part of a growing team of producers, musicians and songwriters at Motown.
Dozier became part of the legendary songwriting trio Holland-Dozier-Holland, which included brothers Brian and Eddie Holland (left).
For nearly a decade, Dozier helped write some of the biggest songs for Motown including a bevy of stand-out work for the Four Tops and the Supremes.
In his new book “How Sweet It Is: A Songwriter’s Reflections on Music, Motown and the Mystery of the Muse,” Dozier reflects on how the decisions he’s made throughout his life have influenced his songwriting.
Dozier spoke to CultureShift’s Ryan Patrick Hooper about his story, and his top three favorite songs he’s written for “In the Groove,” below.
Lamont Dozier’s Top 3 Songs He’s Written
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