Lamont Dozier was one third of the Holland-Dozier-Holland songwriting and production team, known for dozens of hit Motown singles in the 1960s and ‘70s.
- Died: August 8, 2022 (Who else died on August 8?)
- Details of death: Died in Arizona at the age of 81.
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Shaping the Motown sound
Dozier began writing songs for Motown Records in the early 1960s, working first with Brian Holland before the duo was joined by Holland’s brother, Eddie Holland. The team churned out an incredible stream of hits that included 14 No. 1 singles for the Supremes, the Four Tops, and Martha and the Vandellas. Their chart-topping compositions included “Baby Love,” “Where Did Our Love Go,” “Stop! In the Name of Love,” “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch),” and “Heat Wave.” The Holland-Dozier-Holland team helped define the Motown sound at the height of the label’s popularity and influence. The trio also produced dozens of records for artists including Marvin Gaye (1939–1984), Mary Wells (1943–1992), and the Miracles. Dozier left the songwriting team in 1973, launching a recording career with modest hits including “Trying to Hold onto My Woman” and “Going Back to My Roots.” He worked with Phil Collins to co-write his Golden Globe- and Grammy-winning single “Two Hearts,” and he wrote “Without You” for Peabo Bryson and Regina Belle. Along with the Holland brothers, Dozier was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990.
Notable quote
“When I was listening to my aunt as a young boy in the ’40s and ’50s when she was studying to be a classical pianist, I used to love those chords and things she used to play from the classics. And that’s how I developed my ear, you might say, by listening to her playing the piano, practicing the classics.” —from a 2018 interview for Songfacts
Tributes to Lamont Dozier
Full obituary: The New York Times
