Barrett Strong February 5, 1941 – January 28, 2023. One of Tamla Mowtowns founding artists and contributor to many Motown hits.
Together with Norman Whitfield, he wrote some of the most successful songs released by Motown, including "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" by both Marvin Gaye and Gladys Knight & the Pips; "War" by Edwin Starr; "Wherever I Lay My Hat (That's My Home)" by Marvin Gaye; and the long line of "psychedelic soul" records by the Temptations, including "Cloud Nine", "I Can't Get Next to You", "Psychedelic Shack", "Ball of Confusion (That's What the World Is Today)", and "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone", amongst others. Strong and Whitfield also co-wrote the ballad "Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)", a 1971 hit for The Temptations (the last single to feature original members Eddie Kendricks and Paul Williams).
Together with Norman Whitfield, he wrote some of the most successful songs released by Motown, including "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" by both Marvin Gaye and Gladys Knight & the Pips; "War" by Edwin Starr; "Wherever I Lay My Hat (That's My Home)" by Marvin Gaye; and the long line of "psychedelic soul" records by the Temptations, including "Cloud Nine", "I Can't Get Next to You", "Psychedelic Shack", "Ball of Confusion (That's What the World Is Today)", and "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone", amongst others. Strong and Whitfield also co-wrote the ballad "Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)", a 1971 hit for The Temptations (the last single to feature original members Eddie Kendricks and Paul Williams).
