Sorry no! Additionally, the 1968 single "Cloud Nine" became the first Motown record to win a Grammy Award, for Best Rhythm & Blues Performance by a Duo or Group. His work was also recorded over the years by artists as varied as Creedence Clearwater Revival and Bruce Springsteen. 1972 Grammy winner for Best R&B Song for "Papa Was a Rolling Stone.". His main interest as a youth was centered on the pool hall, not the dance hall -- according to Nelson George in his book Where Did Our Love Go?, Whitfield not only developed a steady hand with a pool cue, but a good eye for observing and sizing up those around him. The group is known for their "psychedelic soul" look and sound. 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]. his own label Whitfield Records in the mid 70s. From 1966 to 1974 Norman produced numerous enormously successful records for the Temptations. Inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2004. Norman Whitfield: Songwriter and producer who added a political edge Wrote over 400 songs; produced Temptations biggest hits. Whitfield enjoyed a professional triumph with the Temptations' All Directions (1972), and followed it up with his greatest effort, the appropriately named Masterpiece (1973); and it was a two-fold personal and professional triumph, for both albums featured a lineup of the group -- Dennis Edwards, Richard Street, Damon Harris, Melvin Franklin, and Otis Williams -- which, though well-regarded, lacked the presence of acknowledged stars Eddie Kendricks and Paul Williams. At age 18 he wrote and produced songs for Detroit's Thelma Records. He is from USA. He was to see sides and potential in that group's sound that would enhance both of their careers in the decade to follow. [6] He added contemporary song topics, moving from love songs to the social issues of the time, such as war, poverty and politics. He was bad. Once more details are available, we will update this section. of diabetes on September 16, 2008 in Lake Tahoe, California. Writer and producer of Motown classics like War and I Heard It Through the Grapevine. He helped create the Motown sound. Moreover, Whitfield was a major instrumental figure in the late 60s psychedelic soul sub-genre. The song also became one of the most valuable copyrights owned by Motown, as it was covered by hundreds of artists, most notably Creedence Clearwater Revival, both on an edited single, and as an epic-length jam on their perennially popular LP Cosmo's Factory. Mini Bio (1) Music producer, arranger, and songwriter Norman Jessie Whitfield was born on May 12, 1941 in New York City. It's possible to glimpse the fine line the quintet and its producer were walking on the live recordings from the tour for Masterpiece, on In Japan. He is a celebrity Record producer, Songwriter, Film Score Composer. Published on October 14, 2022 His personal year number in 2023 is 6. In this regard, Whitfield's approach to music resembled that of the record producers of what was, by then, a bygone era. 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. It soon became clear to Gordy that Whitfield's talents extended to arranging and production, and it was in the latter capacity that he came to prominence at the label. Zodiac Sign: Norman Whitfield was a Taurus. 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. Your email address will not be published. Their son, William Whitfield, married to the sole heiress of Randle Holme of Alston Moor in Cumberland, in turn had son, William Whitfield. All rights reserved. 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. 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. When is Norman Whitfields birthday? Memorials. If you see something that doesnt look right, contact us. Also learn how He earned most of Norman Whitfield networth? He was famous for being a R&B Singer. In the meantime, he became an admirer of Berry Gordy as the latter emerged as the most promising new music entrepreneur in Detroit. Alongside his Motown lyrical collaborator Barrett Strong, he was inducted into the Songwriter's Hall of Fame in 2004. the late 60s psychedelic soul sub-genre. Rather than content himself -- as most of his contemporaries did -- with producing one hit version of a song done a certain way and aimed at a particular audiences, he would treat the same song differently with a variety of artists, looking for new permutations of its appeal to put before the public. 1972 Grammy winner for Best R&B Song for "Papa Was a Rolling Stone.". New York-born music legend Norman Whitfield came to Detroit by chance. They are often visionaries and can see the potential in people and situations. 1976 Grammy winner for Best Original TV or Motion Picture score for. It is certain that these achievements helped Whitfield to further increase his wealth. Whitfield was born and raised in Harlem, New York, and spent much of his teen years in local pool halls. Whitfield eventually View popular celebrities life details, birth signs and real ages. Pop U.S. R&B UK Singles Chart Other charting versions, and notes 1962 "Pride and Joy . 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). For the next few years, Whitfield or his protg, Frank Wilson, produced virtually all of the Temptations' recordings, although as Gordy recalled in his autobiography, Whitfield was ambitious enough to extend his influence as a producer far and wide; he still wrote songs as well, and he was always looking for different ways of presenting the same composition. We have estimated People born under this sign are energetic and excitable. Motown producer/songwriter who helped define the label's sound. The family derives its name from the old English hwit-feld, meaning open white lands. JUMP TO: Norman Whitfields biography, facts, family, personal life, zodiac, videos and related celebs. 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. Whitfield died at age 67 from complications Motown producer/songwriter who helped define the label's sound. . Whitfield moved with his family to Detroit in the early 1960s and was eventually hired to work in Motown's quality control department. Norman Whitfields mothers name is unknown at this time and his fathers name is under review. 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. One of Whitfield's last major hits at Motown was Yvonne Fair's "It Should Have Been Me" (1975), a song he had written in 1963 and recorded originally with Kim Weston. He told later interviewers that his family had settled in Detroit after their car broke down there. Norman Whitfield was born in New York City. Parents. Whitfield was a native of Brooklyn, New York, and spent much of his teen years in local pool halls. Norman Whitfield. Norman Whitfield; . A Celebration of Dale's Life will be held on Monday, May 1st, 2023 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. in the Briercrest Community Hall, Briercrest, SK. Next came, Sir Matthew Whitfield, of Whitfield Hall, High Sheriff of Northumberland who married Margaret, the daughter of Sir John de Lancaster, of Howgill and Rydall, a relative of William de Lancaster I. Produced by Norman Whitfield (CD) - bear-family.com His first act was the Undisputed Truth, whom he had convinced to leave Motown, followed by Rose Royce, Willie Hutch, Yvonne Fair, Nytro, Mammatapee and Junior Walker. Whitfield began hanging around Motown's Hitsville U. S. A. offices at age 19. Fact Check: We strive for accuracy and fairness. The group hit right out of the box with another Whitfield song that managed to capture its time and place, "Smiling Faces Sometimes," which became a number three hit in 1971. A native of Harlem, Whitfield spent his early teen years hanging out in local pool halls. Some of his first projects included releasing The Undisputed Truths hit single You + Me = Love. Your email address will not be published. It indicates that He is on life path 22. He is currently single. This engagement provided the basis for Norman Whitfields net worth and also helped him to set his foot in the world of songwriting. He was a longtime Motown producer and founded his own record label, Whitfield Records, in 1973. Survived by his daughter, Irasha; sons, Norman; Michael; Johnnie; and Roland; a brother, Bill; eight grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. His son, Matthew de Whitfield, was father of John Whitfield, who married Alice, the daughter of Sir John Milford, of Mitford Castle in Northumberland. According to our Database, He has no children. Whitfield family - Wikipedia This article is about the English Whitfield family. Norman Whitfield - Bio, Age, net worth, Wiki, Facts and Family - in4fp.com In 1976, Whitfield wrote and produced Rose Royces hit single Car Wash which in 1977 served as the main theme for Michael Schultzs eponymous comedy movie Car Wash, and earned him another Grammy Award. Richard Whitfield, of Whitfield Hall living in 1332, was father of Robert de Whitfield, of Whitfield Hall, living 1370. He wrote and produced songs for several legendary artists, including Marvin Gaye and The Temptations. Legendary songwriter and producer Norman Whitfield, the anchor of Motown 's early 70s movement toward funk, has died. He moved to Detroit in his late teens and petitioned the burgeoning Motown label to give him a job. For all his renown as a composer, Mr. Whitfield was even more prominent as a producer and arranger. Norman moved with his family to Detroit, Michigan when he was in his late teens. Norman Whitfield was born on the 12th of May, 1940. Norman moved with his family to Detroit, Michigan when he was in his late teens. Norman Jesse Whitfield is part of the Silent Generation, which followed after the G.I. The story of him and songwriting partner Barrett Strong creating three distinct versions of "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" for Marvin Gaye, Gladys Knight & the Pips and The Temptations reflects his creativity. You can send your sympathy in the guestbook provided and share it with the family. So, how much is Norman Whitfield worth at the age of 67 years old? Norman M. Whitfield, 91, of Memphis, passed away December 11, 2013. . 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. After wood-shedding on local labels, he began writing songs for Motown and eventually promoted to head of quality control because he was so meticulous about maximizing hit records. He married Mildred Manning. The Whitfield family was a landowning Norman family in present-day United Kingdom; the family was seated at Whitfield Hall in Northumberland. Mississippi. The song was so well-known that 22 years later, its lyrics ("War, what is it good for") figured in a key joke (involving Tolstoy's War and Peace) at the center of an episode of Seinfeld. 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. Norman Whitfield - IMDb Hinds County. Gordy then agreed to have Gaye record it, and Gaye's version remains Motown's biggest hit single. Music producer, arranger, and songwriter Norman Jessie Whitfield was born on May 12, 1941 in New York City. Its emblem, a W, was virtually an inverted Motown M with a different color scheme, and he took the Undisputed Truth with him and kept tinkering with their sound. Composer: Car Wash. Music producer, arranger, and songwriter Norman Jessie Whitfield was born on May 12, 1941 in New York City. A full obituary will appear at a later date. Doubtlessly, all these ventures made positive impact on Whitfields net worth. This was after Gordy had rejected the idea of recording it with Gaye, the Miracles, or the Isley Brothers. Required fields are marked *. born on May 12, 1941 in New York City. New York-born music legend Norman Whitfield came to Detroit by chance his father's car broke down there. Whos the richest R&B Singer in the world. A native of Harlem, Whitfield spent his early teen years hanging out in local pool halls. Discover Norman Whitfield's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. Miles' grandson John Whitfield, born about 1520, settled at Tenterden in Kent and his descendants continued the Whitfield line, which includes the eminent lawyer Sir Ralph Whitfield (1588-1645) and his son Sir Herbert Whitfield (1617-1677). [3] Whitfield died on September 16, 2008. Among the many soul classic songs Whitfield co-wrote, At 19, Whitfield began frequenting Motown's Hitsville USA offices for a chance to work for the growing label. List of songs written by Norman Whitfield - Wikipedia 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. He was survived by his daughter and four sons from who he had eight grandchildren. Who are the richest people in the world? They are confident and can inspire others to achieve their goals with their great ambition. He was known especially for his work with the Temptations; he produced many of their recordings for Motown, including the album Cloud Nine, whose title track earned the group a Grammy in 1969. We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous People born on 12 May. 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. Norman Whitfield, Barrett Strong: The Temptations [US1] April 23, 1969: Covered by The Truthettes: Don't You Miss Me a Little Bit Baby: Norman Whitfield, Barrett Strong, Rodger Penzabene: Jimmy Ruffin: May 16, 1967: Covered by : Do Your Dance: Norman Whitfield, Dick Turner: Rose Royce: 1977: Everybody Needs Love: Norman Whitfield, Eddie Holland . Mr. Whitfield won a Grammy for the album, recorded by the band Rose Royce. Mr. Whitfield joined Motown in the early 1960s, when he was not much more than 20. A native of Harlem, New York, Whitfield spent most of his teen years in local pool halls. The Songwriters Hall of Fame's ongoing mission is to celebrate and honor the contributions and legacies of songwriters of all genres of music while developing and nurturing the next generation of songwriters through Master Sessions, songwriting craft forums, scholarships and digital initiatives. 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's work at Motown not only beget substantial record sales and Here is the first-ever compilation dedicated to the distinctive and influential productions of Norman Whitfield. Whos the richest R&B Singer in the world? Like many famous people and celebrities, Norman Whitfield kept his personal life private. [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". Family Norman Whitfield was born in USA. He wanted Berry Gordy (head of Motown Records) to have Marvin Gaye record "I Heard It Through the Grapevine". Whitfield fell into a coma, briefly improved, but eventually succumbed to diabetic complications. He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2004. Whitfield was born in Harlem, where his main achievement was to become a skilled pool player. He caught the psychedelic thing. A spokeswoman at Cedars-Sinai Medical. 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. Temptations. He attended Northwestern High School. Master tunesmith helped create the "Motown Sound", His "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" one of the most played songs of the 20th century on American radio and TV. Nora Evelyn . Norman Whitfield was born in 1940s. 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.