Lamont Dozier RIP

Yet another death, this time of Lamont Dozier (81) who did as much to write the soundtrack of my youth as anyone. A Detroit native he recorded with local groups early on including the Romeos (for the Fox label) and the Voice Masters (for Berry Gordy's Anna label) before getting a solo record released under the name of Lamont Anthony in 1961, again for Anna. He then teamed up with Eddie and Brian Holland to form one of the most successful songwriting teams of all time. Their run of hit songs included 'Come And Get these Memories', 'Heatwave' and Quicksand' for Martha and the Vandellas, 'Where Did Our Love Go' and 'Baby Love' for the Supremes, 'You're A Wonderful One' and 'How Sweet It Is' for Marvin Gaye, 'I Can't Help Myself' and 'The Same old Song' for the Four Tops and countless others for Motown artists. When Holland Dozier and Holland left Motown in 1968 to form the Invictus and Hot Wax labels he and Brian Holland had some recording success themselves, including 'Why Can't We Be Lovers'. He left the partnership in 1973 and recorded a series of excellent albums over the following ten years, including 'Black Bach', 'Out Here On My Own, 'Bittersweet' and 'Right There' (pictured above). Single releases included 'Trying To Hold On To My Woman;', Fish Ain't Bitin'', 'All Cried Out' and 'Shout About It'. Songwriting collaborations followed in the eighties with Phil Collins and Mick Hucknall and he also wrote several movie soundtrack scores. Sadly, I never got to see Lamont perform live, but he was a giant of soul music. RIP.