A lot more than that, nevertheless, Whitfield and his personal travel became a significant area of the mental dynamic . Inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2004. In late 1962, Whitfield became part of the early boom era at Motown Records, joining the ranks of Harvey Fuqua, Mickey Stevenson, and the Holland-Dozier-Holland songwriting team. Strong eventually went behind the scenes as a songwriter, teaming with producer Norman Whitfield in the mid-1960s to cowrite smashes for Marvin Gaye, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Edwin Starr and the . When it comes to his personal life, Norman Whitfield managed to keep it private he had five children but details of their mother(s) is lacking. My dad, Marvelous Mal | CNN Childhood. The film grossed over $35 million against a budget of $8 million. More than that, however, Whitfield and his personal drive became an important part of the psychological dynamic of the label, often pushing Motown founder Berry Gordy . In an interview with David Ritz for Divided Soul: The Life of Marvin Gaye (Da Capo, 1991), Mr. Whitfield recalled the deep influence of the new, hard-driving funk of Sly Stone, and how he tried to bring something of Mr. Stones sound to his work at Motown. Thu., Sept. 18, 2008 Norman Whitfield was among the architects from the Motown audio, from its early top being a country wide label through its waning times of major graph achievement. Whitfield's motives are still unclear - was he truly passionate about social change or just a canny hitmaker who sensed the mood of the times and catered to it? SOLUTIONS. July 15, 2022 11:34 AM EDT. Whitfield received positive reviews from critics for her performance. Gordy also soon learned to trust Whitfield's bouts of seemingly reckless enthusiasm. But Berry did not want to damage Temptations' image by blatant political statement. 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. The early 1940s were dominated by World War II. 2023 Celebrity Net Worth / All Rights Reserved. Licensed To - Ace Records Ltd. In 1996, Whitfield was cast as the female lead opposite Martin Lawrence in the dark romantic comedy film A Thin Line Between Love and Hate. Norman Whitfield Beckford, aged 97, of Hill Street, Seven Hills Estates and formerly of Matthew Town, Inagua, died at his daughter's residence on Sunday, December 12 th, 2021.. 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. She began her acting career in television and theatre before progressing to supporting roles in film. Norman Whitfield - Bio, Personal Life, Family & Cause Of Death - CelebsAges [24], In 2018, Whitfield co-starred opposite Sanaa Lathan in the romantic comedy film Nappily Ever After, which was released on Netflix. Norman Whitfield, a long time friend and best friend during our growing up years, was laid to rest at the Lower Greens Creek Cemetery - he lived in Eastland at the time of his death. At 19, Whitfield began frequenting Motown's Hitsville USA offices for a chance to work for the growing label. 34 Parker Richardson Whitfield Premium High Res Photos - Getty Images / music: "Which Way Is Up? Norman Jesse Whitfield (May 12, 1940 - September 16, 2008) was an American songwriter and producer, who worked with Berry Gordy 's Motown labels during the 1960s. His first professional engagement came at his age of 19, when he began serving in Motown headquarters Hitsville U.S.A. in its quality control department. Norman Whitfield was one of the architects of the Motown sound, from its early peak as a national label through its waning days of major chart success. In the mid-1970s, Mr. Whitfield left Motown to start his own label, Whitfield Records. - Fell in love with jazz guitarist, Slim Gaillard's young daughter, Janis Hunter. Marvin Gaye, "Let's Get it On" (1973) - Written . Norman Whitfield. 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. Login or Sign-up to show all important data, death records and obituaries absolutely for free! 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. Gordy finally came to appreciate Whitfield's persistence as an attribute they shared, and put him in charge of "quality control" -- he would listen to blank label copies of the company's latest finished sides and critique them without knowing who was on or behind them, boil his observations down to a numerical score, and give the results to Gordy to think about. Norman Whitfield. Norman Whitfield, Motown Songwriter and Producer, Dies at 68 Norman Jesse Whitfield Birth 12 May 1941 Harlem, New York County (Manhattan), New York, USA Death 16 Sep 2008 (aged 67) Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, USA Burial Forest Lawn Memorial Park Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles County, California, USA Show Map Plot Norman Whitfield - Bio, Age, net worth, Wiki, Facts and Family - in4fp.com She also starred as Dorothea Garibaldi in the Disney Channel films The Cheetah Girls and The Cheetah Girls 2. Mr. Whitfield, who had been charged with failing to report more than $4 million in income, was fined $25,000 and sentenced to six months home detention. He was survived by his daughter and four sons from who he had eight grandchildren. Black, Phillips & Holden Funeral Home Inc.. All Rights Reserved. Norman Whitfield - Biography - IMDb From 2016 to 2020, she starred as Lady Mae Greenleaf in the Oprah Winfrey Network dramatic series Greenleaf, for which she won critical acclaim and garnered two NAACP Image Awards and a Gracie Award. In 1975 he started Whitfield Records which produced the hit single "Car Wash" by Rose Royce. A NORMAN WHITFIELD SONGBOOK 2,527 views Aug 29, 2019 One of the great composer of MOTOWN. Meet Lynn Whitfield & Brian Gibson's Daughter Grace Learn about Her Hollywood Career By Stephen Thompson Aug 02, 2020 04:00 P.M. But Berry did not want to damage Temptations' image by blatant political statement. I knew that this was extremely unlikely given his ongoing struggles with a) illness and b) the IRS, not to mention a longstanding reluctance to talk to the press. . [15] She also had a recurring role on Hit the Floor[16] and appeared as the abusive mother of April (Rochelle Aytes) on Mistresses. Whitfield became the company's spark plug as music entered the psychedelic era, taking to the new sound, and especially the use of sound effects, more easily than most of the label's production personnel. February 27, 2023 (74 years old) View obituary. Whitfield fell into a coma, briefly improved, but eventually succumbed to diabetic complications. When a notification about first-round voting in the 2021 Grammys slipped into my digital letterbox the other day, the initial thought which came to mind was of Motown's first such honour - for 1968's "Cloud Nine" by the Temptations - and the man behind it, Norman Whitfield.. With Eddie Holland, Mr. Whitfield wrote Aint Too Proud to Beg for the Temptations, which reached No. [27], Whitfield has been married twice. In 1983, Whitfield teamed up with Motown again, and produced The Temptations hit single Sailing Away while in 1985 he produced the original soundtrack of another Schultz movie, the martial arts cult classic The Last Dragon. Hayes and Whitfield were two of my heroes for the way they redrew the boundaries of soul, letting songs thunder and swirl far beyond the traditional pop song format. Whitfield later was cast in a leading role in Greenleaf's planned spinoff. His the best movie is Car Wash. She was a former member of McGuffey Road Church of Christ and was fond of music. New York-born music legend Norman Whitfield came to Detroit by chance. Later that year his Cloud Nine, performed by The Temptations was honored with a prestigious Grammy Award which was followed by another Grammy for Papa Was a Rollin Stone which was released in 1973. When the record label chief vetoed a single release of Whitfield's "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" that had been cut by Marvin Gaye, opting instead for a more romantic song, Whitfield refused to let the matter drop. Norman Whitfield Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More | AllMusic That success was complicated by the growing antipathy of the Temptations themselves, who sometimes felt like backup participants on their own records amid Whitfield's production efforts -- and Whitfield's prominent visual presence on Masterpiece's artwork -- a rare level of prominence for a producer -- couldn't have helped matters with the group. "Even as his body began to fail him, his mind was so strong," she said. Inspired by Sly and the Family Stone's wild arrangements, he wrote the hard-driving, socially aware Cloud Nine with lyricist Barrett Strong (who is himself currently recovering from a stroke) for the Temptations. Nova Whitfield is best known for being the daughter of DcYoungFly, a rapper, comedian, and performer who has starred on MTV's Wild N Out. William Warren Lange. Norman Whitfield was born in Harlem on May 12, 1940. In 2005 he faced tax evasion charges apparently between 1995 and 1999 he earned around $500,000 per year but failed to report a total income of over $2 million. I Can't Get Next To You - The Temptations. 1976 Grammy winner for Best Original TV or Motion Picture score for. DC Young Fly Daughter's Nova Whitfield: Age, Mom, Bio, Parents, Net Worth! The second thought was regret: that there has been . He is credited as being one of the creators of the "Motown Sound," and instrumental in the development of psychedelic soul. War was recorded by the Temptations before Edwin Starr, and Papa Was a Rollin' Stone was tried out on Whitfield's pet group the Undisputed Truth prior to the Temptations. Norman Whitfield was born in 1940s. In this regard, Whitfield's approach to music resembled that of the record producers of what was, by then, a bygone era. Estelle Whitfield Obituary - Memphis, TN 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]. Legendary songwriter and producer Norman Whitfield, the anchor of Motown 's early 70s movement toward funk, has died. He also helped usher in the era of psychedelic soul, producing the work of artists like Edwin Starr and the Undisputed Truth. Who is Teesha Renee? Home; Trees; . Norman Whitfield | Pop and rock | The Guardian She leaves to cherish her memory, her mother, of Hubbard; 4 brothers; 1 uncle, Bill Whitfield of Calif.; many cousins and host of other family members and friends. Jacob Lewis Fuller. CONTENT. When Whitfield wasn't producing the albums himself, Frank Wilson, using techniques and approaches he'd learned from Whitfield, was in charge. After moving to Detroit, Michigan, with his family in his late teens, he matriculated from Northwestern High School. admin March 2, 2022 Biography Leave a comment. Norman Whitfield, who co-wrote a string of Motown classics including "War" and "I Heard It Through the Grapevine," has died at 67. He caught the psychedelic thing. Over 25 years Whitfield co-wrote and produced many Motown hits including "Ain't Too Proud to Beg", "I Heard It Through the Grapevine", "(I Know) I'm Losing You", "Cloud Nine", "War", "I Can't Get Next to You", "Ball of Confusion (That's What the World Is Today", "Smiling Faces Sometimes", "Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)", and "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone". In 1975 he split with Motown and founded his own record label Whitfield Records. 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. Their version, almost a gospel rendition, was a huge hit, by some accounts the biggest-selling single in the history of the label up to that time; in its wake, the Marvin Gaye rendition, much more raw sounding (and also produced by Whitfield), was issued, and it chalked up even bigger sales than its predecessor. 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. Norman Whitfield Net Worth 2023 L.E. [12] In 1998, Whitfield had supporting role of an oncologist in the comedy-drama film Stepmom.[13][14]. Birth name. Buy Meta Added by Bastien Works 87 Discussions 1 All "Marvelous Mal" Whitfield was an Olympic medalist, Tuskegee airman and longtime U.S. diplomat. He recruited new members, most notably Taka Boom (aka Yvonne Stevens, the sister of Chaka Khan), later with the Glass Family, to work with Joe Harris, and saw hits from this version of the group with "You + Me = Love" and "Let's Go Down to the Disco." Your email address will not be published. Norman Whitfield - Psychedelic Soul (Produced By Norman Whitfield) More images Tracklist Hide Credits Companies, etc. Her mother is a founding member of the Baton Rouge chapter of The Links Incorporated and is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority. Daughter Mignon Strong said her father's strength of spirit persisted through his final days. Among his early successes was "I Couldn't Cry If I Wanted To," written in collaboration with Eddie Holland and cut by the Temptations in late 1962. Mrs. Estelle Whitfield, age 98, passed away November 23, 2020. Access is free so discover Norman Whitfield's story today. Both parents were instrumental in developing Whitfield's initial interest in acting, as they were actively involved in the Baton Rouge art scene. In 1975, faced with reduced options at the recording company that had been his professional home for more than a decade, Whitfield left Motown to start his own label, Whitfield Records. Shirley Hickman Whitfield (1935-2021) - Memorial Find a Grave [11] In 1997, she co-starred opposite Danny Glover and Rosanna Arquette in the comedy film Gone Fishin', appeared in the supporting role in the Canadian drama The Planet of Junior Brown, and played the mother of Jurnee Smollett's title character in the critically acclaimed independent drama Eve's Bayou. Motown's Barrett Strong heralded at funeral as music icon, family man He also changed the main subjects of his lyrics, from love to social issues such as politics, war and poverty. Starr's version of "War" w Show more. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/norman-whitfield-mn0000957729. Advertisement She eventually moved to New York and appeared off-Broadway in such shows as The Great Macdaddy and Showdown Time before earning international acclaim touring the United States, Australia and London's West End in the 1977 production of the landmark play "for colored girls who have considered suicide / when the rainbow is enuf" alongside Alfre Woodard.[2]. If he thought something was a hit, he would keep pushing until it was. "His will to live was so. She was a former member of McGuffey Road Church of Christ and was fond of music. 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. 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. Though largely invisible professionally in his later years, he did re-emerge in the news in 2005 when he pleaded guilty to settle a tax evasion case from the late '90s. Norman Whitfield in the 1940 Census | Ancestry [18][19] The series also starred Keith David, Merle Dandridge, Kim Hawthorne, and Oprah Winfrey. For all his renown as a composer, Mr. Whitfield was even more prominent as a producer and arranger. This engagement provided the basis for Norman Whitfields net worth and also helped him to set his foot in the world of songwriting. The following year, Gordy finally succumbed and Gaye's version was even bigger. He was also widely recognized for his work with The Temptations, producing eight of their studio albums, as well as for his own record label Whitfield Records. Norman Jesse Whitfield Profile: American songwriter and producer (born May 12, 1940, in Harlem, New York - died September 16, 2008, in Los Angeles) best known for his work with Berry Gordy 's Motown label during the 1960s. Their separation was brief, however, as Shirley passed away on August 14, 2021. Until yesterday I was still holding out the slenderest hope of somehow securing an interview with Norman Whitfield, the reclusive genius of psychedelic soul. Barrett Strong, Motown Icon And 'Money' Singer, Dies At 81 Their separation was brief, however, as Shirley passed away on August 14, 2021. Lisa Wright always knew she was adopted, but had no idea her biological mother was a star on one of her favorite television shows. THE WORKS OF WHITFIELD, AND THE PROMISE OF A DOCUMENTARY. Norman Whitfield Wiki: Salary, Married, Wedding, Spouse, Family Music producer, arranger, and songwriter Norman Jessie Whitfield was born on May 12, 1941 in New York City. Norman Whitfield Biography, Songs, & Albums | AllMusic [3] Whitfield died on September 16, 2008. Norman Whitfield Beckford - The Nassau Guardian Norman Whitfield Net Worth | Celebrity Net Worth In 1975, Whitfield left Motown, following its move from Detroit, to form his own label, Whitfield Records. That year he left Motown to set up Whitfield Records but his only subsequent major success was Rose Royce, who released the likes of Car Wash and Wishing on a Star, and he retired from music in the early 80s. Facebook. Norman Whitfield passed away on September 16, 2008 at 68 years old. 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. Lynn Whitfield - Wikipedia "[8] She also received a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress Miniseries or Television Film nomination and won the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special. More than that, however, Whitfield and his personal drive became an important part of the psychological dynamic of the label, often pushing Motown founder Berry Gordy to try out songs and sounds that he didn't fully appreciate himself, to their mutual benefit. - Anti-Vietnam War song recorded by Temptations, on album Psychedelic Shack. He is survived by his Daughters: Linda Dean, Ann-Marie Major, Sherry Beneby, Hilly Harper, and Lerlene Moss-Walcott; Sons: Eugene and Andrew Beckford; Adopted Daughter: Judy Deleveaux; and a host of other relatives . 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. Funeral Home website by. View Norman Whitfield's 1940 US census record to find family members, occupation details & more. NormanIs That You? Adam White Strong eventually went behind the scenes as a songwriter, teaming with producer Norman Whitfield in the mid-1960s to cowrite smashes for Marvin Gaye, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Edwin Starr and the . Car Wash - Rose Royce. The HBO biopic required her to age from 18 to 68. Read Full Biography Overview Biography Songs Credits Awards Related Share on facebook twitter tumblr Related Artists Associated with Barrett Strong Associated with The Temptations Followed by Terence Trent D'Arby Influenced by The Coasters Death notices in The Northern Echo between February 24 and March 3 WHITFIELD Alan Victor of Darlington aged 77 years on 18th February, peacefully at home with his loving wife Joan and daughter Dawn by his side. Cloud Nine - The Temptations. Read Full Biography. Norman Whitfield Born 12 May 1940, New York, NY, United States Died 16 September 2008, Los Angeles, CA, United States Member of Popcorn and The Mohawks The Temptations, , Marvin Gaye, The Undisputed Truth, Rose Royce Also Known As Norman Jesse Whitfield [birth name] Genres Motown Sound Share Tweet Follow 7 followers ADVERTISEMENT Discography 3 Wynk Music brings to you Ooh Boy MP3 song from the movie/album 100 Greatest Soul. He took over Smokey Robinson's role as the main producer for the Temptations in 1966, after his "Ain't Too Proud to Beg"[2] performed better than Robinson's "Get Ready" on the pop charts. Norman Whitfield Obituary (2008) - Los Angeles, CA - Legacy [17], In 2015, Whitfield was cast as the main villain in Greenleaf, the Oprah Winfrey Network original scripted drama series about the unscrupulous world of the Greenleaf family and their sprawling Memphis megachurch. Whitfield's big chance came when Holland-Dozier-Holland stormed out of Motown in early 1968 in a row over profit-sharing. Whitfield also appeared in The Women (2008), The Rebound (2009), and Mama, I Want to Sing (2011) and had many roles in low-profile B-movies. Constance Britten Obituary 2021 - Richard A Henry Funeral Home Gordy refused to release versions of I Heard It Through the Grapevine by the Miracles, the Isley Brothers and Marvin Gaye. February 28, 2023 (76 years old) View obituary. his father's car broke down there. Mr. Whitfield joined Motown in the early 1960s, when he was not much more than 20. 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 Popularity Most Popular #126320 First Name Norman #23 May 12 Singer #27 Last Name Whitfield #15 Norman Whitfield Is A Member Of Born In 1940 R&B Singers Norman Whitfield Bio, Wiki 2017 - Musician Biographies
