Biography
Barrett Strong appeared destined for recognition solely as a one-hit wonder in his role as a performer, yet the track in question, “Money (That's What I Want),” established itself as a lasting staple across R&B and rock & roll while serving as the first significant success for Tamla/Motown Records, an imprint that grew into one of the era’s most prosperous and culturally resonant companies. He would achieve steadier acclaim through songwriting, supplying major compositions to Marvin Gaye, Edwin Starr, the Dells, Mary Wells, and additional artists, in addition to crafting numerous pieces that helped recast the Temptations as one of Motown’s most forward-thinking ensembles—“Cloud Nine,” “Psychedelic Shack,” and “Ball of Confusion.” The 2004 release The Complete Motown Collection assembled every recording he issued as a featured artist for the storied company.
Born Barrett Strong, Jr. in West Point, Mississippi on February 5, 1941, he grew up as the sole son among six children of Barrett Strong, Sr., a pastor who relocated the household to Detroit, Michigan in 1945. Shortly after the move, his father acquired a secondhand piano; although the elder Strong made little headway teaching himself, the younger Barrett quickly began reproducing songs by ear. While attending Hutchins Middle School in Detroit, where Aretha Franklin was a classmate, his sisters organized a gospel vocal group called the Strong Sisters, and he served as their pianist. The Strong residence soon functioned as a gathering point for budding local musicians—Strong would later quip that many of the visitors came because his sisters were attractive—and during one casual jam session he encountered Jackie Wilson, already headed toward fame. Wilson in turn introduced him to Berry Gordy, a songwriter who had supplied material for Wilson. Strong impressed Gordy with an impromptu rendition of Ray Charles’ “Drown in My Own Tears,” leading Gordy to become his manager. In 1959, while Gordy was enjoying success as both songwriter and producer, he invited Strong to a session; during a performance of Ray Charles’ “What'd I Say,” Strong began developing a fresh melody over a driving R&B groove. The resulting number, “Money (That's What I Want),” appeared on Gordy’s new Tamla imprint and rose to number two on the R&B chart while reaching number twenty-three on the pop side. Strong later engaged in prolonged litigation with Gordy, maintaining that he had written the song, although his credit was removed and restored intermittently whenever Gordy renewed the copyright.
Strong kept composing and recording for Tamla/Motown, yet subsequent singles failed to register on the charts. He departed the label in 1962, moved to Chicago, and cut sides for Atco and Tollie Records. There he also co-wrote “Stay in My Corner” with Wade Flemons and Robert Eugene Miller. The Dells took the song to the charts in 1965 on Vee-Jay and achieved an even stronger result with their 1968 Cadet remake, which climbed to number one on the R&B survey and number ten on the pop survey. Still unable to gain traction as a recording artist in Chicago, Strong returned to Detroit and joined Motown’s songwriting roster. In 1967 he collaborated with Norman Whitfield on “I Heard It Through the Grapevine,” first a hit for Gladys Knight and the Pips and an even larger success when Marvin Gaye recorded it the following year. With Whitfield supplying the music and Strong the lyrics, the pair formed an effective team; their 1969 composition “War” represented a daring socio-political statement by Motown standards and became a hit for Edwin Starr. That track launched a series of songs Strong and Whitfield created for the Temptations, modernizing the group’s sound with psychedelic elements and contemporary themes. “Cloud Nine,” “Psychedelic Shack,” “I Can't Get Next to You,” and “Ball of Confusion (That's What the World Is Today)” all achieved substantial chart success, while the more introspective “Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)” in 1971 and “Papa Was a Rolling Stone” in 1972 both reached number one on the pop charts.
When Motown transferred its operations from Detroit to Los Angeles in 1972, Strong elected to remain in Detroit. He resumed performing and, after issuing the 1973 Epic single “Stand Up and Cheer for the Preacher,” signed with Capitol and delivered his debut album, Stronghold, in 1975. A second Capitol LP, Live & Love, followed in 1976. He continued writing and producing for other performers while observing “Money” enjoy an extended afterlife through versions by the Beatles, Jerry Lee Lewis, and the Flying Lizards. In 1980 he released Love Is You on the independent Cherie label. In 1995 he founded Blarritt Records, a Detroit-based outlet intended to support emerging local talent; the imprint issued his fourth album, Stronghold, Vol. 2, in 2000, featuring vocalist Eliza Neals. Strong and Norman Whitfield entered the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2004. When Neals recorded a fresh take of “Misery,” a song Strong had originally released on Tamla in 1961, he appeared in the accompanying video, marking his first such appearance. A stroke in 2009 compelled him to retire. Barrett Strong died at his home in San Diego, California on January 28, 2023, at the age of eighty-one.
Born Barrett Strong, Jr. in West Point, Mississippi on February 5, 1941, he grew up as the sole son among six children of Barrett Strong, Sr., a pastor who relocated the household to Detroit, Michigan in 1945. Shortly after the move, his father acquired a secondhand piano; although the elder Strong made little headway teaching himself, the younger Barrett quickly began reproducing songs by ear. While attending Hutchins Middle School in Detroit, where Aretha Franklin was a classmate, his sisters organized a gospel vocal group called the Strong Sisters, and he served as their pianist. The Strong residence soon functioned as a gathering point for budding local musicians—Strong would later quip that many of the visitors came because his sisters were attractive—and during one casual jam session he encountered Jackie Wilson, already headed toward fame. Wilson in turn introduced him to Berry Gordy, a songwriter who had supplied material for Wilson. Strong impressed Gordy with an impromptu rendition of Ray Charles’ “Drown in My Own Tears,” leading Gordy to become his manager. In 1959, while Gordy was enjoying success as both songwriter and producer, he invited Strong to a session; during a performance of Ray Charles’ “What'd I Say,” Strong began developing a fresh melody over a driving R&B groove. The resulting number, “Money (That's What I Want),” appeared on Gordy’s new Tamla imprint and rose to number two on the R&B chart while reaching number twenty-three on the pop side. Strong later engaged in prolonged litigation with Gordy, maintaining that he had written the song, although his credit was removed and restored intermittently whenever Gordy renewed the copyright.
Strong kept composing and recording for Tamla/Motown, yet subsequent singles failed to register on the charts. He departed the label in 1962, moved to Chicago, and cut sides for Atco and Tollie Records. There he also co-wrote “Stay in My Corner” with Wade Flemons and Robert Eugene Miller. The Dells took the song to the charts in 1965 on Vee-Jay and achieved an even stronger result with their 1968 Cadet remake, which climbed to number one on the R&B survey and number ten on the pop survey. Still unable to gain traction as a recording artist in Chicago, Strong returned to Detroit and joined Motown’s songwriting roster. In 1967 he collaborated with Norman Whitfield on “I Heard It Through the Grapevine,” first a hit for Gladys Knight and the Pips and an even larger success when Marvin Gaye recorded it the following year. With Whitfield supplying the music and Strong the lyrics, the pair formed an effective team; their 1969 composition “War” represented a daring socio-political statement by Motown standards and became a hit for Edwin Starr. That track launched a series of songs Strong and Whitfield created for the Temptations, modernizing the group’s sound with psychedelic elements and contemporary themes. “Cloud Nine,” “Psychedelic Shack,” “I Can't Get Next to You,” and “Ball of Confusion (That's What the World Is Today)” all achieved substantial chart success, while the more introspective “Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)” in 1971 and “Papa Was a Rolling Stone” in 1972 both reached number one on the pop charts.
When Motown transferred its operations from Detroit to Los Angeles in 1972, Strong elected to remain in Detroit. He resumed performing and, after issuing the 1973 Epic single “Stand Up and Cheer for the Preacher,” signed with Capitol and delivered his debut album, Stronghold, in 1975. A second Capitol LP, Live & Love, followed in 1976. He continued writing and producing for other performers while observing “Money” enjoy an extended afterlife through versions by the Beatles, Jerry Lee Lewis, and the Flying Lizards. In 1980 he released Love Is You on the independent Cherie label. In 1995 he founded Blarritt Records, a Detroit-based outlet intended to support emerging local talent; the imprint issued his fourth album, Stronghold, Vol. 2, in 2000, featuring vocalist Eliza Neals. Strong and Norman Whitfield entered the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2004. When Neals recorded a fresh take of “Misery,” a song Strong had originally released on Tamla in 1961, he appeared in the accompanying video, marking his first such appearance. A stroke in 2009 compelled him to retire. Barrett Strong died at his home in San Diego, California on January 28, 2023, at the age of eighty-one.
Albums
The Collection
2004
20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection: Best Of Barrett Strong
2003
Stronghold II
1975
Singles
