William Mickey Stevenson

5人收藏

风格: #摩城
地区: 欧美

艺人介绍

by Jason AnkenySongwriter and producer William Mickey Stevenson was one of the unsung heroes behind the extraordinary success of the Motown sound. As the labels first A&R director, he not only recruited major stars like Martha Reeves, but also assembled the companys legendary roster of studio musicians, additionally authoring a number of perennial hits for acts including Marvin Gaye and wife Kim Weston. Stevenson began his career in gospel and doo wop before joining the Tamla/Motown staff in 1959; in addition to co-producing and arranging records for Marv Johnson, the labels first recording artist, his earliest duties included organizing the companys house band. Installing pianist Ivory Joe Hunter as bandleader, Stevenson brought together a truly remarkable (albeit relatively unknown) group of Detroit-area jazz and club musicians, including bassist James Jamerson, guitarists Robert White and Joe Messina, and drummer Benny Benjamin. Though their lineup changed frequently in the years to follow, the so-called Funk Brothers remained the bedrock of the Motown sound throughout the companys golden age. In 1961, Stevenson teamed with co-writer Barrett Strong to score his first major hit, Eddie Hollands Jamie. For the Marvelettes Beechwood 4-5789, he partnered with Motown founder Berry Gordy, Jr., as well as recent roster addition Marvin Gaye. Weeks later, Motown released Gayes first hit single, Stubborn Kind of Fellow, which Stevenson co-wrote as well. Backing vocals on the record were contributed by Martha Reeves, then Stevensons secretary, and her group the Vandellas; when singer Mary Wells failed to show up for a subsequent session, Stevenson cut a record with Martha & the Vandellas instead, resulting in the groups 1963 debut Ill Have to Let Him Go. That same year, the producer inspired the Miracles smash Mickeys Monkey. In 1964, Stevenson, Gaye, and Ivy Hunter collaborated on Martha & the Vandellas Dancing in the Street, his biggest songwriting hit for the label. Equally important, and around that same time, he hired Norman Whitfield as his A&R assistant, launching the career of one of Motowns most influential and successful staff producers. Stevensons last major hit for Motown was 1966s classic It Takes Two, a duet between Gaye and the producers wife, Kim Weston. In early 1967, both Stevenson and Weston left Motown to form their own label, People. That spring, Weston signed to MGM and her husband was offered a reported million-dollar deal to assume control of the companys floundering Venture subsidiary. The Midas touch Stevenson possessed in the past soon dissipated, however, so in 1969 he shifted gears and scored the film Changes. He went on to write and produce a series of theatrical musicals, including Swann, Showgirls, Wings and Things, The Gospel Truth, TKO, and Chocolate City. For 1999s Sang, Sista, Sang — a tribute to legendary vocalists like Bessie Smith, Billie Holiday, and Josephine Baker — he reunited with fellow Motown alum Smokey Robinson.

William Mickey Stevenson

艺人介绍

最新简评（共0条）