Norman Whitfield Passes Away - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

MickeyMac · 09-16-2008, 07:50 PM

Just got word that Motown songwriter Norman Whitfield passed away today. He and Barrett Strong wrote such classics as "I Heard It Through The Grapevine", "War", "Cloud Nine", "Smiling Faces Sometimes", and "Just My Imamgination" among others.

He'll be missed.

Zoneboy · 09-16-2008, 08:03 PM

Hopefully there's no truth to this, I just checked and so far there's no official release but it's posted on Wikipedia which is about as reliable as IMDb.

MickeyMac · 09-17-2008, 12:04 PM

Norman Whitfield, the man behind many of Motown’s biggest hits, has died in the United States after a long bout with diabetes.

Whitfield began writing for Motown when he was 19 years old.

Some of the classic songs he wrote for Motown artists, we covered by some of the biggest acts in the world. The Beatles’ covered ‘Money (That’s What I Want), The Stones did a version of his ‘Ain’t Too Proud To Beg’, Creedence Clearwater Revival did a cover of his ‘I Heard It Through The Grapevine’.

Between 1966 and 1974, Whitfield produced nearly every song by The Temptations.

He died on September 16.

Highlights of the hits of Norman Whitfield are:

1963: "Pride & Joy" - Marvin Gaye
1964: "Too Many Fish in the Sea" - The Marvelettes
1964: "Needle in a Haystack" - The Velvelettes
1964: "He Was Really Sayin' Somethin'" - The Velvelettes
1964: "Girl (Why You Wanna Make Me Blue)" - The Temptations
1966: "Ain't Too Proud to Beg" - The Temptations
1966: "Beauty Is Only Skin Deep" - The Temptations
1966: "(I Know) I'm Losing You" - The Temptations
1967: "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" - Gladys Knight & the Pips, also recorded by Marvin Gaye and Creedence Clearwater Revival
1967: "You're My Everything" - The Temptations
1967: "I Wish It Would Rain" - The Temptations
1968: "I Could Never Love Another (After Loving You) - The Temptations
1968: "The End Of Our Road" - Gladys Knight & The Pips
1968: "Cloud Nine" - The Temptations
1969: "Friendship Train" - Gladys Knight & the Pips
1969: "Runaway Child, Running Wild" - The Temptations
1969: "Too Busy Thinking About My Baby" - Marvin Gaye
1969: "I Can't Get Next to You" - The Temptations
1969: "Don't Let The Joneses Get You Down" - The Temptations
1970: "You Need Love Like I Do (Don't You)" - Gladys Knight & The Pips, also recorded by The Temptations
1970: "Psychedelic Shack" - The Temptations
1970: "Hum Along and Dance" - The Temptations (later covered by Rare Earth and The Jackson 5)
1970: "Ball of Confusion (That's What the World Is Today)" - The Temptations
1970: "War" - Edwin Starr
1971: "Smiling Faces Sometimes" - The Undisputed Truth, originally recorded by The Temptations
1971: "Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)" - The Temptations
1972: "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" - The Temptations
1973: "Masterpiece" - The Temptations
1973: "Let Your Hair Down" - The Temptations
1976: "Car Wash" - Rose Royce
1976: "I'm Going Down" - Rose Royce
1976: "I Wanna Get Next to You" - Rose Royce
1977: "Ooh Boy" - Rose Royce
1977: "Wishing on a Star" - Rose Royce
1978: "Love Don't Live Here Anymore" - Rose Royce

Zoneboy · 09-18-2008, 07:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lee

Has it been officially confirmed yet?

Yes, Along with MickeyMac's updated post, It's now being reported by the Associated Press, Reuters and other sources.

Lee · 09-19-2008, 03:04 AM

Rest in peace

catlover79 · 09-19-2008, 10:11 PM

Norman Whitfield was one of the best songwriters/producers to come out of Motown. "Cloud Nine", "Just My Imagination", "Grapevine"...MIND-BOGGLING!!! What a true talent.

09-16-2008, 07:50 PM	#1
MickeyMac Member Forum Star Join Date: Jun 18, 2008 Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan Posts: 19,008	Norman Whitfield Passes Away Just got word that Motown songwriter Norman Whitfield passed away today. He and Barrett Strong wrote such classics as "I Heard It Through The Grapevine", "War", "Cloud Nine", "Smiling Faces Sometimes", and "Just My Imamgination" among others. He'll be missed.

09-16-2008, 08:03 PM	#2
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,422	Hopefully there's no truth to this, I just checked and so far there's no official release but it's posted on Wikipedia which is about as reliable as IMDb.
	__________________ 'Twas The Night Before Christmas And All Through The Full House Not A Creature Was Stirring, Not Even Mighty Mouse. All My Children We're Nestled All Snug In Their Beds While Visions Of Sugarbakers Danced In Their Heads.

09-19-2008, 10:11 PM	#6
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	Norman Whitfield was one of the best songwriters/producers to come out of Motown. "Cloud Nine", "Just My Imagination", "Grapevine"...MIND-BOGGLING!!! What a true talent.
	__________________ "Jesus loves you and He approves this message." "I'm alive. I'm feeling good. I'm trying to live every moment as much as I can." - Valerie Harper, March 2013

09-17-2008, 12:04 PM	#3
MickeyMac Member Forum Star Join Date: Jun 18, 2008 Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan Posts: 19,008	Norman Whitfield, the man behind many of Motown’s biggest hits, has died in the United States after a long bout with diabetes. Whitfield began writing for Motown when he was 19 years old. Some of the classic songs he wrote for Motown artists, we covered by some of the biggest acts in the world. The Beatles’ covered ‘Money (That’s What I Want), The Stones did a version of his ‘Ain’t Too Proud To Beg’, Creedence Clearwater Revival did a cover of his ‘I Heard It Through The Grapevine’. Between 1966 and 1974, Whitfield produced nearly every song by The Temptations. He died on September 16. Highlights of the hits of Norman Whitfield are: 1963: "Pride & Joy" - Marvin Gaye 1964: "Too Many Fish in the Sea" - The Marvelettes 1964: "Needle in a Haystack" - The Velvelettes 1964: "He Was Really Sayin' Somethin'" - The Velvelettes 1964: "Girl (Why You Wanna Make Me Blue)" - The Temptations 1966: "Ain't Too Proud to Beg" - The Temptations 1966: "Beauty Is Only Skin Deep" - The Temptations 1966: "(I Know) I'm Losing You" - The Temptations 1967: "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" - Gladys Knight & the Pips, also recorded by Marvin Gaye and Creedence Clearwater Revival 1967: "You're My Everything" - The Temptations 1967: "I Wish It Would Rain" - The Temptations 1968: "I Could Never Love Another (After Loving You) - The Temptations 1968: "The End Of Our Road" - Gladys Knight & The Pips 1968: "Cloud Nine" - The Temptations 1969: "Friendship Train" - Gladys Knight & the Pips 1969: "Runaway Child, Running Wild" - The Temptations 1969: "Too Busy Thinking About My Baby" - Marvin Gaye 1969: "I Can't Get Next to You" - The Temptations 1969: "Don't Let The Joneses Get You Down" - The Temptations 1970: "You Need Love Like I Do (Don't You)" - Gladys Knight & The Pips, also recorded by The Temptations 1970: "Psychedelic Shack" - The Temptations 1970: "Hum Along and Dance" - The Temptations (later covered by Rare Earth and The Jackson 5) 1970: "Ball of Confusion (That's What the World Is Today)" - The Temptations 1970: "War" - Edwin Starr 1971: "Smiling Faces Sometimes" - The Undisputed Truth, originally recorded by The Temptations 1971: "Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)" - The Temptations 1972: "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" - The Temptations 1973: "Masterpiece" - The Temptations 1973: "Let Your Hair Down" - The Temptations 1976: "Car Wash" - Rose Royce 1976: "I'm Going Down" - Rose Royce 1976: "I Wanna Get Next to You" - Rose Royce 1977: "Ooh Boy" - Rose Royce 1977: "Wishing on a Star" - Rose Royce 1978: "Love Don't Live Here Anymore" - Rose Royce

09-19-2008, 03:04 AM	#5
Lee veteran member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: May 23, 2001 Location: Pulaski, Tennessee Posts: 4,768	Rest in peace