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Prolific Songwriter: Lamont Dozier

Black Music Month Spotlight UNSPECIFIED – CIRCA 1970: Photo of Lamont Dozier Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images June is Black Music Month, an annual celebration of Black American music. First declared by President Jimmy Carter on June 7, 1979, the occasion was renamed “African-American Music Appreciation Month” by President Barack Obama on June 2, […]
The post Prolific Songwriter: Lamont Dozier first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

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Black Music Month Spotlight

UNSPECIFIED – CIRCA 1970: Photo of Lamont Dozier Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

June is Black Music Month, an annual celebration of Black American music. First declared by President Jimmy Carter on June 7, 1979, the occasion was renamed “African-American Music Appreciation Month” by President Barack Obama on June 2, 2009. “The legacy of African-American composers, singers, songwriters, and musicians is an indelible piece of our Nation’s culture. Generations of African Americans have carried forward the musical traditions of their forebears, blending old styles with innovative rhythms and sounds. They have enriched American music and captured the diversity of our Nation. During African-American Music Appreciation Month, we honor this rich heritage,” Obama wrote in a 2009 proclamation.

“I call upon public officials, educators, and all the people of the United States to observe this month with […] more activities and programs that raise awareness and foster appreciation of music which is composed, arranged, and performed by African Americans,” Obama wrote. Accordingly, The Forward Times honors our musical heritage with a feature on one of music’s most prolific songwriters: Lamont Dozier.

Born in Detroit, Michigan on June 16, 1941, Lamont Dozier was the oldest of five children. His father was drafted by the Army, and so his mother was charged with raising the kids. Dozier dropped out of high school at 16 and started shining shoes to earn money. He formed a group with his friends called the Romeos; he sang with them and another group called The Voice Masters in the late 1950s. He eventually signed with fledgling songwriter and producer Berry Gordy, releasing songs on various Detroit labels.

(L-R) Diana Ross, Lamont Dozier (at piano), Mary Wilson, Eddie Holland, Florence Ballard (seated and Brian Holland in the Motown studio circa 1965 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

In 1962, Dozier’s then-wife Ann introduced him to the two brothers who would change his life. Ann Dozier was packing records and typing in the offices of Gordy’s label, Motown Records when she introduced her husband to Eddie and Brian Holland. By the next year, Dozier had joined forces with the brothers: Dozier and Brian Holland would compose and produce tracks, while Eddie Holland wrote the lyrics. Together they formed Holland-Dozier-Holland, one of the most successful songwriting teams of the decade.

The hits came quickly, including an R&B chart-topper for Martha and the Vandellas called “Heatwave” (1963). In 1964, the songwriters wrote a hit song for a male group called The Four Tops. What started as an instrumental soon became “Baby I Need Your Loving” (1964), the Four Tops’ first million-seller and first Top 20 pop hit.

That same year, Holland-Dozier-Holland penned the first hit for a Detroit girl group that had become known as “the no-hit Supremes.” But not for long. “Where Did Our Love Go?” topped both the pop and R&B charts. It was the first of 10 No. 1 pop hits for the Supremes, including five consecutive number-ones:

  • “Where Did Our Love Go?” (No. 1 pop & R&B), 1964
  • “Baby Love” (No. 1 pop & R&B), 1964
  • “Come See About Me” (No. 1 pop, No. 2 R&B), 1965
  • “Stop! In the Name of Love” (No. 1 pop, No. 2 R&B,) 1965
  • “Back In My Arms Again” (No. 1 pop/R&B), 1965

Meanwhile, the Supremes’ success also inspired hits for the Four Tops. Using the same chords as “Where Did Our Love Go?”, Holland-Dozier-Holland composed “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch),” which topped the R&B charts for nine weeks and hit No. 1 on the pop charts in 1965. The success allowed Dozier to purchase a Cadillac and new homes for his mother and estranged wife.

HOLLYWOOD – MAY 12: (L-R) Eddie Holland, Lamont Dozier and Brian Holland of the legendary Motown songwriting team Holland-Dozier-Holland place their hands in cement at a ceremony honoring them with induction into Hollywood’s RockWalk May 12, 2003 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Vince Bucci/Getty Images)

But by late 1965, the trio had fallen into a rut. In September 1965, “Nothing But Heartaches,” their latest Supremes single, stalled at No. 11 on the pop charts and failed to reach the top 10. “Normally a single that charted that high on the national pop chart would be considered a success, but coming off of five consecutive number ones, Berry saw it as a warning sign,” Dozier later recalled in his memoir, How Sweet It Is. Gordy reacted by issuing a memo to Motown creative staff: “We will release nothing less than Top Ten product on any artist; and because the Supremes’ world-wide acceptance is greater than the other artists, on them we will only release number-one records.”

Prompted by the memo, Dozier and the Hollands began work on something new. Inspired by the movies he’d watched growing up, Dozier mused on how characters had their own theme songs: “I thought about how funny it would be if someone was walking around with their own theme song behind them all the time,” he later wrote. That sparked him to create “I Hear a Symphony,” which was more musically complex than previous works. “The structure of the song is more interesting than most probably give it credit for; instead of the typical verse-chorus-bridge framework, the writers separate each section by mood rather than melody,” wrote Paul Milliken. “I Hear a Symphony” topped both the pop and R&B charts.

That experimentation continued with songs for the Four Tops. In summer 1966, Dozier and Brian Holland gathered at the piano. Dozier later recalled: “I wanted to create a mind trip — a journey of emotions with sustained tension, like a bolero. To get this across, I alternated the keys — from a minor, Russian feel in the verse to a major, gospel feel in the chorus.” He wrote the lyrics with Eddie Holland, tailoring them for the lead singer Levi Stubbs. The result was a number-one pop/R&B hit that became one of the group’s signature songs.

More chart-toppers followed, with “You Can’t Hurry Love” and “You Keep Me Hangin’ On” (both 1966) for the Supremes. And in 1967, Holland-Dozier-Holland kept pushing the boundaries with a new song for the Four Tops. “We said we would never write about girls,” Dozier said in a 2018 interview, “because it was too specific. And they would maybe turn other girls off around the world.” But this song was different. Inspired by memories of a boyhood crush from elementary school (“I had it so bad for Bernadette, I could hardly think straight,” he later wrote), Dozier drew on his memories to compose “Bernadette,” one of the Four Tops’ most memorable songs.

It was also one of the last hits for Lamont-Dozier-Holland. The three left Motown in 1968 over a contract dispute, though they continued to work together until Dozier left the group in 1973. He struck out as a solo artist, releasing several albums through the 1970s. He had his biggest hit with 1974’s “Trying to Hold on to My Woman,” which reached No. 15 on the pop chart and No. 4 on the R&B chart. He also wrote and sang the theme song for the second season of the sitcom That’s My Mama in 1975.

In 1988, Dozier and Phil Collins co-wrote the song “Two Hearts” for the 1988 British film Buster. “Two Hearts” went to No. 1 in both the U.S. and Canada, winning them a Golden Globe for Best Original Song; it was nominated for an Academy Award in that same category. (It also won a Grammy for Best Song Written For a Motion Picture or Television.) In 1990, Dozier and the Hollands were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Dozier died on August 8, 2022, at the age of 81.

The post Prolific Songwriter: Lamont Dozier appeared first on Forward Times.

The post Prolific Songwriter: Lamont Dozier first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Forward Times Staff

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Black Feminist Movement Mobilizes in Response to National Threats

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — More than 500 Black feminists will convene in New Orleans from June 5 through 7 for what organizers are calling the largest Black feminist gathering in the United States.

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By Stacy M. Brown
Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent

More than 500 Black feminists will convene in New Orleans from June 5 through 7 for what organizers are calling the largest Black feminist gathering in the United States. The event, led by the organization Black Feminist Future, is headlined by activist and scholar Angela Y. Davis. Paris Hatcher, executive director of Black Feminist Future, joined Black Press USA’s Let It Be Known to outline the mission and urgency behind the gathering, titled “Get Free.” “This is not just a conference to dress up and have a good time,” Hatcher said. “We’re building power to address the conditions that are putting our lives at risk—whether that’s policing, reproductive injustice, or economic inequality.” Hatcher pointed to issues such as rising evictions among Black families, the rollback of bodily autonomy laws, and the high cost of living as key drivers of the event’s agenda. “Our communities are facing premature death,” she said.

Workshops and plenaries will focus on direct action, policy advocacy, and practical organizing skills. Attendees will participate in training sessions that include how to resist evictions, organize around immigration enforcement, and disrupt systemic policies contributing to poverty and incarceration. “This is about fighting back,” Hatcher said. “We’re not conceding anything.” Hatcher addressed the persistent misconceptions about Black feminism, including the idea that it is a movement against men or families. “Black feminism is not a rejection of men,” she said. “It’s a rejection of patriarchy. Black men must be part of this struggle because patriarchy harms them too.” She also responded to claims that organizing around Black women’s issues weakens broader coalitions. “We don’t live single-issue lives,” Hatcher said. “Our blueprint is one that lifts all Black people.”

The conference will not be streamed virtually, but recaps and updates will be posted daily on Black Feminist Future’s YouTube channel and Instagram account. The event includes performances by Tank and the Bangas and honors longtime activists including Billy Avery, Erica Huggins, and Alexis Pauline Gumbs. When asked how Black feminism helps families, Hatcher said the real threat to family stability is systemic oppression. “If we want to talk about strong Black families, we have to talk about mass incarceration, the income gap, and the systems that tear our families apart,” Hatcher said. “Black feminism gives us the tools to build and sustain healthy families—not just survive but thrive.”

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Hoover’s Commutation Divides Chicago as State Sentence Remains

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — Hoover was convicted of murder and running a criminal enterprise. Although some supporters describe him as a political prisoner, the legal and public safety concerns associated with his name remain substantial.

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By Stacy M. Brown
Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent

The federal sentence for Gangster Disciples founder Larry Hoover has been commuted, but he remains incarcerated under a 200-year state sentence in Illinois. The decision by Donald Trump to reduce Hoover’s federal time has reignited longstanding debates over his legacy and whether rehabilitation or continued punishment is warranted. The commutation drew immediate public attention after music executive Jay Prince and artist Chance the Rapper publicly praised Trump’s decision. “I’m glad that Larry Hoover is home,” said Chance the Rapper. “He was a political prisoner set up by the federal government. He created Chicago Votes, mobilized our people, and was targeted for that.”

But Hoover, the founder of the Gangster Disciples, is not home—not yet. Now in federal custody at the Florence Supermax in Colorado, Hoover was convicted of murder and running a criminal enterprise. Although some supporters describe him as a political prisoner, the legal and public safety concerns associated with his name remain substantial. “There is a divide in the Black community here,” said Chicago journalist Jason Palmer during an appearance on the Let It Be Known morning program. “Some view Hoover as someone who brought structure and leadership. Others remember the violence that came with his organization.” Palmer explained that while Hoover’s gang originally formed for protection, it grew into a criminal network responsible for extensive harm in Chicago. He also noted that Hoover continued to run his organization from state prison using coded messages passed through visitors, prompting his transfer to federal custody.

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who is widely considered a potential 2028 presidential contender, has not issued a statement. Palmer suggested that silence is strategic. “Releasing Hoover would create enormous political consequences,” Palmer said. “The governor’s in a difficult spot—he either resists pressure from supporters or risks national backlash if he acts.” According to Palmer, Hoover’s federal commutation does not make him a free man. “The federal sentence may be commuted, but he still has a 200-year state sentence,” he said. “And Illinois officials have already made it clear they don’t want to house him in state facilities again. They prefer he remains in federal custody, just somewhere outside of Colorado.”

Palmer also raised concerns about what Hoover’s case could signal for others. “When R. Kelly was convicted federally, state prosecutors in Illinois and Minnesota dropped their charges. If a president can commute federal sentences based on public pressure or celebrity support, others like R. Kelly or Sean Combs could be next,” Palmer said. “Meanwhile, there are thousands of incarcerated people without fame or access to public platforms who will never get that consideration.” “There are people who are not here today because of the violence connected to these organizations,” Palmer said. “That has to be part of this conversation.”

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WATCH: Five Years After George Floyd: Full Panel Discussion | Tracey’s Keepin’ It Real | Live Podcast Event

Join us as we return to the city where it happened and speak with a voice from the heart of the community – Tracey Williams-Dillard, CEO/Publisher of the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder.

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https://youtube.com/watch?v=OsNLWTz6jU0&feature=oembed

May 25, 2020. The world stopped and watched as a life was taken.

But what has happened since?

Join us as we return to the city where it happened and speak with a voice from the heart of the community – Tracey Williams-Dillard, CEO/Publisher of the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder.

She shares reflections, insights, and the story of a community forever changed. What has a year truly meant, and where do we go from here?

This is more than just a date; it’s a moment in history. See what one leader in the Black press has to say about it.

Recorded live at UROC in Minneapolis, this powerful discussion features:

Panelists:

  • Medaria Arradondo – Former Minneapolis Police Chief
  • Nekima Levy Armstrong – Civil Rights Activist & Attorney
  • Dr. Yohuru Williams – Racial Justice Initiative,
  • UST Mary Moriarty – Hennepin County Attorney
  • Fireside Chat with Andre Locke – Father of Amir Locke

Special Guests:

  • Kennedy Pounds – Spoken Word Artist
  • Known MPLS – Youth Choir bringing purpose through song

This podcast episode looks at the past five years through the lens of grief, truth, and hope—and challenges us all to do more.

🔔 Subscribe to Tracey’s Keepin’ It Real wherever you get your podcasts or follow ‪@mnspokesmanrecorder‬ for more.

🔗 Visit https://spokesman-recorder.com for more coverage and stories from Minnesota’s trusted Black news source.

#GeorgeFloyd #BlackPress #SpokesmanRecorder #Minneapolis #BlackHistory

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