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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.

Published

2 years ago

June 21, 2023

Forward Times Staff

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.

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EXCLUSIVE OP-ED: President Joe Biden Commemorating Juneteenth

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — “I’ve always believed that we need to be honest about our history, especially in the face of ongoing efforts to erase it. Darkness can hide much, but it erases nothing. Only with truth can come healing, justice, and repair.”

Published

1 week ago

June 20, 2025

admin

By Joseph R. Biden, Jr.
46th President of the United States: 2021—2025

The people of Galveston, Texas, have been commemorating Juneteenth since the Civil War ended. Yesterday, in honor of the 160^th anniversary, I went there to join them.

You can read about the events of Juneteenth, but there’s nothing quite like going to Galveston and seeing where it all happened.

After General Robert E. Lee surrendered at Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865, Union troops marched across the South for two months, freeing enslaved people along the way. Their final stop was Galveston, an island off the Gulf coast of Texas. There, on June 19, 1865, Union troops went to Reedy Chapel, a church founded in 1848 by enslaved people, and posted a document titled simply “General Order #3.”

“The people of Texas are informed,” it said, “that, in accordance with a Proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free.”

We can only imagine the joy that spread through Galveston – and across the state and nation – on that day and those that followed.

Yesterday, there was once again joy in Galveston, with a parade, picnic, and fireworks. There was also great solemnity, because Juneteenth is a sacred day – a day of weight and power.

The Book of Psalms tells us: “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” Juneteenth marks both the long, hard night of slavery and subjugation, and the promise of that joyful morning to come.

As President, I had the great honor of signing the law declaring Juneteenth a federal holiday. It was our nation’s first new federal holiday since Martin Luther King, Jr. Day was created in 1983.

Our federal holidays say a lot about who we are as a nation. We have holidays celebrating our independence… the laborers who build this nation… the servicemembers who served and died in its defense.

And now, we also have a national holiday dedicated to the emancipation of enslaved Black Americans.

Signing that law was one of my proudest acts as President.

Yet for 156 years, Juneteenth was not written about in textbooks or taught in classrooms. Still today, there are those who say it does not deserve a holiday. They don’t want to remember the moral stain of slavery and the terrible harm it did to our country.

I’ve always believed that we need to be honest about our history, especially in the face of ongoing efforts to erase it. Darkness can hide much, but it erases nothing. Only with truth can come healing, justice, and repair.

I also believe that it’s not enough to commemorate the past. We must also embrace the obligation we have to the future. As Scripture says, “Faith without works is dead.” And right now, we Americans need to keep the faith and do the work.

In honor of Juneteenth, let’s help people register to vote.

For decades, we fought to expand voting rights in America. Now we’re living in an era when relentless obstacles are being thrown in the way of people trying to vote. We can’t let those tactics defeat us. In America, the power belongs with the people. And the way we show that power is by voting.

So let’s reach out to family, friends and neighbors – especially those who have never voted before. Remind them that with voting, anything is possible. And without it, nothing is possible.

Yesterday in Galveston, we gathered in Reedy Chapel to commemorate Juneteenth, just like people have done for 160 years and counting. We prayed, sang, and read General Order #3 again. The pews were full of families. How many people must have prayed for freedom inside those walls. How many must have sent fervent thanks to God when slavery finally ended.

I remembered the words of my late friend John Lewis. He said, “Freedom is not a state. It is an act.”

Juneteenth did not mark the end of America’s work to deliver on the promise of equality. It only marked the beginning. To honor the true meaning of Juneteenth, we must continue to work toward that promise. For our freedom. For our democracy. And for America itself.

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Cities Across the U.S. Shrink or Cancel Juneteenth Events as DEI Support Wanes

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — Across the country, Juneteenth celebrations are being scaled back or eliminated as public funding dries up and corporations withdraw sponsorship.

Published

1 week ago

June 19, 2025

Stacy M. Brown

By Stacy M. Brown
Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent

Across the country, Juneteenth celebrations are being scaled back or eliminated as public funding dries up and corporations withdraw sponsorship. In many communities, the once-growing recognition of the holiday is facing sharp resistance tied to the unraveling of diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts.

In Denver, Colorado, the annual Juneteenth Music Festival, one of the largest in the nation—was cut from two days to one. Organizers said more than a dozen corporate sponsors walked away from commitments, leaving them with a financial gap that almost canceled the event. Norman Harris, the festival’s executive director, said several companies “pulled back their investments or let us know they couldn’t or wouldn’t be in a position to support this year.” Harris credited grassroots donors and small businesses for stepping in when larger backers stepped aside.

In Colorado Springs, the local celebration was relocated to the Citadel Mall parking lot after support from previous sponsors disappeared. Organizers noted that where there were once dozens of corporate partners, only five remained. The downsized event was pieced together with limited resources, but community leaders said they refused to let the holiday go unacknowledged.

Scottsdale, Arizona, canceled its Juneteenth observance after the city council voted to dissolve its diversity, equity, and inclusion office in February. Without the office in place, the city offered no support for planning or funding, leaving residents without an official celebration.

In San Diego, the Cooper Family Foundation lost a $25,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts that had been earmarked for Juneteenth programming. Organizers said the decision forced them to personally finance key elements of the event, including cultural exhibits, performances, and youth engagement activities.

Bend, Oregon, called off its Juneteenth event entirely. Organizers cited political tensions and safety concerns, saying they could not secure the partnerships needed to proceed. A public statement from the planning committee described the current climate as “increasingly volatile,” making it difficult to host a safe and inclusive event.

West Virginia, which has recognized Juneteenth as a paid state holiday since 2017, will not sponsor any official events this year. State leaders pointed to budget constraints and recent decisions to eliminate DEI programming across agencies as the reasons for stepping away from public observance.

Austin, Texas, has also reduced its Juneteenth programming. While the city has not canceled events outright, organizers said diminished city support and fewer private contributions forced them to focus only on core activities.

“Thankfully, there was a wide range of support that came when we made the announcement that the celebration is in jeopardy,” said Harris. “But it shows how fragile that support has become.”

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Juneteenth and President Trump

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — Juneteenth is a day for African Americans in this nation to connect to their ancestry. It honors the end of slavery in the United States and is considered the longest-running African American holiday. The primary focus is freedom and the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States.

Published

1 week ago

June 19, 2025

Oakland Post

By April Ryan
BlackPressUSA.com Newswire Washington Bureau Chief and White House Correspondent

President Trump is set to proclaim the federal observance of Juneteenth as the White House is open for business on this holiday. The White House says the president will sign a “historic proclamation designating Juneteenth as a National Day of Observance, marking the 160th anniversary of General Order Number 3 in Galveston, Texas.” The declaration was that “all slaves are free.” This Trump proclamation, according to the White House, “will celebrate the Emancipation Proclamation, the Republican Party’s role in passing the 13th Amendment, and reaffirm the administration’s dedication to equal justice and prosperity for all.”

This proclamation comes as President Trump has denounced Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and anything Woke. Juneteenth is a celebration of freedom from the tyranny of 250 years of slavery after the Civil War.

The Juneteenth celebration started when Union troops reached Galveston, Texas, and told the slaves that they were free on June 19, 1865, two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was created.

The Emancipation Proclamation, which is on display in the Lincoln Bedroom of the White House, was issued by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863. It established that all enslaved people in Confederate states in rebellion against the Union “shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free.”

Juneteenth is a day for African Americans in this nation to connect to their ancestry. It honors the end of slavery in the United States and is considered the longest-running African American holiday. The primary focus is freedom and the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States.

The Juneteenth federal holiday was signed into law by then-President Joe Biden on June 19, 2021. This Trump White House is in full swing today, with a press briefing by Karoline Leavitt, not taking the federal holiday off. Also, President Trump will receive an intelligence briefing in the morning and participate in a swearing-in ceremony for the U.S. Ambassador to Ireland.