American songwriter, producer, and Motown executive born May 12, 1940, in New York City; died September 16, 2008. Among the architects of the Motown sound and the principal producer behind the Temptations' shift from classic Motown to psychedelic soul.
Co-wrote and produced "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" (originally recorded by Gladys Knight & the Pips in 1967, then a #1 hit for Marvin Gaye in 1968), "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" (1972, the Temptations), "War" (1970, Edwin Starr), and "Just My Imagination" (1971, the Temptations). Founded Whitfield Records in 1975, releasing Rose Royce's "Car Wash" (1976). Inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2004.
