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Motown Two
''Motown Two'' is the seventh solo album by American singer-songwriter Michael McDonald. The album was released on October 26, 2004, by Universal Music International and Motown. Track listing Personnel * Michael McDonald – lead and backing vocals, acoustic piano, arrangements * Toby Baker – keyboards, programming, arrangements * Tim Carmon – acoustic piano, Wurlitzer electric piano, synthesizers, organ * Tony Swain – clavinet, synthesizers * Billy Preston – Hammond organ * Simon Climie – arrangements, programming, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, backing vocals * Bernie Chiaravalle – nylon guitar * Michael Thompson – guitar * Abraham Laboriel – bass, acoustic guitar * Nathan East – bass * Vinnie Colaiuta – drums * Abe Laboriel Jr. – drums * Nicky Shaw – drums, percussion, programming, beats, arrangements * Lenny Castro – percussion * Stevie Wonder – harmonica (2) * Fred Vigdor – alto saxophone * Nick Ingman – string arran ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Michael McDonald (musician)
Michael H. McDonald (born February 12, 1952) is an American singer, songwriter and keyboardist. Known for his distinctive, soulful voice, he was a backing vocalist for Steely Dan from 1975 to 1980 and the lead vocalist of the Doobie Brothers across various stints (1975–1982, 1987, 2019–present). McDonald wrote and sang several hit singles with the Doobie Brothers, including " What a Fool Believes", " Minute by Minute", " Takin' It to the Streets", " Real Love" and " It Keeps You Runnin'". McDonald has also performed as a prominent backing vocalist on numerous recordings by artists including Steely Dan, Toto, Christopher Cross, and Kenny Loggins. McDonald's solo career consists of nine studio albums and a number of singles, including the 1982 hit " I Keep Forgettin' (Every Time You're Near)". During his career, McDonald has collaborated with a number of other artists, including James Ingram, David Cassidy, Van Halen, Patti LaBelle, Twinkie Clark, Lee Ritenour, the Win ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Four Tops
The Four Tops are an American vocal group formed in Detroit, Michigan in 1953 as the Four Aims. They were one of the most commercially successful American pop music groups of the 1960s and helped propel Motown Records to international fame. The group's repertoire has incorporated elements of Soul music, soul, R&B, disco, adult contemporary music, adult contemporary, doo-wop, jazz, and show tunes. Lead singer Levi Stubbs, along with backing vocalists Abdul "Duke" Fakir, Renaldo "Obie" Benson and Lawrence Payton remained together in the group for over four decades, performing until 1997 without a change in personnel. Along with fellow Motown groups the Miracles, the Marvelettes, Martha and the Vandellas, the Temptations, and the Supremes, the Four Tops helped to establish the "Motown sound"; pop-friendly soul and R&B with a clean, polished production quality. They were notable for having Stubbs, a baritone, as their lead singer, whereas most other male and mixed vocal groups of the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Warren "Pete" Moore
Warren Thomas "Pete" Moore (November 19, 1938 – November 19, 2017) was an American singer-songwriter and record producer, notable as the bass singer for Motown group the Miracles from 1955 onwards, and was one of the group's original members. He is also a 2012 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee, and a BMI and ASCAP award-winning songwriter, and was the vocal arranger on all of the group's hits. Career Moore was born on November 19, 1938, in Detroit, Michigan. A childhood friend of Miracles lead singer Smokey Robinson, the two met at a musical event given by the Detroit Public School system, where Moore spotted Robinson singing as part of the show. The two became friends and formed a singing group, which eventually became the Miracles. Besides his work in the Miracles, Moore helped Robinson write several hit songs, including The Temptations' " It's Growing" and " Since I Lost My Baby", and two of Marvin Gaye's biggest hits, the Top 10 million sellers, " Ain't That Peculiar" a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Smokey Robinson
William "Smokey" Robinson Jr. (born February 19, 1940) is an American R&B and soul singer, songwriter, record producer, and former record executive. He was the founder and frontman of the pioneering Motown vocal group the Miracles, for which he was also chief songwriter and producer. He led the group from its 1955 origins, when they were called The Five Chimes, until 1972, when he retired from the group to focus on his role as Motown Records vice president. Robinson returned to the music industry as a solo artist the following year. He left Motown in 1999. Robinson was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987 and awarded the 2016 Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for his lifetime contributions to popular music. He is a double Hollywood Walk of Fame Inductee, as a solo artist (1983) and as a member of The Miracles (2009). In 2022, he was inducted into the Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame. Early life and early career William Robinson Jr. was born to an Afric ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Miracles
The Miracles (later known as Smokey Robinson and the Miracles from 1965 to 1972) were an American vocal group formed in Detroit, Michigan in 1955. They were the first successful recording act for Motown Records and are considered one of the most important and most influential groups in the history of Pop music, pop, Soul music, soul, rhythm and blues and rock and roll music. The group's international fame in the 1960s, alongside other Motown acts, led to a greater acceptance of R&B and pop music in the U.S., with the group being considered influential and important in the development of modern popular music. The group was formed as The Five Chimes and changed their name to the Miracles in 1958, by which time their lineup consisted of Smokey Robinson, Claudette Rogers Robinson, Claudette Rogers (later Robinson), Bobby Rogers, Warren "Pete" Moore, Marv Tarplin, and Ronnie White. Referred to as Motown's "soul supergroup", the Miracles recorded more than 50 chart hits, including 26 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Tracks Of My Tears
"The Tracks of My Tears" is a 1965 song originally recorded by the Miracles on Motown Record's Tamla subsidiary label . It was composed by Miracles members Smokey Robinson, Pete Moore, and Marv Tarplin. This million-selling, multiple award-winning R&B hit has been inducted into The Grammy Hall of Fame, has been ranked by the Recording Industry Association of America and The National Endowment for the Arts at 127 in its list of the "Songs of the Century" – the 365 Greatest Songs of the 20th Century, and has been selected by ''Rolling Stone'' as No. 50 on its list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time", among many other awards. In 2021, ''Rolling Stone'' ranked the Miracles' original recording of "The Tracks of My Tears" as "The Greatest Motown Song of All Time". The Miracles original version Background "The Tracks of My Tears" was written by Miracles members Smokey Robinson (lead vocalist), Pete Moore (bass vocalist), and Marv Tarplin (guitarist). In the five-LP publ ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ivy Jo Hunter
George Ivy Hunter (August 28, 1940 – October 6, 2022), known as Ivy Jo Hunter, was an American R&B songwriter, record producer and singer, most associated with his work for Motown in the 1960s. Life and career Raised in Detroit, Michigan, Hunter was trained in orchestral music — primarily trumpet and keyboards. After a stint in the United States Army, Hunter began performing as a singer in the proto-soul venues around Detroit, where he became friends with songwriter Hank Cosby. Cosby introduced him to Motown's first A&R man, William "Mickey" Stevenson. Hunter played keyboards on Motown sessions before Stevenson began working with him as a songwriter. He became a principal in the Motown Records house band, and began to write some of the most significant hits of the early Motown years. Hunter's songs included The Spinners' " Truly Yours" and "Sweet Thing"; The Temptations' " Sorry Is a Sorry Word"; The Isley Brothers' " Behind a Painted Smile" and "My Love Is You ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever
"Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever" is a song written by Ivy Jo Hunter and Stevie Wonder, originally released in 1966 by the Four Tops via the Motown label. In addition to co-writing the song, Wonder also instrumentally contributed drums to the track. ''Cash Box'' described the song as a "hard-pounding, rhythmic, pop-R&B romancer all about a lucky guy who has finally found the gal that he’s always dreamed about." ''Record World'' described it as a "teen beat love ode." Credits * Lead vocals by Levi Stubbs * Background vocals by Abdul "Duke" Fakir, Renaldo "Obie" Benson & Lawrence Payton * Instrumentation by the Funk Brothers * Drums by Stevie Wonder Chart performance The song peaked at number 12 on the ''Billboard'' Hot Rhythm & Blues Singles chart and number 45 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100. Cover versions * Nick Kamen released a version in 1987, where it went to number 16 on the UK Singles Chart. Lola Borg of ''Smash Hits'' panned the song she described as an "out ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Baby I Need Your Loving
"Baby I Need Your Loving" is a 1964 hit single recorded by the Four Tops for the Motown label. Written and produced by Motown's main production team Holland–Dozier–Holland, the song was the group's first Motown single and their first pop Top 20 hit, making it to number 11 on the US ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and number four in Canada in the fall of 1964. It was also their first million-selling hit single. ''Cash Box'' described it as "an intriguing rock-a-cha-cha beat pleader...that he Four Topscarve out with solid sales authority." ''Rolling Stone'' ranked the Four Tops' original version of the song at No. 400 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. In Australia on the "Stateside" Label, "Baby I Need Your Loving" reached #50 on the KMR chart and spent just 6 weeks in the chart which it entered on the 30th January 1964. Personnel * Lead vocals by Levi Stubbs. * Background vocals by Renaldo "Obie" Benson, Lawrence Payton, Abdul "Duke" Fakir, and the Andantes ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Linda Creed
Linda Diane Creed (December 6, 1948 – April 10, 1986), also known by her married name Linda Epstein, was an American songwriter, lyricist, background singer and record producer who teamed up with Thom Bell to produce some of the most successful Philadelphia soul groups of the 1970s. Career Linda Diane Creed was born on December 6, 1948, in the Mount Airy section of Philadelphia to a Jewish family. Creed was active in music at Germantown High School. During her high school years, she was fronting her own band, Raw Soul, which made frequent appearances at the Philadelphia Athletic Club and at Sid Booker's Highline Lounge. After graduation, Creed left Philadelphia for New York, where she became a secretary at Mills Music, Inc. She also utilized the time to develop her skills as a lyricist, but after eight months of little success, and feeling defeated, she returned to her hometown, which later became the inspiration for the song " I'm Coming Home". Her career was launched in ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Thom Bell
Thomas Randolph Bell (January 26, 1943 – December 22, 2022) was an American record producer, arranger, and songwriter known as one of the creators of Philadelphia soul in the 1970s. Hailed as one of the most prolific R&B songwriters and producers ever, Bell found success crafting songs for Delfonics, Stylistics, and Spinners. In June 2006, Bell was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. In 2016, Bell was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum. In 2025, Bell was selected for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in the Musical Excellence Award category. Background Bell was born on January 26, 1943 in Kingston, Jamaica, to Anna and Leroy Bell, and moved to Philadelphia with his parents when he was four, according to an interview Bell had with Terry Gross on NPR's Fresh Air. Both of Bell's parents were from Jamaica. Thomas Bedward Burke, Bell's maternal grandfather, was born in Kingston.His father was a botanist, and his mother a secretary. ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Stylistics
The Stylistics are an American Philadelphia soul group that achieved their greatest chart success in the 1970s. They formed in 1968, with a lineup of singers Russell Thompkins Jr., Herb Murrell, Airrion Love, James Smith, and James Dunn. All of their U.S. hits were ballads characterized by the falsetto of Russell Thompkins Jr. and the production of Thom Bell. During the early 1970s, the group had twelve consecutive R&B top ten hits including " Stop, Look, Listen", " You Are Everything", " Betcha by Golly, Wow", " I'm Stone in Love with You", " Break Up to Make Up" and " You Make Me Feel Brand New". They had five gold singles and three gold albums. Career Early years The Stylistics were created from two Philadelphia groups, the Percussions and the Monarchs. The two bands attended the same high school. The Stylistics was first conceived when Airrion Love's English teacher, Beverly Hamilton, suggested the two bands merge. Russell Thompkins Jr., James Smith, and Airrion Love ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
