Michael Lovesmith (born Michael Larry Smith, 1953) is an American R&B singer, songwriter, musician, record producer and executive. He has sometimes been credited as Michael L. Smith.

Life and career

Born in

St Louis, Missouri St. Louis () is the second-largest city in Missouri, United States. It sits near the confluence of the Mississippi and the Missouri Rivers. In 2020, the city proper had a population of 301,578, while the bi-state metropolitan area, which ...

, he wrote songs for

Isaac Hayes Isaac Lee Hayes Jr. (August 20, 1942 – August 10, 2008) was an American singer, actor, songwriter, and composer. He was one of the creative forces behind the Southern soul music label Stax Records, where he served both as an in-house songwri ...

and the

Isley Brothers Isley is an English surname. The name can also be used as an anglicized variant for the German surnames Eisele and Eisler. Notable people with the surname include: *The Isley Brothers, American musical group **Ernie Isley (born 1952), American mus ...

, and formed a group with his brothers Danny and Louis Smith, the Smith Connection. They moved to

Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...

, where they recorded for the Music Merchant label set up by Holland, Dozier and Holland as an offshoot of

Invictus Records Invictus Records was an American record label based in Detroit, Michigan. It was created by former top Motown producers Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier and Edward Holland, Jr. (known collectively as Holland–Dozier–Holland). It was the sister l ...

. They recorded the album ''Under My Wings'' (1972), and had a number 28 R&B hit in 1973 with "(I've Been a Winner, I've Been a Loser) I've Been in Love". Biography by Ed Hogan, ''Allmusic''
Retrieved 11 August 2022
Retrieved 11 August 2022 Using the name Michael Lovesmith for some credits, he also began working on record production with the vocal trio

Honey Cone Honey Cone was an American R&B and soul girl group formed by lead singer Edna Wright (sister of Darlene Love) with Carolyn Willis and Shelly Clark in 1968. They are best remembered for their number-one ''Billboard'' Hot 100 single, "Want Ads" ...

. He was signed by

Motown Motown Records is an American record label owned by the Universal Music Group. It was founded by Berry Gordy Jr. as Tamla Records on June 7, 1958, and incorporated as Motown Record Corporation on April 14, 1960. Its name, a portmanteau of ''moto ...

as a songwriter, and with

Brian Holland Brian Holland (born February 15, 1941) is an American songwriter and record producer, best known as a member of Holland–Dozier–Holland, the songwriting and production team that was responsible for much of the Motown sound, and numerous hit ...

co-wrote "

All I Do Is Think of You "All I Do Is Think of You" is a song released by the Jackson 5 on the Motown label in 1975. It was initially released as the B-side to the group's single "Forever Came Today" before being released as an A-side single months later. The song is the ...

" for the

Jackson 5 The Jackson 5 (sometimes stylized as the Jackson 5ive, also known as the Jacksons) are an American pop band composed of members of the Jackson family. The group was founded in 1964 in Gary, Indiana, and for most o ...

. The recording reached number 50 on the

R&B chart The Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart ranks the most popular R&B and hip hop songs in the United States and is published weekly by ''Billboard''. Rankings are based on a measure of radio airplay, sales data, and streaming activity. The chart had 100 p ...

in 1975. The song was revived in 1990 by the band

Troop A troop is a military sub-subunit, originally a small formation of cavalry, subordinate to a squadron. In many armies a troop is the equivalent element to the infantry section or platoon. Exceptions are the US Cavalry and the King's Troop Ro ...

, and reached number one on the R&B chart. Lovesmith also worked as a writer, arranger and co-producer of

Jermaine Jackson Jermaine La Jaune Jackson (born December 11, 1954) is an American singer-songwriter and bassist. He is best known for being a member of the Jackson family. From 1964 to 1975, Jermaine was second vocalist after his brother Michael of The Jackson ...

's 1976 album ''

My Name Is Jermaine ''My Name Is Jermaine'' is the third solo album from Jermaine Jackson and the first post-Jackson 5 album from him. It was released in 1976. The single released from this album was "Let's Be Young Tonight" which went to No. #19 on the Black Sin ...

'', and co-wrote the album's most successful single, "Let's Be Young Tonight", which reached number 19 on the R&B chart. He co-wrote and produced the title track of

Thelma Houston Thelma Houston ( Jackson; born May 7, 1946) Retrieved . is an American singer. Beginning her recording career in the late 1960s, Houston scored a number-one hit record in 1977 with her recording of "Don't Leave Me This Way", which won the Grammy ...

's 1976 album, ''Any Way You Like It'', and, in 1977, wrote and produced the album ''Rich Love, Poor Love'' by

Syreeta Syreeta Wright (February 28, 1946 – July 6, 2004), who recorded professionally under the single name Syreeta, was an American singer-songwriter, best known for her music during the early 1970s through the early 1980s. Wright's career heights we ...

and

G.C. Cameron George Curtis Cameron is an American soul and R&B singer who is currently married to singer Linda Dixon Cameron a.k.a. “Lady L.”. Perhaps best known as the lead singer of The Spinners on their 1970 hit " It's a Shame" and for his 1975 hi ...

. He also featured as a singer on the 1981 album by

Ozone Ozone (), or trioxygen, is an inorganic molecule with the chemical formula . It is a pale blue gas with a distinctively pungent smell. It is an allotrope of oxygen that is much less stable than the diatomic allotrope , breaking down in the lo ...

, ''Jump On It''. In 1981, with his brothers Danny, Louis and Aaron Smith, he recorded the album ''Lovesmith'', released by Motown and executive produced by Jermaine Jackson. He then recorded as a solo artist, releasing the albums ''I Can Make It Happen'' (1983), ''Diamond in the Raw'' (1984), and ''Rhymes of Passion'' (1985). Two singles reached the lower reaches of the R&B charts: "Baby I Will" (#80, 1983) and "Break the Ice" (#82, 1985). Lovesmith also sang background vocals on

Luther Vandross Luther Ronzoni Vandross Jr. (April 20, 1951 – July 1, 2005) was an American singer, songwriter, and record producer. Known for his sweet and soulful vocals, Vandross has sold over 40 million records worldwide. He achieved eleven consecutive P ...

' 1990 album '' Any Love'', and wrote and produced the 1995 debut albums by Motown groups Mind, Heart & Soul, and Harem. In the 1990s, Lovesmith moved into management as an executive at

Jobete Music Motown Records is an American record label owned by the Universal Music Group. It was founded by Berry Gordy Jr. as Tamla Records on June 7, 1958, and incorporated as Motown Record Corporation on April 14, 1960. Its name, a portmanteau of ''moto ...

. He later became President of West Grand Media Inc., which manages many of Motown's assets. He was also executive producer of the traveling show '' Motown: The Musical''. Carmel Thomason, "Michael Lovesmith and Charles Randolph-Wright on creating Motown The Musical", ''Quays Life'', 10 September 2018
Retrieved 11 August 2022

Discography

Albums

The Smith Connection *''Under My Wings'' (1972) Lovesmith *''Lovesmith'' (1981) Michael Lovesmith *''I Can Make It Happen'' (1983) *''Diamond in the Raw'' (1984) *''Rhymes of Passion'' (1985)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Lovesmith, Michael 1953 births Living people African-American record producers African-American songwriters American male singer-songwriters American music industry executives Motown artists