Richard T. Morris is an American songwriter and record producer, best known for his work with

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

in the 1960s.

Career

In early 1960 Morris,

Janie Bradford Janie Bradford (born June 2, 1939 in Charleston, Missouri, United States) is an American songwriter, most known for her tenure with Motown. With Berry Gordy, she co-wrote "Money (That's What I Want)", originally recorded by Barrett Strong, and t ...

and Robert Bateman heard The Primettes audition for Motown Records. Label owner

Berry Gordy Jr. Berry Gordy III (born November 28, 1929), known professionally as Berry Gordy Jr., is a retired American record executive, record producer, songwriter, film producer and television producer. He is best known as the founder of the Motown record l ...

declined to sign the group at that time, and Morris approached them with an offer to record them on another label. He wrote and produced their first single "

Tears of Sorrow "Tears of Sorrow" is the first single by The Primettes, later known as The Supremes, released in 1960. This was their first and only single from Lu Pine Records. "Tears of Sorrow," along with the Mary Wilson-led "Pretty Baby", are the only know ...

" on Lu-Pine Records. The Primettes signed to Motown in 1961 and became

The Supremes The Supremes were an American girl group and a premier act of Motown Records during the 1960s. Founded as the Primettes in Detroit, Michigan, in 1959, the Supremes were the most commercially successful of Motown's acts and the most successful ...

, Motown's most commercially successful act. Morris produced and wrote for acts including

Edwin Starr Charles Edwin Hatcher (January 21, 1942 – April 2, 2003), known by his stage name Edwin Starr, was an American singer and songwriter. Starr was famous for his Norman Whitfield-produced Motown singles of the 1970s, most notably the number-on ...

, and

Martha & the Vandellas Martha and the Vandellas (known from 1967 to 1972 as Martha Reeves & The Vandellas) were an American vocal girl group formed in Detroit in 1957. The group achieved fame in the 1960s with Motown. An act founded by friends Annette Beard, Rosalind ...

, sometimes collaborating with songwriter Sylvia Moy. His songs were also recorded by The Originals,

Smokey Robinson & the Miracles The Miracles (also known as Smokey Robinson and the Miracles from 1965 to 1972) were an American vocal group that was the first successful recording act for Berry Gordy's Motown Records, and one of the most important and most influential groups ...

The Marvelettes The Marvelettes were an American girl group that achieved popularity in the early to mid-1960s. They consisted of schoolmates Gladys Horton, Katherine Anderson, Georgeanna Tillman, Juanita Cowart (now Cowart Motley), and Georgia Dobbins, who wa ...

Stevie Wonder Stevland Hardaway Morris ( Judkins; May 13, 1950), known professionally as Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, who is credited as a pioneer and influence by musicians across a range of genres that include rhythm and blues, Pop musi ...

and others. In 1995, Morris sued Berry Gordy Jr. and Motown for unpaid royalties.Atwood, Brett. "Producer/Songster Morris Files Suit Against Motown". Billboard Magazine. pp. 11. 29 April 1995.

Selective discography

Singles

Albums

References

Date of birth unknown American male songwriters American record producers {{songwriter-stub