Cornelius Grant
Encyclopedia
Cornelius Grant was born April 27, 1943 in Fairfield, Texas, a small town 80 miles south of Dallas. Raised by his grandmother, who he adored, he taught himself how to play guitar at the age of nine. When he was 13, his family moved to Detroit.
At 15, he was playing in clubs, bars, talent shows, and other functions. Within three years he was playing with Mary Wells
, then Marvin Gaye
before The Temptations
snatched him up. Grant used a Gibson Birdland and a Fender Telecaster
. He created the opening guitar riff on "I Know I'm Losing You".
He wrote the hit song with Eddie Holland and Norman Whitfield
. He also wrote "You're My Everything" with the late Roger Penzabene
and Norman Whitfield. Penzabene, a close friend of Grant's, wrote "I Wish It Would Rain
" and "I Could Never Love Another".
Grant also wrote "Take Me in Your Arms and Love Me" and "Ain't No Sun (Since You Been Gone)" (performed by Gladys Knight & the Pips
); "You Got to Earn It"
, and "I Got to Find a Way to Win You Back" (performed by the Temptations); and "My Weakness Is You" and "I Want My Baby Back" (performed by Edwin Starr
); Grant also co-wrote "I'm More Than Happy (I'm Satisfied)" for Stevie Wonder
, and "Love and Affection" for Marvin Gaye.
With the Temptations he had a chance to play to fans in the Pacific, the Caribbean, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. They were guests at the White House courtesy of President Richard Nixon
. Grant also met Martin Luther King, Tricia Nixon Eisenhower, Jesse Jackson
, Elton John
, and The Beatles
, and appeared on many television shows. He served as the musical director, guitar player, and arranger for the Temptations from 1964 until 1982. Grant played on select Motown studio sessions' with the Funk Brothers from 1964 to 1970, including Gladys Knight & the Pips "I Heard It Through the Grapevine
". As a rule, Grant played on all the sessions that featured songs he wrote or co-wrote, except one, "You Got to Earn It"
, which Smokey Robinson
cut while Grant was on the road with the Temptations.
In 1983 Grant began writing for the The Hollywood Reporter
and contributed extensively to BRE Magazine as a columnist. A current project, "Flashbacks and Newtraks” is a radio show featuring interviews, entertainment news, oldies music, and many points of view by him and his co-host Sylkie Green. When Grant gives lectures, he sometimes shares the podium with Motown insiders such as Don Foster
(former Supremes and Temptations manager) and TV writer/Motown historian, Ruth Adkins Robinson.
Grant launched a magazine, a line of cigars, some Temptation memorabilia, and music that can be purchased on his company’s website, and his non-profit organization called Starz of Tomorrow. His aim for this organization is to showcase new solo artists, group artists, choreographers, writers, directors, sound engineers, and those working behind the scenes. He wishes to give them an opportunity of a lifetime because he remembers what it was like being a young aspiring artist. Starz of Tomorrow is making room for everyone to have their chance at being a star.
At 15, he was playing in clubs, bars, talent shows, and other functions. Within three years he was playing with Mary Wells
Mary Wells
Mary Esther Wells was an American singer who helped to define the emerging sound of Motown in the early 1960s...
, then Marvin Gaye
Marvin Gaye
Marvin Pentz Gay, Jr. , better known by his stage name Marvin Gaye, was an American singer-songwriter and musician with a three-octave vocal range....
before The Temptations
The Temptations
The Temptations is an American vocal group having achieved fame as one of the most successful acts to record for Motown Records. The group's repertoire has included, at various times during its five-decade career, R&B, doo-wop, funk, disco, soul, and adult contemporary music.Formed in Detroit,...
snatched him up. Grant used a Gibson Birdland and a Fender Telecaster
Fender Telecaster
The Fender Telecaster, colloquially known as the Tele , is typically a dual-pickup, solid-body electric guitar made by Fender.Its simple yet effective design and revolutionary sound broke ground and set trends in electric guitar manufacturing and popular music...
. He created the opening guitar riff on "I Know I'm Losing You".
(I Know) I'm Losing You
" I'm Losing You" is a 1966 hit single recorded by The Temptations for the Gordy label and produced by Norman Whitfield.- History :...
He wrote the hit song with Eddie Holland and Norman Whitfield
Norman Whitfield
Norman Jesse Whitfield was an American songwriter and producer, best known for his work with Berry Gordy's Motown label during the 1960s...
. He also wrote "You're My Everything" with the late Roger Penzabene
Roger Penzabene
Roger Penzabene was a songwriter for the Motown label. Among his most notable compositions are "The End of Our Road" by Gladys Knight & the Pips and Marvin Gaye, and a trilogy of hits for the Temptations: "You're My Everything", "I Wish It Would Rain", and "I Could Never Love Another ".The...
and Norman Whitfield. Penzabene, a close friend of Grant's, wrote "I Wish It Would Rain
I Wish It Would Rain
"I Wish It Would Rain" is a 1967 song recorded by the Temptations for the Motown label and produced by Norman Whitfield.-Background:...
" and "I Could Never Love Another".
I Could Never Love Another (After Loving You)
"I Could Never Love Another " is a single recorded by The Temptations and released on Motown Records' Gordy label during the spring of 1968...
Grant also wrote "Take Me in Your Arms and Love Me" and "Ain't No Sun (Since You Been Gone)" (performed by Gladys Knight & the Pips
Gladys Knight & the Pips
Gladys Knight & The Pips were an R&B/soul family musical act from Atlanta, Georgia, active from 1953 to 1989. The group was best known for their string of hit singles on Motown's "Soul" record label and Buddah Records from 1967 to 1975, including "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" and "Midnight...
); "You Got to Earn It"
You've Got to Earn It
"You've Got to Earn It" is a 1964 song recorded by The Temptations for the Gordy label. It was released as the B-side to their 1965 Top 40 hit "Since I Lost My Baby", and was also able to chart on its own, peaking at number 23 on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Pop Charts. On Billboards R&B...
, and "I Got to Find a Way to Win You Back" (performed by the Temptations); and "My Weakness Is You" and "I Want My Baby Back" (performed by Edwin Starr
Edwin Starr
Edwin Starr was an American soul music singer. Starr is most famous for his Norman Whitfield produced singles of the 1970s, most notably the number one hit "War".-Biography:...
); Grant also co-wrote "I'm More Than Happy (I'm Satisfied)" for Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
, and "Love and Affection" for Marvin Gaye.
With the Temptations he had a chance to play to fans in the Pacific, the Caribbean, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. They were guests at the White House courtesy of President Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
. Grant also met Martin Luther King, Tricia Nixon Eisenhower, Jesse Jackson
Jesse Jackson
Jesse Louis Jackson, Sr. is an African-American civil rights activist and Baptist minister. He was a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1984 and 1988 and served as shadow senator for the District of Columbia from 1991 to 1997. He was the founder of both entities that merged to...
, Elton John
Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
, and The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
, and appeared on many television shows. He served as the musical director, guitar player, and arranger for the Temptations from 1964 until 1982. Grant played on select Motown studio sessions' with the Funk Brothers from 1964 to 1970, including Gladys Knight & the Pips "I Heard It Through the Grapevine
I Heard It through the Grapevine
"I Heard It Through the Grapevine" is a landmark song in the history of Motown. Written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong in 1966, the single was first recorded by Smokey Robinson & the Miracles...
". As a rule, Grant played on all the sessions that featured songs he wrote or co-wrote, except one, "You Got to Earn It"
You've Got to Earn It
"You've Got to Earn It" is a 1964 song recorded by The Temptations for the Gordy label. It was released as the B-side to their 1965 Top 40 hit "Since I Lost My Baby", and was also able to chart on its own, peaking at number 23 on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Pop Charts. On Billboards R&B...
, which Smokey Robinson
Smokey Robinson
William "Smokey" Robinson, Jr. is an American R&B singer-songwriter, record producer, and former record executive. Robinson is one of the primary figures associated with Motown, second only to the company's founder, Berry Gordy...
cut while Grant was on the road with the Temptations.
In 1983 Grant began writing for the The Hollywood Reporter
The Hollywood Reporter
Formerly a daily trade magazine, The Hollywood Reporter re-launched in late 2010 as a unique hybrid publication serving the entertainment industry and a consumer audience...
and contributed extensively to BRE Magazine as a columnist. A current project, "Flashbacks and Newtraks” is a radio show featuring interviews, entertainment news, oldies music, and many points of view by him and his co-host Sylkie Green. When Grant gives lectures, he sometimes shares the podium with Motown insiders such as Don Foster
Don Foster
Donald Michael Ellison Foster is a British Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament, representing Bath in southwest England.-Early life:...
(former Supremes and Temptations manager) and TV writer/Motown historian, Ruth Adkins Robinson.
Grant launched a magazine, a line of cigars, some Temptation memorabilia, and music that can be purchased on his company’s website, and his non-profit organization called Starz of Tomorrow. His aim for this organization is to showcase new solo artists, group artists, choreographers, writers, directors, sound engineers, and those working behind the scenes. He wishes to give them an opportunity of a lifetime because he remembers what it was like being a young aspiring artist. Starz of Tomorrow is making room for everyone to have their chance at being a star.