Lamont Dozier (born June 16, 1941) is an
AmericanThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
songwriterA songwriter is someone who writes the lyrics, as well as the musical composition or melody to songs. One who writes only lyrics is a lyricist, while one who writes only music is a composer.-History and background of songwriters:...
and
record producerIn the music industry, a record producer has many roles, among them controlling the recording sessions, coaching and guiding the musicians, organizing and scheduling production budget and resources, and supervising the recording, mixing and mastering processes...
. He was born in
DetroitDetroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the seat of Wayne County. Detroit is a major port city on the Detroit River, in the Midwest region of the United States. Located north of Windsor, Ontario, Detroit is the only major U.S. city that looks south to Canada. It was founded...
,
MichiganMichigan is a Midwestern state of the United States of America. It was named after Lake Michigan, whose name is a French adaptation of the Ojibwe term mishigama, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
.
Dozier is best known as a member of
Holland-Dozier-HollandHolland–Dozier–Holland is a songwriting and production team made up of Lamont Dozier and brothers Brian Holland and Edward Holland, Jr.. They are considered to be one of the greatest songwriting teams in popular music. The trio wrote and arranged many of the songs making up the Motown...
, the songwriting and
productionIn the music industry, a record producer has many roles, among them controlling the recording sessions, coaching and guiding the musicians, organizing and scheduling production budget and resources, and supervising the recording, mixing and mastering processes...
team that was responsible for much of the Motown sound and numerous hit records by artists such as Martha & the Vandellas,
The SupremesThe Supremes, an American female singing group, were the premier act of Motown Records during the 1960s.Originally founded as The Primettes in Detroit, Michigan, in 1959, The Supremes' repertoire included doo-wop, pop, soul, Broadway show tunes, psychedelic soul, and disco...
, The Four Tops, and
The Isley BrothersThe Isley Brothers are an African-American R&B, soul music and Funk group. They are one of the few groups to have long-running success on the Billboard charts placing a charted single in every decade since 1959 and as of 2006 were still charting successful albums performing under a repertoire of...
. Along with
Brian HollandThis article is about the African American songwriter and record producer. For the Bryan Holland who is best known as the lead singer/guitarist of the American band The Offspring, see Dexter Holland....
, Dozier served as the team's musical arranger and producer. After H-D-H left Motown in 1967 to form the
InvictusInvictus Records was a record label created by Eddie Holland, Lamont Dozier and Brian Holland . Until 1967 H-D-H were the top composer/ producer team for Motown Records, but for better control and greater rewards they launched Invictus along with Hot Wax Records in 1968...
/
Hot WaxHot Wax Records was a Detroit, Michigan-based record label, created by producers/songwriters Holland-Dozier-Holland in 1968 when they left Motown Records. Hot Wax Records recorded female vocal groups such as The Honey Cone, as well as soul singers like Freda Payne and the blue-eyed soul band The...
labels, Dozier began recording as an artist on their labels.
Lamont Dozier (born June 16, 1941) is an
AmericanThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
songwriterA songwriter is someone who writes the lyrics, as well as the musical composition or melody to songs. One who writes only lyrics is a lyricist, while one who writes only music is a composer.-History and background of songwriters:...
and
record producerIn the music industry, a record producer has many roles, among them controlling the recording sessions, coaching and guiding the musicians, organizing and scheduling production budget and resources, and supervising the recording, mixing and mastering processes...
. He was born in
DetroitDetroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the seat of Wayne County. Detroit is a major port city on the Detroit River, in the Midwest region of the United States. Located north of Windsor, Ontario, Detroit is the only major U.S. city that looks south to Canada. It was founded...
,
MichiganMichigan is a Midwestern state of the United States of America. It was named after Lake Michigan, whose name is a French adaptation of the Ojibwe term mishigama, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
.
Career
Dozier is best known as a member of
Holland-Dozier-HollandHolland–Dozier–Holland is a songwriting and production team made up of Lamont Dozier and brothers Brian Holland and Edward Holland, Jr.. They are considered to be one of the greatest songwriting teams in popular music. The trio wrote and arranged many of the songs making up the Motown...
, the songwriting and
productionIn the music industry, a record producer has many roles, among them controlling the recording sessions, coaching and guiding the musicians, organizing and scheduling production budget and resources, and supervising the recording, mixing and mastering processes...
team that was responsible for much of the Motown sound and numerous hit records by artists such as Martha & the Vandellas,
The SupremesThe Supremes, an American female singing group, were the premier act of Motown Records during the 1960s.Originally founded as The Primettes in Detroit, Michigan, in 1959, The Supremes' repertoire included doo-wop, pop, soul, Broadway show tunes, psychedelic soul, and disco...
, The Four Tops, and
The Isley BrothersThe Isley Brothers are an African-American R&B, soul music and Funk group. They are one of the few groups to have long-running success on the Billboard charts placing a charted single in every decade since 1959 and as of 2006 were still charting successful albums performing under a repertoire of...
. Along with
Brian HollandThis article is about the African American songwriter and record producer. For the Bryan Holland who is best known as the lead singer/guitarist of the American band The Offspring, see Dexter Holland....
, Dozier served as the team's musical arranger and producer. After H-D-H left Motown in 1967 to form the
InvictusInvictus Records was a record label created by Eddie Holland, Lamont Dozier and Brian Holland . Until 1967 H-D-H were the top composer/ producer team for Motown Records, but for better control and greater rewards they launched Invictus along with Hot Wax Records in 1968...
/
Hot WaxHot Wax Records was a Detroit, Michigan-based record label, created by producers/songwriters Holland-Dozier-Holland in 1968 when they left Motown Records. Hot Wax Records recorded female vocal groups such as The Honey Cone, as well as soul singers like Freda Payne and the blue-eyed soul band The...
labels, Dozier began recording as an artist on their labels. Dozier departed from H-D-H in the mid-1970s, and was replaced by new arranger/producer Harold Beatty.
Dozier had another #1 hit as a songwriter in the 1980s, combining with
Phil CollinsPhilip David Charles "Phil" Collins LVO is an Academy Award-winning English singer-songwriter, drummer, keyboardist and actor best known as a drummer and vocalist for English progressive rock group Genesis and as a solo artist....
to write the song "Two Hearts" from the movie soundtrack for
BusterBuster is the name of a 1988 comedy-drama film starring musician Phil Collins, Julie Walters, Larry Lamb and Sheila Hancock. The soundtrack featured two Phil Collins' singles which eventually topped the Billboard 100 singles chart.- Plot :...
. "Two Hearts" was nominated for an Oscar for Best Song. Collins and Dozier also co-wrote "Loco in
AcapulcoAcapulco is a city, and major sea port in the state of Guerrero on the Pacific coast of Mexico, southwest from Mexico City. Acapulco is located on a deep, semi-circular bay. It is a port of call for shipping and cruising lines running between Panama and San Francisco, California, United States...
" for The Four Tops, which is also featured on the
Buster soundtrack.
Also, in 1984,
EssexEssex is a county in the East of England region of the United Kingdom. The county town of Essex is Chelmsford.-History:In pre-Roman Britain the territories of Suffolk and Essex were home to the Trinovantes tribe, which had grown wealthy through intensive trade with the Roman Empire, contemporary...
-born singer
Alison MoyetAlison Moyet , is an English pop singer-songwriter noted for her bluesy voice.-Early life:...
scored a US top 40 hit with the Dozier-penned "Invisible". In 1987, Dozier co-penned "Infidelity" with
Simply RedSimply Red are a British soul band that sold more than 50 million albums over a 25-year career. Their style draws influences from blue-eyed soul, new romantic, rock, and jazz.- History :...
frontman
Mick HucknallMichael Hucknall is a British singer and songwriter. He is the lead singer of the British band Simply Red, and is recognisable for his smooth, distinctive voice and wide vocal range, as well as his trademark fiery red curly hair....
for the band's second album
Men and WomenMen and Women is the second album released by Simply Red in 1987. It peaked at #31 on the Billboard Hot 100.-Track listing:# "The Right Thing" - 4:19# "Infidelity" - 4:09# "Suffer" - 4:55# "I Won't Feel Bad" - 4:14...
. The song reached number 13 on the UK charts.
In addition to his work as a songwriter and producer, Dozier has recorded a number of albums as a performer in his own right.
Peddlin' Music On The Side (ABC Records, 1976) contained the epic "Going Back To My Roots", which was later recorded by
OdysseyOdyssey was a New York based dance music band. It grew out of the talent of the Virgin Islands born Lopez sisters: Lillian Lopez , Louise Lopez , and Carmen Lopez who later dropped out of the group.-Career:...
. "Black Bach" featured the country-flavored "All Cried Out." In 1981, Lamont scored a Beach Music hit with "Cool Me Out." He had his biggest hit with 1974's "Trying To Hold On To My Woman", which reached number 15 on the U.S. charts.
Throughout his recording career, Dozier has largely avoided the temptation to return to his catalog of Motown hits, preferring instead to record new material. In 2004, however, Dozier recorded several of his hits as part of the album
Reflections Of... Dozier's new arrangements frequently provide an interesting counterpoint to the upbeat pop sound of the 1960s originals. According to britishhitsongwriters.com he is the eighth most successful songwriter in U.K. chart history based on weeks that his compositions have spent on the chart.
He, along with the Holland brothers, were inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 1990.
In 2009, he worked on the music for the musical stage version of the movie "First Wives Club." He is also teaching a course of popular music at the
University of Southern CaliforniaThe University of Southern California is a private, nonsectarian, research university located in the University Park neighborhood in Los Angeles, California, USA...
Thornton School of MusicThe University of Southern California Thornton School of Music, founded in 1884 and dedicated in 1999, is one of the premier music schools in the United States...
.
Personal life
Lamont is married to Barbara Dozier, and they have three children: two sons, Beau Alexandre (born November 26, 1979) (known for his relationship with
Joss StoneJoss Stone is an English soul and R&B singer–songwriter and actress. Stone emerged to fame in late 2003 with her multi-platinum debut album, The Soul Sessions, which made the 2004 Mercury Prize shortlist...
and for his work for artists such as
Tiffany EvansTiffany Evans is an American actress, singer, songwriter, and dancer. She rose to fame after her win on "Star Search" and on the release of her debut single "Promise Ring" featuring Ciara.-Biography:...
) and Paris Ray (born September 12, 1984), and a daughter, Desiree Starr (born August 1, 1988).
He also has a son by the name of Andre Lamont Dozier. He attended Cranbrook High School and lived in Detroit on Minden street, with his mother Hattie Williams.
He is a cousin of John Witherspoon.
According to an interview he gave on television, he has Cherokee ancestry.
Singles discography
The following singles featured Lamont Dozier as a
performer
As a member of The Romeos
:
- “Gone, Gone, Get Away” (1957); Fox 749
- “Moments To Remember You By” (1957); Fox 846
As a member of The Voice Masters
:
- “Hope And Pray” (1959); Anna 101
- “Needed” (1959); Anna 102
- “In Love In Vain” (1960); Frisco 15235
As a member of Ty Hunter and The Voice Masters
:
- “Orphan Boy” (1960); Anna 1114
- “Free” (1960); Anna 1123
As Lamont Anthony
:
- “Popeye (The Sailor Man)” (1961) withdrawn, and replaced by "Benny The Skinny Man" (same backing track, new vocal); Anna 1125
- “Benny The Skinny Man” (1961); Anna 1125
- “Just To Be Loved” (1961); Checkmate 1001
As Lamont Dozier
:
- “Dearest One” (1962); Mel-o-dy 102
As a member of Holland-Dozier (Lamont Dozier and
Brian HollandThis article is about the African American songwriter and record producer. For the Bryan Holland who is best known as the lead singer/guitarist of the American band The Offspring, see Dexter Holland....
):
- “What Goes Up Must Come Down” (1963); Motown 1045
- “Don't Leave Me” (1972); Invictus 9110
- “Why Can't We Be Lovers” (1972); Invictus 9125
- “Don't Leave Me Starvin' For Your Love” (1972); Invictus 9133
- “Slipping Away” (1973); Invictus 1253
- “If You Don't Wanta Be In My Life” (1973); Invictus 1254
- “You Took Me From A World Outside” (1973); Invictus 1258
As Lamont Dozier:
- “Trying To Hold On To My Woman” (1973); ABC 11407
- “Fish Ain't Bitin'” (1974); ABC 11438
- “Let Me Start Tonite” (1974); ABC 12044
- “All Cried Out” (1975); ABC 12076
- “Out Here On My Own” (1976); ABC 12234
- “Sight For Sore Eyes” (1977); Warner Brothers 8432
- “Boogie Business” (1979); Warner Brothers 8792
- “Cool Me Out” (1981); Columbia 02035
- “Too Little Too Long” (1981); Columbia 02238
- “Shout About It” (1982); M & M 502
- “Inside Seduction” (1991); Atlantic / Wea
Album discography
- “Out Here on My Own” (1973); ABC 804
- “Black Bach” (1974); ABC 839
- “Love & Beauty” (1975); Invictus 33134
- “Right There” (1976); WB 2929
- “Peddling Music on the Side” (1977); WB 3039
- “Bittersweet” (1979); WB 3282
- “Working on You” (1981); Columbia 37129
- “Lamont” (1981); M&M 104
- “Bigger Than Life” (1983); UK Demon FIEND12
- “Inside Seduction” (1991); Atlantic 82228
- “Reflections of Lamont Dozier” (2004); Jam Right/Zebra 54633