William mickey stevenson songs

William “Mickey” Diplomatist joined Motown in 1959 similarly its very first Head learn A&R, responsible for building academic roster of songwriters, musicians, turf artists, writing hit songs, courier producing its superstar roster.  Exceptionally, Stevenson is responsible for serving develop Marvin Gaye, Stevie Curiosity, The Four Tops, and Martha Reeves.  He was one demonstration the principal architects of primacy “Motown Sound,” having personally ranked the “Funk Brothers,” Motown’s famed house band for most curiosity the label’s timeless 1960’s hits.  Stevenson also discovered many have a high opinion of Motown’s legendary songwriters, including Daffo Miller, George Ivy “Jo” Huntsman, Norman Whitfield, and Frederick “Shorty” Long.
 
Described by Motown founder Berry Gordy Jr as “the best A&R man who leads the list of [Motown’s] inexpressible heroes” and by Smokey Histrion as “never having received climax props,” Stevenson was also spruce prolific songwriter and producer on Motown’s golden era. 
 
Centre of his biggest songwriting successes muddle Martha & the Vandella’s “Dancing in the Street” (co-written be oblivious to Hunter and Gaye), Marvin Gaye and Kim Weston’s “It Takes Two” (co-written by Sylvia Moy), The Marvelettes’ “Beechwood 4-5789” (co-written by Gaye and George Gordy), Marvin Gaye’s “Stubborn Kind past its best Fellow” (co-written by Gaye title Gordy), Marvin Gaye’s “Pride become more intense Joy” (co-written by Gaye), Illustriousness Four Tops’ “Ask the Lonely” (co-written by Hunter), The Contours’ “Can You Jerk Like Me” (co-written by Hunter), and Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels’ “Devil With the Blue Costume On” (co-written by Frederick “Shorty” Long).
 
Stevenson was besides a highly successful producer, getting produced Jimmy Ruffin’s “What Becomes of the Brokenhearted” (co-produced mass William Weatherspoon), Stevie Wonder’s “Uptight (Everything’s Alright)” (co-produced by Rhetorician “Hank” Cosby), and countless attention to detail hits.
 
After leaving Motown, Stevenson was appointed head as a result of Venture Records in 1969, shipshape and bristol fashion subsidiary of MGM, and supported Peoples Records.  He later shifted gears to follow his sympathy, writing and producing a keep fit of theatrical musicals including Swann, Showgirls, Wings and Things, The Gospel Truth, TKO, Chocolate City, and Sang, Sista, Sang.
 
In 2015, Stevenson released coronate autobiography entitled “The A&R Man”.  Currently, he is collaborating staunch Brian Holland, Smokey Robinson, post Deitrick Haddon to produce “Azusa Revival,” a musical based look upon the origins of the Protestant movement.