Lamont Herbert Dozier (/ləˈmɒntˈdoʊʒər/;[4] June 16, 1941 – August 8, 2022) was an American singer, songwriter, and record producer from Detroit.[5] He co-wrote and produced 14 US Billboardnumber-one hits and four number ones in the UK.
Dozier recorded a few unsuccessful records for various Detroit labels before the trio started working together as a writing and production team for Motown in 1962.[5] They first made their mark the following year with Martha and The Vandellas' early hits, including "Come and Get These Memories" (number 6 R&B), "Heatwave" (number 1 R&B, number 4 pop), and "Quicksand" (number 8 pop).[citation needed]
In 1964, "Where Did Our Love Go" became the first of ten number 1 pop hits which Holland–Dozier–Holland would write and produce for the Supremes over the next three years or so. After Holland–Dozier–Holland left Motown in 1968 to form the Invictus and Hot Wax labels, Dozier began recording as an artist on their labels.[5] The most successful song was "Why Can't We Be Lovers" (number 9 Billboard R&B).[5] Dozier departed from Holland–Dozier–Holland in 1973,[5] and was replaced by new arranger-producer Harold Beatty.[citation needed]
Performer
Dozier went on to record a number of albums as a performer in his own right, also writing much of the material. The 1977 album, Peddlin' Music on the Side (Warner Bros. Records) contained "Going Back to My Roots", which was later recorded by Odyssey.[5] The earlier Black Bach (ABC Records) featured the single "Fish Ain't Bitin'" (#4 R&B, No. 26 pop).[6]
He had his biggest hit with 1974's "Trying to Hold on to My Woman" (ABC),[5] which reached No. 15 on the pop chart and No. 4 on the R&B chart. For the second season of the TV sitcom That's My Mama (ABC, 1975), Dozier wrote and sang the theme song, replacing the first season's instrumental only theme music. In 1981, he scored a beach music hit with "Cool Me Out" and also in that year released the single "Shout About It" from his LP Lamont. This track had considerable airplay on UK soul radio stations as well as being promoted by UK DJ Robbie Vincent in the early 1980s to a British audience.[citation needed]
In 1984, Essex, England-born singer Alison Moyet scored a U.S. top-40 hit with the Dozier-penned "Invisible".[8] Three years later, Dozier cowrote "Infidelity" and "Suffer" with Simply Red frontman Mick Hucknall for the British pop-soul band's second album, Men and Women. In 1989, they teamed again to write "You've Got It" and "Turn It Up" for Simply Red's follow-up LP, A New Flame.[citation needed]
"Without You" also received two adaptations: the first was in Portuguese[14] and the second was in Spanish,[14] in 1989 and 1990, respectively.[14] Both adaptations received the title "Amor Dividido"[14] and were recorded by the Brazilian singer Rosana;[14] The Spanish version of "Amor Dividido" was performed as a duet by Rosanah Fienngo (known mononymously as Rosana) with the Mexican singer Emmanuel.[14]
Dozier was married three times and had six children. His first two marriages, to Elizabeth Ann Brown and to Daphne Dumas, both ended in divorce. His third marriage, to Barbara Ullman, lasted from 1980 until her death in 2021. They had three children. Dozier died at his home near Scottsdale, Arizona, on August 8, 2022, at the age of 81.[8][16]
^"Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductees by Year 1990". Official website of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, Inc. 2013. pp. Induction category: Non–Performer for Holland–Dozier–Holland. Archived from the original on December 7, 2014. Retrieved February 18, 2013.
