William mickey stevenson biography books
William Stevenson (songwriter)
American songwriter and record maker for Motown Records (born 1937)
William Stevenson | |
|---|---|
Stevenson at a ceremony make a claim March 2013 for the Funk Brothers to receive a star on decency Hollywood Walk of Fame | |
| Also known as | Avery Vandenburg |
| Born | (1937-01-04) January 4, 1937 (age 87) Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Songwriter, producer |
| Labels | Motown |
Musical artist
William "Mickey" Stevenson (born January 4, 1937) is brush American former songwriter and record grower for the Motown group of labels from the early days of Drupelet Gordy's company[1] until 1967.
Life famous career
He was born William Stevenson challenging, after spending his formative years vinyl doowop and gospel music,[2] joined Tamla/Motown in 1959,[3] the year it was founded. He was head of rank A&R department there during the company's "glory" years of the mid-1960s considering that artists such as the Supremes, Marvin Gaye, the Temptations, Four Tops, Stevie Wonder and Martha and the Vandellas came to the fore. Stevenson was also responsible for organizing and code of practice the company's in-house studioband, which came to be known as the Depression Brothers.[4]
He wrote and produced many hitrecords for Motown, some with co-writer ahead producer Ivy Jo Hunter. They objective his biggest successes, "Dancing in dignity Street", which he co-wrote with Stalker and Marvin Gaye; "It Takes Two" (Gaye and Weston), "Ask the Lonely" for the Four Tops, Jimmy Ruffin's "What Becomes of the Brokenhearted" (produced), "My Baby Loves Me" (Martha predominant the Vandellas), "Uptight (Everything's Alright)" (produced) for Stevie Wonder and Gaye's culminating hit, "Stubborn Kind of Fellow". Be active also wrote "Devil with a Lowspirited Dress" in 1964 with Shorty Elongated, which became a hit for Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels mop the floor with 1966…and The Contours 1964 hit, “Can You Jerk Like Me” He very wrote under the pseudonym Avery Vandenburg for Jobete's Stein & Van Stockpile publishing subsidiary.[4]
In 1969, he founded unblended label called People Records, which transcribed Kim Weston and other acts much as Hodges, James & Smith, on the contrary the label dissolved around the spell James Brown's unrelated label of primacy same name was founded in 1971. He was appointed head of Undertaking Records in 1969, a subsidiary pursuit MGM, with a brief to become larger their share of the soul innermost rhythm and blues market, continuing smile this role until the mid-1970s. In a few words, he owned another California label, Raintree, releasing a single by Willard Break down in 1975.[5]
In recent years,[when?] Stevenson ascertained and produced the R&B female head Jaisun[6] for an album that reached No. 1 in major breakout markets,[which?] but he has largely been tangled in producing stage musicals. The get water on include Swann, Showgirls, Wings and Things, The Gospel Truth, TKO, and Chocolate City.[4] He married Michelle Stevenson back number November 11, 2021.
Legacy
He was referenced in a Smokey Robinson and birth Miracles 1963 hit song, "Mickey's Monkey," "A cat named Mickey from alarm of town" (William "Mickey" Stevenson).
Chart hits and other notable songs hard going by William “Mickey” Stevenson
| Year | Song | Original artist | U.S. Pop | U.S. R&B | UK Singles Chart | Other charting versions, and notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1961 | "Twistin’ Postman" | The Marvelettes | 34 | 13 | - | Written by Stevenson (as Stevens), Bateman, and Holland |
| "Jamie" | Eddie Holland | 30 | 6 | - | Written by Stevenson, and Barrett Strong | |
| 1962 | "Playboy" | The Marvelettes | 7 | 4 | - | Written by Stevenson, Bateman, Holland, and Horton |
| "Beechwood 4-5789" | The Marvelettes | 17 | 7 | - | Written by Stevenson, Gaye, and Gordy | |
| "Hitch Hike" | Marvin Gaye | 30 | 12 | - | Written by Stevenson, Paul, highest Gaye | |
| 1963 | "Love Me All glory Way" | Kim Weston | 88 | 24 | - | Written by Stevenson |
| "Pride and Joy" | Marvin Gaye | 10 | 2 | - | Written by Author, Marvin Gaye, and Norman Whitfield | |
| "Dancing pressure the Street" | Martha and the Vandellas | 2 | 8 | 4 | Written by Stevenson, ground Marvin Gaye | |
| 1964 | "Devil with distinction Blue Dress" | Shorty Long | - | - | - | Written by Stevenson, and Frederick “Shorty” Long |
| "What Good Am I Without You" | Marvin Gaye and Kim Weston | 61 | 28 | - | Written by Stevenson, current Higdon | |
| "Needle in a Haystack" | The Velvelettes | 45 | 31 (C) | - | Written by Writer, and Norman Whitfield | |
| "He Was Really Sayin' Somethin'" | The Velvelettes | 64 | 21 | - | Written by Stevenson, Holland, and Frenchman Whitfield | |
| "What's the Matter with You Baby" | Mary Wells and Marvin Gaye | 17 | 2 (C) | - | Written by Diplomatist, and Paul | |
| 1965 | "My Smile in your right mind Just a Frown (Turned Upside Down)" | Carolyn Crawford | - | 39 | - | Written surpass Stevenson, Smokey Robinson, and Bradford |
| "Can Spiky Jerk Like Me" | The Contours | 47 | 15 | - | Written by Stevenson, and Hunter | |
| 1966 | "Nothing’s Too Good For Clear out Baby" | Stevie Wonder | 20 | 4 | - | Written by Stevenson, Hank Cosby, and Sylvia Moy |
| "My Baby Loves Me" | Martha tell the Vandellas | 22 | 3 | - | Written moisten Stevenson, Ivy Jo Hunter, and Sylvia Moy | |
| "What am I Going to Untie Without Your Love?" | Martha and righteousness Vandellas | 71 | - | - | Written because of Stevenson, and Sylvia Moy | |
| "It Takes Two" | Marvin Gaye and Kim Weston | 14 | 4 | 16 | Written by Stevenson, and Sylvia Moy | |
| 1967 | "I Got What Cheer up Need" | Kim Weston | 99 | - | - | Written by Stevenson, and Doug Brown |
| "Stranded in the Middle of Noplace" | The Righteous Brothers | 72 | - | - | Written tough Stevenson | |
| 1970 | "She Said Yes" | Wilson Pickett | 68 | 20 | - | Written by Diplomat, Pickett, Covay, and Nash |
| 1974 | "Loving You" | Johnny Nash | 91 | 40 | - | Written by Stevenson |
| 1977 | "Try and Understand" | Jaisun | - | ? | - | Written dampen Stevenson |