Norman Whitfield

Norman Whifield is dead. That may not mean much to you, but it means something to me: he produced some of my very favorite Motown songs. He produced my beloved Velvelettes. He co-wrote and produced "I Heard It Through The Grape Vine" for both Marvin Gaye and Gladys Knight & The Pips, and it was a number 1 hit both times. He helped create Psychedelic Soul, and helped inject funk into the Motown's records. In fact, he helped create the Motown sound, and was also instrumental in disassembling it. He produced songs for The Velvelettes, The Marvelettes, Kim Weston, The Temptations, Gladys Knight & The Pips, Edwin Starr, Rare Earth, The Undisputed Truth, Yvonne Fair, and Rose Royce. He had a large afro. He was cool.

• Marvin Gaye: I Wish It Would Rain