Barrett Strong, one of Motown’s founding artists and most gifted songwriters passes away

Barrett Strong, one of Motown’s founding artists and most gifted songwriters passed away at age 81. Strong sang lead on the company’s breakthrough single “Money (That’s What I Want)” and later collaborated with Norman Whitfield on such classics as “I Heard It Through the Grapevine,” “War” and “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone.” 

A great singer and piano player, Strong, along with his writing partner Norman Whitfield, formed an eclectic songwriting team that created a memorable body of work that included hard-hitting tunes and timeless ballads including “I Wish It Would Rain” and “Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)”. Barrett-Whitfield turned out “Cloud Nine” and “Psychedelic Shack” for the Temptations and for Edwin Starr the protest anthem “War” and its widely quoted refrain, “War! What is it good for? Absolutely … nothing!” 

Strong is survived by seven children and ten grandchildren. His wife, Sandy White, died in 2002.