Holland-Dozier-Holland

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Holland-Dozier-Holland was the songwriting and production team of Lamont Dozier and the brothers Brian and Eddie Holland. All three began as performers. Eddie Holland was already working with Berry Gordy before the founding of Motown and had a hit with Jamie in 1962. Brian Holland co-wrote Please Mr. Postman for The Marvelettes, and Dozier made records for small labels. In 1962 they began writing together, and they soon noticed that they preferred writing and producing to performing themselves.

Music and breakthrough

Dozier and Brian Holland wrote the music and produced, while Eddie Holland wrote the lyrics and the vocal arrangements. From 1962 to 1967 they made 25 number 1 hits at Motown. Among them were Heat Wave for Martha and the Vandellas, How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You) for Marvin Gaye and Reach Out I'll Be There for The Four Tops. For The Supremes they wrote ten of their twelve American number 1s, such as Baby Love, Stop! In the Name of Love and You Keep Me Hangin' On.

Influence

Together with Motown's regular session musicians and backing singers they defined the typical Motown sound. In 1967 they fell out with Gordy over money and royalties, and in early 1968 they left. They started their own labels Invictus and Hot Wax, but because of a years-long lawsuit they were not allowed to put their own names on their songs. In 1973 Dozier left. In 1990 the trio was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Listening

In School of Rock

The chapters, maps and magazine stories of School of Rock are currently available in Dutch only.

• Mixtape 6: Fear of a Black Planet^NL Reader
• Mixtape 12: The Hit Factory^NL Reader