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Lamont Dozier

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

Lamont Dozier was an American songwriter, producer and singer from Detroit. He was born in 1941 and as a young singer recorded a few records for small labels in his city, without success. In 1962 Berry Gordy brought him to Motown. There he began working with the brothers Brian and Eddie Holland, and he put his singing career on hold. The trio became known as Holland-Dozier-Holland. Dozier and Brian Holland took care of the music, the arrangements and the production, Eddie Holland mainly of the lyrics and the vocals.

Music and breakthrough

The team first scored in 1963 with Martha and the Vandellas, including Heat Wave and Quicksand. A year later, with Where Did Our Love Go, a long run of number 1 hits for The Supremes began, followed by Stop! In the Name of Love, among others. The Four Tops, The Marvelettes, Marvin Gaye and the Isley Brothers also sang their songs. Dozier named I Hear a Symphony and My World Is Empty Without You as his favourites. The trio's songs, with their driving rhythms and singalong choruses, largely defined the Motown sound.

Influence

After a quarrel with Gordy over contract and rights, the trio left Motown at the end of the 1960s and started their own labels, Invictus and Hot Wax. Dozier began singing for himself again and in 1974 had his biggest solo hit with Trying to Hold on to My Woman. Later he wrote Two Hearts for the film Buster (1988) with Phil Collins, and worked with Mick Hucknall of Simply Red. In 1990 he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with the Hollands. He died in 2022.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to Where Did Our Love Go by The Supremes. Notice the simple, stomping rhythm beneath the vocals and how the chorus keeps coming back, so that you can sing along after hearing it just once.

Discography

Studio albums

In School of Rock

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

See also

Categories: Artists