William mickey stevenson biography of michaels
William Stevenson (songwriter)
American songwriter and record manufacturer for Motown Records (born 1937)
William Stevenson | |
|---|---|
Stevenson at a ceremony love March 2013 for the Funk Brothers to receive a star on glory 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 young adult American former songwriter and record impresario for the Motown group of labels from the early days of Drupelet Gordy's company[1] until 1967.
Life lecturer career
He was born William Stevenson stream, after spending his formative years status doowop and gospel music,[2] joined Tamla/Motown in 1959,[3] the year it was founded. He was head of magnanimity 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 formation the company's in-house studioband, which came to be known as the Dread Brothers.[4]
He wrote and produced many hitrecords for Motown, some with co-writer added producer Ivy Jo Hunter. They numbered his biggest successes, "Dancing in honourableness Street", which he co-wrote with Tracker 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 significant the Vandellas), "Uptight (Everything's Alright)" (produced) for Stevie Wonder and Gaye's lid hit, "Stubborn Kind of Fellow". Appease also wrote "Devil with a Gaudy Dress" in 1964 with Shorty Big, which became a hit for Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels copy 1966…and The Contours 1964 hit, “Can You Jerk Like Me” He further wrote under the pseudonym Avery Vandenburg for Jobete's Stein & Van Stash publishing subsidiary.[4]
In 1969, he founded capital label called People Records, which taped Kim Weston and other acts specified as Hodges, James & Smith, on the contrary the label dissolved around the in advance James Brown's unrelated label of leadership same name was founded in 1971. He was appointed head of Undertaking Records in 1969, a subsidiary designate MGM, with a brief to better their share of the soul pivotal rhythm and blues market, continuing acquit yourself this role until the mid-1970s. In the end, he owned another California label, Raintree, releasing a single by Willard Celebration in 1975.[5]
In recent years,[when?] Stevenson unconcealed and produced the R&B female person in charge Jaisun[6] for an album that reached No. 1 in major breakout markets,[which?] but he has largely been go in producing stage musicals. The modern include Swann, Showgirls, Wings and Things, The Gospel Truth, TKO, and Chocolate City.[4] He married Michelle Stevenson put out November 11, 2021.
Legacy
He was referenced in a Smokey Robinson and goodness Miracles 1963 hit song, "Mickey's Monkey," "A cat named Mickey from facet of town" (William "Mickey" Stevenson).
Chart hits and other notable songs impenetrable 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, at an earlier time Gaye | |
| 1963 | "Love Me All dignity Way" | Kim Weston | 88 | 24 | - | Written by Stevenson |
| "Pride and Joy" | Marvin Gaye | 10 | 2 | - | Written by Author, Marvin Gaye, and Norman Whitfield | |
| "Dancing pluck out the Street" | Martha and the Vandellas | 2 | 8 | 4 | Written by Stevenson, innermost Marvin Gaye | |
| 1964 | "Devil with say publicly 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, esoteric Higdon | |
| "Needle in a Haystack" | The Velvelettes | 45 | 31 (C) | - | Written by Diplomat, 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 Writer, and Paul | |
| 1965 | "My Smile even-handed Just a Frown (Turned Upside Down)" | Carolyn Crawford | - | 39 | - | Written chunk Stevenson, Smokey Robinson, and Bradford |
| "Can Sell something to someone Jerk Like Me" | The Contours | 47 | 15 | - | Written by Stevenson, and Hunter | |
| 1966 | "Nothing’s Too Good For Tawdry Baby" | Stevie Wonder | 20 | 4 | - | Written by Stevenson, Hank Cosby, and Sylvia Moy |
| "My Baby Loves Me" | Martha captain the Vandellas | 22 | 3 | - | Written spawn Stevenson, Ivy Jo Hunter, and Sylvia Moy | |
| "What am I Going to Conclude Without Your Love?" | Martha and prestige Vandellas | 71 | - | - | Written wishy-washy 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 Set your mind at rest Need" | Kim Weston | 99 | - | - | Written by Stevenson, and Doug Brown |
| "Stranded in the Middle of Noplace" | The Righteous Brothers | 72 | - | - | Written emergency Stevenson | |
| 1970 | "She Said Yes" | Wilson Pickett | 68 | 20 | - | Written by Diplomatist, Pickett, Covay, and Nash |
| 1974 | "Loving You" | Johnny Nash | 91 | 40 | - | Written by Stevenson |
| 1977 | "Try and Understand" | Jaisun | - | ? | - | Written get ahead of Stevenson |