William mickey stevenson biography of william
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William Stevenson (songwriter)
American songwriter and record producer for Motown Records (born )
William Stevenson | |
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Stevenson at a ceremony in March for the Funk Brothers to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame | |
| Also known as | Avery Vandenburg |
| Born | () January 4, (age&#;88) Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Songwriter, producer |
| Labels | Motown |
Musical artist
William "Mickey" Stevenson (born January 4, ) is an American former songwriter and record producer for the Motown group of labels from the early days of Berry Gordy's company[1] until
Life and career
[edit]He was born William Stevenson and, after spending his formative years recording doowop and gospel music,[2] joined Tamla/Motown in ,[3] the year it was founded. He was head of the A&R department there during the company's "glory" years of the mids when artists such as the Supremes, Marvin Gaye, the Temptations, Four Tops, Stevie Wonder and Mart
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Special Interview With Motown Legend William “Mickey” Stevenson, Co-Writer Of “Dancing In The Street” And Many Other Classic Hit Songs
Update: Congratulations to William &#;Mickey&#; Stevenson, who has just been inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Here&#;s the interview we did with him two years ago.
William “Mickey” Stevenson is one of the great figures in the history of Motown Records. He was the label’s first Head of A&R, and he helped discover Stevie Wonder, the fyra Tops, Martha Reeves, and the Funk Brothers, who were the famous band of Motown musicians that played on most of the label’s classic ‘60s hits. He also worked closely with Marvin Gaye.
Impressively, Stevenson has been nominated by the Songwriters ingångsrum of Fame. As a songwriter, Stevenson co-wrote a dozen musikstil classic hit songs. His best known song is “Dancing in the Street,” which is one of the most joyful anthems of its era. This song was originally a hit for Martha & the Vandellas (featur
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Motown's William 'Mickey' Stevenson headed to Songwriters Hall of Fame
William “Mickey” Stevenson doesn’t know who will induct him into the Songwriters Hall of Fame at its 51st Annual awards gala June 16 in New York. In fact, Motown’s founding A&R man probably won’t find out until he walks onto the stage at the Marriott Marquis.
It would seem natural for his old friend, Motown colleague and frequent golf partner Smokey Robinson, already in the Songwriters Hall of Fame, to perform the task.
“If Smokey is, he wouldn’t tell me about it. He’d keep it a secret,” a laughing Stevenson said by phone from his Los Angeles home. He’ll only know if he hears that loud, unmistakable voice that’s interrupted so many of Mickey’s downswings.
The catalog of Motown songs Stevenson had a hand in writing is pretty strong, including “Dancing in the Street;” “It Takes Two;” “Devil with the Blue Dress;” Ask the Lonely;” “Pride and Joy;” “Stubborn Kind of Fellow;” “My Baby Loves Me;” “Needle in a Hays