Janie Bradford has died at the age of 87. You might not know her name, but you have definitely felt her influence in Motown.
Per Yahoo! Entertainment, she was one of the key architects of the Motown sound. She originally joined Berry Gordy's landmark operation as a receptionist, before making the transition into music legend.
Bradford was the driving force behind several hits you've almost definitely heard of. She helped co-write "Money (That's What I Want) with Berry Gordy himself. It's one of his earliest hits, breaking the mold—it got so popular that The Beatles even took a stab at covering the song at some point.
And that wasn't the only song that got covered by music legends. She co-wrote "Too Busy Thinking About My Baby" for The Temptations. Of course, unless you're a die-hard Motown fan, you're more likely to have heard of it through Marvin Gaye's soulful rendition.
She also helped write for several undeniable legends of the scene. Stevie Wonder, The Supremes, and Martha & The Vandellas were among the star-studded catalog of artists she helped out.
And she even ended up landing an executive role down the line - being Head of Writer Relations for Jobete, Motown's publishing arm.
Bradford was also known beyond Motown as being the founder of the Heroes and Legends Awards. The awards seek to honor those who use their platform for good and community service.
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The Motown Pioneer's Death Was Announced by Gordy
Janie Bradford's tragic passing comes after what was described as an "extended illness".
Per ABC, Gordy wrote in a statement that "Janie was there with me from the very beginning, before there was even a Motown, and she will always hold a very special place in my heart and the Motown family."
"Janie was one of a special group I have always thought of as the original Motown family - the unsung heroes who believed in the dream before anyone knew what Motown would become."
"She was one of the people who helped make Motown what it became."
This is a truly tragic situation, and a huge loss for the Motown community. May she rest in peace.
