Norman Whitfield, co-writer of Motown classics, dead at 67

September 18, 2008 10:14 am

— LOS ANGELES (AP) — Norman Whitfield, who co-wrote a string of Motown classics, including ‘‘War’’ and ‘‘I Heard It Through the Grapevine,’’ has died. He was 67.
A spokeswoman at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center said Whitfield died Tuesday at the hospital. Published reports say he suffered from complications of diabetes.
Whitfield was a longtime Motown producer who during the 1960s and ’70s injected rock and psychedelic touches into the label’s soul music.
Many of his biggest hits were co-written with Barrett Strong. In 2004, Whitfield and Strong were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
The two won the Grammy in 1972 for best R&B song for the Temptations’ ‘‘Papa Was a Rolling Stone.’’ Whitfield won another Grammy in 1976 for best original TV or motion picture score for ‘‘Car Wash.’’
In a statement, singer Smokey Robinson hails Whitfield as ‘‘one of the most prolific songwriters and record producers of our time’’ and says: ‘‘He will live forever through his great music.’’

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