THE CO-COMPOSER of some of the best-loved songs in popular music, Barrett Strong has died of undisclosed cause. He was 81 years old. Along with writing partner Norman Whitfeld, who passed in 2008, Strong wrote a string of timeless hits that include Money (That’s What I Want), I Heard It Through The Grapevine, Papa Was A Rollin’ Stone, War and Wherever I Lay My Hat (That’s My Home). Those and other Strong and Whitfield songs were recorded by The Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Jerry Lee Lewis, Marvin Gaye, The Temptations, Gladys Knight & The Pips and many more.
Berry Gordy, whose company Motown Records handed the duo their big break, commented: “Barrett was not only a great singer and piano player, but he, along with his writing partner…
