Legendary producer and writer Norman Whitfield died overnight aged 67. He was involved with many of Motown's classics, notably co-writing "I heard it through the grapevine" with Marvin Gaye and "War" for Edwin Starr.
For me it is his work with the Temptations that stands out, particularly the "psychedelic soul" era around 1970. Taking cues from funk and 60s rock, Whitfield and the Temps produced hits including Papa was a Rolling Stone and Just My Imagination (Running away with me). Whitfield co-wrote most of those songs with Barrett Strong of course before taking the producers chair as they moved into the studio.
He left Motown in the early 70s, setting up his own label where he worked with Rose Royce, writing and producing Car Wash for the film of the same name.
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