Marv Tarplin Miracles Guitarist Dies

Sad day for me. Marv was one of the reasons I wanted to play guitar. Long before Jimi, Carlos and David Gilmore, Marv was my inspiration with his smooth, classy and funky style. He was also one of my first guitar teachers. I used to get quick lessons from him back stage at the Apollo Theatre. I will never forget his black Les Paul. Thank YOU Marv for all the great music with Motown and Smokey, and, thank YOU for the lessons...R.I.P

http://www.detnews.com/article/20110930/ENT04/109300454/1361/Miracles-guitarist-Tarplin--co-writer-of-%E2%80%9CTracks-of-My-Tears%E2%80%9D-dies-at-70

"Harmony, Peace & Music",

Bobby Sharpe

Motown SuperStar Levi Stubbs Crosses Over

Four Tops Frontman Levi Stubbs Dies

Four Tops lead singer Levi Stubbs, who possessed one of the most dynamic and emotive voices of all the Motown singers, died Friday at 72. He had been ill recently and died in his sleep at the Detroit house he shared with his wife, said Dana Meah, the wife of a grandson. The Wayne County medical examiner's office also confirmed the death.

With Stubbs in the lead, the Four Tops sold millions of records, including such hits as "Baby I Need Your Loving," ''Reach Out (I'll Be There)" and "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)."

The group performed for more than four decades without a change in personnel. Stubbs' death leaves one surviving member of the original group: Abdul "Duke" Fakir.

Stubbs "fits right up there with all the icons of Motown," said Audley Smith, chief operating officer of the Motown Historical Museum. "His voice was as unique as Marvin's or as Smokey's or as Stevie's."

For more of this story and some Four Tops video, go to Four Tops Frontman Levi Stubbs Dies

I had the pleasure of knowing and working on shows with the Four Tops over the years. Not only were they super talented, they were a great bunch of guys. See YOU on the other side Levi.

Four Tops Music Lives On,

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Motown Legend Crosses Over

Motown Hit Machine Norm Whitfield Dies

LOS ANGELES (Sept. 17) - 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 says Whitfield died there Tuesday. He suffered from complications of diabetes and had recently emerged from a coma, The Detroit Free Press reported.

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, with whom he was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2004.

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."

Whitfield also worked as a producer for the Temptations and others.

Many of Whitfield's songs from that era, including Edwin Starr's 1970 "War" and the Temptations' 1970 "Ball of Confusion (That's What the World Is Today)," have a strong political tone.

In a statement, Motown great Smokey Robinson hailed Whitfield as "one of the most prolific songwriters and record producers of our time. He will live forever through his great music."

Among Whitfield's other songs, according to the Songwriters Hall Web site, are "Beauty Is Only Skin Deep," "Cloud Nine" and "Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)," all hits for the Temptations; and "Too Busy Thinking About My Baby," a 1969 hit for Marvin Gaye.

Just last week, Gaye's version of "I Heard It Through the Grapevine," from 1968, was ranked at No. 65 in Billboard magazine's compilation of the top singles of the past 50 years. It was also a hit for Gladys Knight and the Pips, in 1967.

The entertainment world has lost a major player once again. But, as my friend Smokey said, "he will live forever through his great music". How true.

Go in Peace Norman,

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