Motown legend Lamont Dozier behind hits including Baby Love and Two Hearts dies aged 81

Motown legend Lamont Dozier has died, aged 81.

The songwriting genius, behind classics such as ‘Baby Love’ and ‘Two Hearts’, has passed away, his son Lamont Dozier Jr confirmed on Instagram.

He wrote alongside a picture of the pair: ‘Rest in Heavenly Peace, Dad!!!’

A cause of death is not known at this time.

Producer Brandon Williams led tributes to Lamont, writing: ‘Another man that sat down and taught me a lot about music is gone.

‘The great Lamont Dozier. I’ll never forget meeting and working with him along with the Holland Brothers in 2006. Thank you for all you did for me and for the world at large. You definitely made this place better.’

Lamont was one third of the iconic songwriting trio Holland-Dozier-Holland, who are known for co-writing huge hits for Motown acts such as The Four Tops, The Supremes and The Isley Brothers.

The trio was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1988 and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990. 

Their songwriting credits also include ‘Reach Out I’ll Be There’, ‘Where Did Our Love Go’ and ‘Baby I Need Your Love’.

Dozier’s son, Lamont Dozier Jr, posted  a picture of the pair on Instagram and wrote: ‘Rest in Heavenly Peace, Dad!!!’

Dozier performs live on stage during a rehearsal at the Royal Festival Hall in London on 22nd September 2001

From left to right is pictured Diana Ross, Lamont Dozier (at piano), Mary Wilson, Eddie Holland, Florence Ballard (seated) and Brian Holland in the Motown studio circa 1965 in Detroit

Lamont Dozier at Air Studio in Montserrat Various

Born in Detroit, Michigan, aka Music City, Lamont’s first foray into music was singing in the gospel choir at this local Baptist church.

He would go on to sign to Berry Gordy’s legendary Motown record label in 1962.

Lamont and siblings Eddie and Brian Holland would get their first string of hits with The Vandellas’ ‘Come and Get These Memories’ and ‘Heatwave’ in 1963.

A year later, they hit the big time with The Supremes’ mega-hit ‘Where Did Our Love Go’, their first No.1, and certainly not their last, as they went on to score a further nine chart-toppers.

In 1973, Lamont parted ways with his songwriting partners and released his own music.

The following decade, he and Phil Collins joined forces on a new rendition of ‘Two Hearts’ for the soundtrack to the 1988 film ‘Buster’.

Lamont Dozier, Boy George and producer Stewart Levine at Air Studios in the Carribbean island of Montserrat Various

It topped the charts and won the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song and the Grammy Award for Best Song Written Specifically for a Motion Picture or Television in 1989.

In 1990, Holland-Dozier-Holland were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Lamont’s composer credits include tracks for the likes of Kanye West, Sir Rod Stewart, Lil Wayne, and Solange, to name a few.

‘Your dad lives on forever in the beautiful music he shared with the world’, said an Instagram user commenting on Lamont Dozier Jr’s post.

Other fans took to social media to commemorate Dozier’s passing.

The band Simply Red, who wrote four songs with Dozier, described him as ‘one of the greatest songwriters of all time’.

‘Rest easy, Lamont Dozier, natural born hitmaker,’ said another fan.