William Stevenson

American songwriter and producer most famous for his contributions to [l=Motown]'s success during the 1960s. Also credited as William "Mickey" Stevenson.

[b]Born:[/b] January 4, 1937, in Detroit, Michigan, USA, he recorded a number of doo wop and gospel records for various Detroit labels including [l=Stepp Records], which he owned. The label released several records in 1959 and 1960 by Herman Griffin, Tall Tonio & The Mello-Dees (Tony Clarke's first recording), and the Barbees. He joined Motown in 1959. He was head of the A&R department there during the company's "glory" years of the mid-1960s. He left the label in 1967, when he and his then-wife [a=Kim Weston] left for [l=MGM Records]. He wrote or produced dozens of hit records at Motown, many with Ivy Hunter, including "Dancing In The Street" by Martha & The Vandellas; "Ask The Lonley" by the Four Tops; "It Takes Two" by Marvin Gaye & Kim Weston; "My Baby Loves Me" by Martha & The Vandellas; and "Devil With A Blue Dress" by Shorty Long. After leaving Motown, he formed the short-lived [url=/label/489160]People[/url] label in 1969 and released singles by Kim Weston and others. The label was dissolved in 1971 at about the same time James Brown started his own [url=/label/1191202]label of the same name[/url]. Also in 1969, he was appointed head of [url=/label/79121]Venture Records[/url], a subsidiary of MGM, aimed at increasing their share of the R & B market. In recent years, he has largely been involved in producing stage musicals. The latter include Swann, Showgirls, Wings and Things, The Gospel Truth, TKO, and Chocolate City.

• For the Country music songwriter who "co-wrote" with either [a=Eddie Miller (3)] ("Release Me", "There He/She Goes") or [a=Carl Belew] ("Am I That Easy To Forget?", "Stop The World"), please use Record company president [b][a=W.S. Stevenson][/b] with ANV if appropriate.