Legendary Motown Producer Norman Whitfield Dies

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Norman Whitfield, the architect of some of Motown Records biggest hits, has died in Los Angeles due to complications from diabetes. Along with collaborator Barrett Strong, Whitfield helped define the Motown Sound, co-writing and producing several classic hits such as Marvin Gaye's "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" and "Ain't Too Proud to Beg" by the Temptations.

Whitfield started working for Motown at the of 19 after hanging around Motown offices and convincing label founder Berry Gordy to give him a job. He slowly moved his way up the ranks and worked with several of the label's top acts, including Gaye, The Temptations, and Gladys Knight & the Pips.

In 1973, he left Motown to start his own label, Whitfield Records. His label's greatest success came in 1977 with the soundtrack to the hit film "Car Wash". 

Whitfield was 67 at the time of his passing.