Motown Hitmaker Janie Bradford Hobbs Dies at 87

Janie Bradford Hobbs, a pioneering songwriter for Motown Records, has passed away at the age of 87 due to an extended illness. She was celebrated for her contributions to seminal hits that defined the Motown sound.

Hobbs began her journey with Motown in 1958 as a receptionist, quickly becoming involved in the company's creative surge. She co-wrote the enduring classic "Money (That's What I Want)" with Motown founder Berry Gordy in 1959, a track famously covered by The Beatles.

Her songwriting talents were also behind "Too Busy Thinking About My Baby," originally recorded by The Temptations and later a hit for Marvin Gaye. Hobbs also contributed to songs for other legendary Motown artists such as Stevie Wonder, The Supremes, and Martha & The Vandellas.

Berry Gordy fondly remembered Hobbs as a foundational member of the Motown family, stating she was there from the very beginning. "Janie was one of a special group I have always thought of as the original Motown family -- the unsung heroes who believed in the dream before anyone knew what Motown would become," he commented.

After her tenure at Motown, where she eventually headed Writer Relations for Jobete, Motown's publishing company, Bradford Hobbs founded the annual Heroes and Legends Awards. This event, which ran for approximately 30 years, honored music icons and provided scholarships, further cementing her legacy in the music industry.