Lamont Dozier is pictured aged 60 in the 1970s.
Motown legend Lamont Dozier has died aged 81.
The songwriting genius behind classics like “Baby Love” and “Two Hearts” has passed away, his son Lamont Dozier Jr. confirmed on Instagram.
Alongside a picture of the couple, he wrote: “Rest in heavenly peace dad!!!”
A cause of death is currently unknown.
Producer Brandon Williams paid tribute to Lamont, writing, “Another man who sat down and taught me a lot about music has left.
‘The great Lamont Dozier. I will never forget meeting and working with him in 2006 along with the Holland Brothers. Thank you for everything you have done for me and for the whole world. You definitely made this place better.”
Lamont was one-third of the legendary songwriting trio Holland-Dozier-Holland, known for co-writing big hits for Motown acts like 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.
Her 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 couple on Instagram and wrote, “Rest in Heaven Dad!!!”
Dozier performs live on stage during a rehearsal at the Royal Festival Hall in London September 22, 2001
Pictured from left to right are Diana Ross, Lamont Dozier (at the piano), Mary Wilson, Eddie Holland, Florence Ballard (seated) and Brian Holland at the Motown studios in Detroit circa 1965
Lamont Dozier at Air Studio in Montserrat Miscellaneous
Born in Detroit, Michigan, also known as Music City, Lamont first sang in the gospel choir at that local Baptist church.
In 1962 he signed to Berry Gordy’s legendary record label Motown.
Lamont and siblings Eddie and Brian Holland had their first hits in 1963 with The Vandellas’ “Come and Get These Memories” and “Heatwave.”
A year later, they hit it big with The Supremes’ mega-hit “Where Did Our Love Go,” their first No. 1 and certainly not their last, as they racked up another nine chart-toppers.
In 1973, Lamont parted ways with his songwriting partners and released his own music.
For the next decade, he and Phil Collins worked on a reimagining of “Two Hearts” for the soundtrack to the 1988 film “Buster.”
Lamont Dozier, Boy George and producer Stewart Levine at Air Studios on the Caribbean island of Montserrat Various
It topped the charts and won the 1989 Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song and the Grammy Award for Best Song Written Specifically for a Motion Picture or Television.
In 1990, Holland-Dozier-Holland were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Lamont’s composer credits include tracks for artists such as Kanye West, Sir Rod Stewart, Lil Wayne and Solange to name a few.
“Your father lives forever in the beautiful music he shared with the world,” said an Instagram user who commented on Lamont Dozier Jr.’s post.
Other fans took to social media to commemorate Dozier’s death.
The band Simply Red, who wrote four songs with Dozier, called him “one of the greatest songwriters of all time”.
“Relax Lamont Dozier born hitmaker,” said another fan.
