(WWJ) - Lamont Dozier, an iconic songwriter behind some of the biggest Motown hits in the 1960s, has died, family members announced overnight.
He was 81.
Dozier's son, Lamont Dozier Jr., announced his death in a post to social media just before 11 p.m. on Monday.
"R.I.H.P. Dad!!" he wrote accompanying a photo of himself and his father. An Instagram account belonging Dozier Jr. shared a similar message, "Rest in Heavenly Peace, Dad!"
The cause of Dozier's death was not released.
Dozier was part of the Motown songwriting group, Holland-Dozier-Holland, who wrote a number of hits songs for major artists including the Supremes, the Four Tops, the Isley Brothers and Martha and the Vandellas.
The trio was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1888 before gaining entry into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990.
According to the Songwriters Hall of Fame, Dozier, who was born and raised in the Motor City, grew up "surrounded by music as a child" and began his journey writing songs and music before he was a teen.
Dozier founded his own music group, The Romeos, when he was 13-years-old and was signed to Atco Records in 1957. Their song, "Fine Fine Baby," became a charting R&B record.
According to the hall of fame, Dozier joined The Voicemasters after the Romeros disbanded.
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"Soon after, Dozier signed exclusively to Motown Records in 1962 as an artist, producer, and songwriter," the hall of fame said.
It was in the early 1960s that Dozier began to work alongside Brian Holland. With the addition of Brian's brother, Eddie, the trio gave rise to the famous songwriting team, Holland-Dozier-Holland.
They were a pivitol part of Motown success, the hall of fame stated, and the group went on to create several hit songs for the Supremes, the Four Tops, the Temptations, Martha Reeves & The Vandellas, The Marvelettes, Marvin Gaye.
"Catalog highlights include “Baby Love", "Where Did Our Love Go", "Baby I Need Your Loving", "You Can't Hurry Love", "Reach Out, I'll Be There", "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)", "Stop! In The Name of Love", "Love Is Like An Itching In My Heart", "Heat Wave", "Nowhere to Run", "Bernadette", "It's The Same Old Song" and more," the hall of fame said.
According to the SHOF, the songs wrote by Holland-Dozier-Holland catapulted a "fledgling Detroit record company into an industry groundbreaker and powerhouse."
In 2009, the team was awarded The Johnny Mercer Award, the SHOF’s highest honor.
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