Marilyn McLeod | |
|---|---|
 McLeod in 1979 | |
| Born | May 27, 1939
Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
| Died | November 24, 2021 (aged 82) |
| Occupation(s) | Songwriter, singer |
| Known for | " Love Hangover" |
| Relatives |
Ernie Farrow (brother) Alice Coltrane (sister) Flying Lotus (grandson) |
Marilyn McLeod (May 27, 1939 – November 24, 2021) was an American songwriter and occasional singer. McLeod began her career as a songwriter for Motown. Together with Pam Sawyer, she wrote the 1976 Diana Ross hit " Love Hangover".
Early life
McLeod was born in Detroit, Michigan, in 1939 [1] into a musical family – her half-brother Ernie Farrow became a noted jazz performer, and her sister Alice married John Coltrane and recorded many albums as a jazz keyboard player and harpist. [1] [2] Her family were acquainted with the Gordy family, partly due to Ernie Farrow's boxing activities. [3]
Career
McLeod first worked at Motown as a keypunch operator, before attracting attention in the company as a songwriter. Her first copyrighted songs for the Jobete publishing company at Motown were published in 1967, [4] often co-written with others including William Weatherspoon before she established a friendship and writing partnership with Janie Bradford. [3] She co-wrote Junior Walker's 1972 hit "Walk in the Night" with Johnny Bristol, and two tracks on the album Diana & Marvin, written with Mel Bolton. [3] She also co-wrote Marvin Gaye's song " The World Is Rated X" with Bolton and others. [5]
She moved with the company from Detroit to Los Angeles, [6] and was teamed with lyricist Pam Sawyer. The pair co-wrote Diana Ross's 1976 hit " Love Hangover", and the High Inergy hit " You Can't Turn Me Off (in the Middle of Turning Me On)" the following year. In 1978, they co-wrote the tribute to Berry Gordy's father, " Pops, We Love You (A Tribute to Father)", recorded by Diana Ross, Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson and Stevie Wonder. [7] Motown produced a promotional album of songs written by McLeod and Sawyer, almost all sung by McLeod and released under the band name Pure Magic. [3] [8]
In 1982, McLeod co-wrote Jermaine Jackson's hit with Devo, "Let Me Tickle Your Fancy", written with Sawyer, Jermaine Jackson, and Paul Jackson, Jr. [9] McLeod left Motown in 1985, and, in the early 1990s, co-wrote several songs for Northern Soul DJ Ian Levine and his Motown revival label Motorcity Records. In 2010 she released the album I Believe In Me, a set of songs co-written with Janie Bradford. [2] [4]
Personal life
In 2011, McLeod suffered a stroke which caused problems with her left side. [5] A musical tribute event for her took place in March 2020, featuring Lamont Dozier, Freda Payne and Michelle Coltrane among others. [3] [10]
McLeod died on November 24, 2021, at the age of 82. [11] Her grandson is the musician, producer and rapper Flying Lotus. [2]
References
- ^ a b Marilyn McLeod, Geni.com. Retrieved April 18, 2016
- ^ a b c "Marilyn McLeod, Hit Motown Songwriter with A Coltrane Connection", Jazz Corner News, 14 June 2011. Retrieved April 18, 2016
- ^ a b c d e Adam White, "Celebrating Marilyn's magic", AdamPWhite.com, February 7, 2020. Retrieved November 30, 2021
- ^ a b Graham Betts, Motown Encyclopedia, AC Publishing, 2014
- ^ a b Claire Lobenfeld (May 23, 2019). "Flying Lotus and His Grandmother Talk Being in a Family Bound by Music". Pitchfork. Retrieved November 30, 2021.
- ^ "Jazzed & Blue", Rockwired, October 23, 2011. Retrieved November 30, 2021
- ^ Berry Gordy, To Be Loved: The Music, the Magic, the Memories of Motown, Rosetta Books, 2013
- ^ Marilyn McLeod, Discogs.com. Retrieved April 18, 2016
- ^ Songs written by Marilyn McLeod, MusicVF.com. Retrieved April 18, 2016
- ^ "Honoring Motown songwriting legend Marilyn McLeod", KPFK.org. Retrieved November 30, 2021
- ^ "Motown hitmaker Marilyn McLeod dies at 82". Soul Tracks. November 26, 2021. Retrieved November 26, 2021.
External links
- Marilyn McLeod discography at Discogs·
- Marilyn McLeod at IMDb
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