Creativity, ingenuity and perseverance were the qualities of the early pioneers of The Motown Sound. Janie Bradford is one of those people.

This Missouri born Detroit transplant was influenced early in life by diverse musical styles including both country music and gospel. It is no surprise that she began her professional song-writing career as a teenager.

Some would call it fate, but those who know this dynamo will say that fate had nothing to do with it. Who else would tell record mogul Berry Gordy, "If you can write a song, so can I!"

With that unusual initiation into the Motown family, Ms. Bradford has become a prominent part of the company's legendary history.

First, two songs which she co-authored with Gordy were included on Jackie Wilson's album, Lonely Teardrops. Then came another collaboration co-authored with Berry Gordy, the mega-smash Money (That's What I Want), a song which has been recorded over 200 times by artists such as The Beatles, The Rollings Stones, Barrett Strong (the original!), Muddy Waters, The Supremes, The Flying Lizzards, Waylon Jennings, and on and on.

The hits kept coming:

• Too Busy Thinking About My Baby (Marvin Gaye) (Phil Collins)

• Your Old Stand-by (Mary Wells)

• All the Love I've Got (The Marvelettes)

• Time Changes Things (The Supremes)

• Contract on Love (Stevie Wonder)

• Hip City Pt. II (Junior Walker)

• and many others...

Rolling! Take One! Lyric, Rhyme & Prose

This enlightening and entertaining book by Janie Bradford will take you down memory lane to the spectacular era of Motown.

Price: 10.00 USD >> Add to Cart <<

But Janie's administrative involvement with Motown continued to grow and she was soon named Director of Writer's Relations. She worked with the company for 20 years before starting a far reaching business of her own.

Janie has been honored by BMI with a Certificate of Achievement for Money and Too Busy Thinking About My Baby. The late Jack the Rapper presented her with the Vivian Carter Award to recognize her contributions and longevity in Black Radio and most recently in December of 2003 she was rcognized by the City of Los Angeles during LA Music Week for her extraordinary musical talent and contribution.

Although she still writes, within the confines of her Beverly Hills offices, she also manages her own publishing company, Mountain Goat Music, publishes Entertainment Connection Magazine, as well as founding and producing the Heroes And Legends Awards (HAL) which is in its fifteenth consecutive year. HAL Awards was created to aid young people in the community achieve their dreams of a career in the performing arts. Through its various programs, Ms Bradford has granted over forty students scholarships so that they may attend the performing arts school of their choice.

"I believe if you have an idea -- a dream -- you can't just think about it, you have to go out and do it. And don't let anything get in your way... If the elevator stops, take the stairs!"