Motown Architect Janie Bradford Hobbs, Songwriter of Iconic Hits, Dies at 87

Los Angeles is mourning the loss of a true musical pioneer, Janie Bradford Hobbs, an early Motown songwriter who helped craft some of the label's most enduring hits. Bradford Hobbs passed away on Saturday at the age of 87 in a Los Angeles hospital, following an extended illness. Her contributions to Motown's legendary sound left an indelible mark on music history.

Born in Charleston, Missouri, Bradford Hobbs moved to Detroit and was introduced to Motown founder Berry Gordy in the late 1950s by neighbor and singer Jackie Wilson. She began her journey with Motown in 1958 as a receptionist, quickly becoming an integral part of the creative process that propelled the label to international fame. She famously co-wrote the iconic track "Money (That's What I Want)" with Gordy, a song first recorded by Barrett Strong in 1959 that later became a smash hit for The Beatles. Her pen also contributed to "Too Busy Thinking About My Baby," originally by The Temptations and later a hit for Marvin Gaye, among others.

Her songwriting prowess extended to working with a galaxy of Motown stars, including Stevie Wonder, The Supremes, and Martha & The Vandellas. Berry Gordy himself paid tribute, stating, "Janie was there with me from the very beginning, before there was even a Motown, and she will always hold a very special place in my heart and in the Motown family." He further lauded her as one of the "unsung heroes who believed in the dream before anyone knew what Motown would become."

Beyond her songwriting, Bradford Hobbs later served as head of Writer Relations for Jobete, Motown's publishing company. After her time at Motown, she founded the annual Heroes and Legends Awards, an event that spanned three decades, honoring music icons and providing scholarships. She is survived by her husband, Wardean Hobbs; her daughter, Nicole Hobbs; her son, Lance Finney; and two grandsons. Funeral services details are yet to be announced.

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