September 17, 2008 16:16

Temptations and Motown producer Norman Whitfield dies

Hit-maker passes away after suffering from diabetes

Motown producer and songwriter Norman Whitfield has died aged 65, after suffering from diabetes and other illnesses.

Whitfield, who died in the US yesterday (September 16), was one of the originators of the Motown sound in the 1960s.

He was the main producer for The Temptations from 1966 until 1974.

He also wrote songs for Marvin Gaye and Gladys Knight And The Pips, and produced Gaye's 'I Heard It Through The Grapevine'.

Later in his career, Whitfield launched his own record label, Whitfield Records, where he released material by the likes of The Undisputed Truth and Rose Royce.

Whitfield fell foul of the law in 2005, when he was put under house arrest for failing to report royalty income. He was not imprisoned because of his ill health.

Head to the NME Video Blog for NME.COM tribute to Norman Whitfield.