Music
Brian Holland
born 1941 · songwriter, record producer
Detroit-born songwriter and producer, the musical architect of Holland–Dozier–Holland, whose hits for the Supremes and Four Tops defined the Motown sound.
- Born
Detroit, Michigan
age 85- Detroit years
- 1941–1970s
- Field
- Music
01 / The Detroit story
The Detroit story
Brian Holland was born in Detroit, the younger brother of the singer and songwriter Eddie Holland. As a young man he sang with his friend Freddie Gorman in a short-lived group, the Fidalatones, and in 1960–1962 he was a member of the early Motown act the Satintones and of the Rayber Voices, the quartet that backed the label's first records. Working with Robert Bateman under the joint name "Brianbert," he co-wrote and produced the Marvelettes' "Please Mr. Postman" (1961), Motown's first No. 1 pop hit. With Lamont Dozier and Eddie Holland he then formed Holland–Dozier–Holland, in which Brian handled the music and production at Hitsville U.S.A. The team wrote and produced "Heat Wave" for Martha and the Vandellas, a run of No. 1 hits for the Supremes including "Where Did Our Love Go" and "Stop! In the Name of Love," and "Reach Out I'll Be There" for the Four Tops. After leaving Motown in a royalty dispute, the trio launched their own Detroit labels, Invictus and Hot Wax, in 1968.
Highlights
- Co-wrote the Marvelettes' "Please Mr. Postman" (1961), Motown's first pop No. 1
- Musical arranger and producer of Holland–Dozier–Holland
- Credited with 145 US and 78 UK hits
- Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with Holland–Dozier–Holland (1990)
02 / Their Detroit places
Their Detroit places 1
Where they lived, worked, performed and liked to hang out. Closed and demolished places stay here too, because they are part of the city's history.
Recorded here · 1960–1968
Motown Museum
Motown's studio, where he sang on early sessions and produced the Holland–Dozier–Holland hits; since 1985 the Motown Museum.