Sylvia Rose Moy (September 15, 1938 – April 15, 2017) was an American songwriter and record producer, formerly associated with the Motown Records group. The first woman at the Detroit-based music label to write and produce for Motown acts, she is probably best known for her songs written with and for Stevie Wonder.
Born and brought up on the northeast side of Detroit,[1] Moy studied and performed jazz and classical music at Northern High School, before she was seen performing in a club in 1963 by Marvin Gaye and Mickey Stevenson. She was given recording and songwriting contracts by Motown, but was urged to prioritize her songwriting because the company was short of material for its artists.[2][3]
According to Berry Gordy's autobiography To Be Loved, Moy was directly responsible for the label keeping Stevie Wonder. Gordy wrote that, after Stevie's voice began to change as a result of puberty, he was going to drop him from the label. It was then that Moy went to Gordy and asked "if she could come up with a hit for Stevie would he reconsider"; he agreed. Her first writing success came with "Uptight (Everything's Alright)", which she co-wrote with Henry "Hank" Cosby after hearing Wonder improvising on piano. Moy wrote lyrics to the song, which she conveyed to Wonder by singing into his headphones one line ahead as he recorded.[2]
She later wrote theme songs for several television shows, and was involved in writing film music.[1] She was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame alongside fellow Motown songwriter and producer Hank Cosby in 2006.[6][7] She also set up a non-profit group, Center for Creative Communications, working with underprivileged children in Detroit.[2]
Moy died of complications from pneumonia in Dearborn, Michigan, on April 15, 2017, at the age of 78.[2]
Accoladesedit
In 1969, Moy won three BMI Awards for the songs "Honey Chile," "I Was Made to Love Her," and "Shoo-Be-Doo-Be-Doo-Da-Day."[8]
Adam White, "Sylvia and Stevie: inspiration and influence"
October 26, 2023
sylvia, sylvia, rose, september, 1938, april, 2017, american, songwriter, record, producer, formerly, associated, with, motown, records, group, first, woman, detroit, based, music, label, write, produce, motown, acts, probably, best, known, songs, written, wit. Sylvia Rose Moy September 15 1938 April 15 2017 was an American songwriter and record producer formerly associated with the Motown Records group The first woman at the Detroit based music label to write and produce for Motown acts she is probably best known for her songs written with and for Stevie Wonder Sylvia MoyBackground informationBirth nameSylvia Rose MoyBorn 1938 09 15 September 15 1938Detroit Michigan U S DiedApril 15 2017 2017 04 15 aged 78 Dearborn Michigan U S GenresSoul musicOccupation s Songwriter record producer Contents 1 Life and career 2 Accolades 3 Selective Discography 3 1 Singles 9 4 References 5 External linksLife and career editBorn and brought up on the northeast side of Detroit 1 Moy studied and performed jazz and classical music at Northern High School before she was seen performing in a club in 1963 by Marvin Gaye and Mickey Stevenson She was given recording and songwriting contracts by Motown but was urged to prioritize her songwriting because the company was short of material for its artists 2 3 According to Berry Gordy s autobiography To Be Loved Moy was directly responsible for the label keeping Stevie Wonder Gordy wrote that after Stevie s voice began to change as a result of puberty he was going to drop him from the label It was then that Moy went to Gordy and asked if she could come up with a hit for Stevie would he reconsider he agreed Her first writing success came with Uptight Everything s Alright which she co wrote with Henry Hank Cosby after hearing Wonder improvising on piano Moy wrote lyrics to the song which she conveyed to Wonder by singing into his headphones one line ahead as he recorded 2 Among the subsequent hit singles Moy wrote and or produced while at Motown were Stevie Wonder s My Cherie Amour I Was Made to Love Her and Never Had a Dream Come True and Honey Chile and Love Bug Leave My Heart Alone by Martha and the Vandellas 4 She also co wrote This Old Heart of Mine Is Weak for You with Holland Dozier Holland for the Isley Brothers and It Takes Two with William Mickey Stevenson for Marvin Gaye and Kim Weston 5 She later wrote theme songs for several television shows and was involved in writing film music 1 She was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame alongside fellow Motown songwriter and producer Hank Cosby in 2006 6 7 She also set up a non profit group Center for Creative Communications working with underprivileged children in Detroit 2 Moy died of complications from pneumonia in Dearborn Michigan on April 15 2017 at the age of 78 2 Accolades editIn 1969 Moy won three BMI Awards for the songs Honey Chile I Was Made to Love Her and Shoo Be Doo Be Doo Da Day 8 Selective Discography editSingles 9 edit Year Title Artist Chart Writers Producers1965 Uptight Everything s Alright Stevie Wonder US 3 UK 14 Hank Cosby Sylvia Moy Stevie Wonder Cosby Mickey Stevenson1966 This Old Heart of Mine Is Weak for You The Isley Brothers US 12 Holland Dozier Holland Moy Brian Holland Lamont Dozier1966 It Takes Two Marvin Gaye amp Kim Weston US 14 Moy Stevenson Cosby Stevenson1967 I Was Made to Love Her Stevie Wonder US 2 UK 5 Cosby Moy Wonder Lula Mae Hardaway Hank Cosby1967 I m Wondering Stevie Wonder US 12 UK 12 Cosby Moy Wonder Hank Cosby1967 Love Bug Leave My Heart Alone Martha amp the Vandellas US 25 Moy Richard Morris Richard Morris1967 Honey Chile Martha amp the Vandellas US 11 Moy Morris Richard Morris1968 Shoo Be Doo Be Doo Da Day Stevie Wonder US 9 Cosby Moy Wonder Hank Cosby1969 My Cherie Amour Stevie Wonder US 4 UK 4 Cosby Moy Wonder Hank Cosby1969 We ve Got Honey Love Martha amp the Vandellas US 56 Moy Morris Richard Morris1970 Never Had a Dream Come True Stevie Wonder US 67 UK 6 Cosby Moy Wonder Henry Cosby1971 Forget Me Not Martha amp the Vandellas UK 11 Moy Morris Richard Morris1973 With a Child s Heart Michael Jackson US 50 Cosby Moy Vicki Basemore Freddie Perren Fonce MizellReferences edit a b Sylvia Moy Songwriters Hall of Fame Retrieved 16 April 2017 a b c d McCollum Brian April 16 2017 Sylvia Moy Motown pioneer and Stevie Wonder collaborator dies at 78 Detroit Free Press Graham Betts Motown Encyclopedia Retrieved 17 February 2015 Ribowsky Mark Signed Sealed and Delivered The Soulful Journey of Stevie Wonder p 133 44 2010 Sylvia Moy at MusicVF com Retrieved 18 February 2015 Perone James E The sound of Stevie Wonder his words and music p 5 11 2006 Mitchell Gail 22 April 2006 Rhythm amp Blues Billboard BMI Awards to 58 R amp B Writers PDF Billboard April 26 1969 p 3 Songs written by Sylvia Moy MusicVF com Retrieved 16 April 2017External links editSylvia Moy at AllMusic Sylvia Moy discography at Discogs Sylvia Moy at IMDb Adam White Sylvia and Stevie inspiration and influence Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Sylvia Moy amp oldid 1154338724, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
