Founding Fathers: Lamont Dozier

Alison Moyet Performs the Lamont Dozier-penned "Invisible," c. 1984 (YouTube)

Lamont Dozier‘s status as a Founding Father comes in two flavors: as a member of the Motown songwriting and production team known as Holland/Dozier /Holland and as a performer and record label operator. Here, we consider the latter.

Previous to establishing himself as an incomparable songwriter and producer for Motown in the company of Eddie and Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier was a performer in his own right, recording with the Romeos and the Voice Masters in the late 1950s and early ’60s as well as early-’60s sides as both ‘Lamont Anthony‘ and under his own name.

In 1967, he broke off from “the corporation” and started his own labels, Invictus and Hot Wax, on which he recorded a number of sides with Eddie Holland and, again, as a solo act.

Among his more notable cuts as part of a duo were the masterful “Don’t Leave Me Starvin’ for Love,” in 1972 and the soulful “Slipping Away,” released in 1973.

As a solo artist, Dozier charted three straight Number 4 cuts on the R&B charts with “Tryin’ to Hold Onto My Woman,” “Fish Ain’t Bitin’” and “Let Me Start Tonight,” all following the demise of Invictus.

In recent years, Dozier’s songwriting skills have remained strong, his tune “Invisible” made a huge hit for Alison Moyet in 1984.

It’s our Gallery of Greats! Check out more Founding Fathers here…