American songwriter and producer most famous for his contributions to Motown’s success during the 1960s. Also credited as William Mickey Stevenson.
Born: January 4, 1937, in Detroit, Michigan, USA, he recorded a number of doo wop and gospel records for various Detroit labels including Stepp Records, which he owned. The label released several records in 1959 and 1960 by Herman Griffin, Tall Tonio & The Mello-Dees (Tony Clarke’s first recording), and the Barbees. He joined Motown in 1959. He was head of the A&R department there during the company’s glory years of the mid-1960s. He left the label in 1967, when he and his then-wife Kim Weston left for MGM Records. He wrote or produced dozens of hit records at Motown, many with Ivy Hunter, including Dancing In The Street by Martha & The Vandellas; Ask The Lonley by the Four Tops; It Takes Two by Marvin Gaye & Kim Weston; My Baby Loves Me by Martha & The Vandellas; and Devil With A Blue Dress by Shorty Long. After leaving Motown, he formed the short-lived [l489160=People] label in 1969 and released singles by Kim Weston and others. The label was dissolved in 1971 at about the same time James Brown started his own [l1191202=label of the same name]. Also in 1969, he was appointed head of [l79121=Venture Records], a subsidiary of MGM, aimed at increasing their share of the R & B market. In recent years, he has largely been involved in producing stage musicals. The latter include Swann, Showgirls, Wings and Things, The Gospel Truth, TKO, and Chocolate City.

• For the Country music songwriter who co-wrote with either Eddie Miller (Release Me, There He/She Goes) or Carl Belew (Am I That Easy To Forget?, Stop The World), please use Record company president W.S. Stevenson with ANV if appropriate.