Holland-Dozier-Holland was a songwriting and production team consisting of Lamont Dozier and brothers Brian Holland and Edward Holland, Jr. that was responsible for much of the Motown sound that dominated American popular music in the 1960s.
The three wrote and produced for a number of stars who recorded with Motown Records, including "(Love is Like a) Heat Wave" for Martha & the Vandellas, "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)" for Marvin Gaye, and many hits for The Four Tops and The Supremes. Lamont Dozier and Brian Holland served as the composers/producers, while Edward Holland was the lyricist and vocal arranger.
In all, they were responsible for 25 Top 10 hit singles.
The trio left Motown in 1968 after disputing with label head Berry Gordy over profit sharing and royalties. They started their own labels, Invictus and Hot Wax, both of which were only mildly successful. Motown sued for breach of contract, and H-D-H countersued. The litigation that followed was one of the longest legal battles in music-industry history.
Holland-Dozier-Holland operated as independent producers from the mid-1970s on, and wrote and produced for a number of artists, including Motown artists such as the 1970s Supremes and Michael Jackson. Ironically, the producers' lawsuits against Motown were still pending while they were working on material for the label's artists.
Production and Songwriting Highlights
Last updated: 08-17-2005 19:27:09
