A legendary songwriter with Motown Records, Barrett Strong has reached the absolute peak of artistic and commercial success, penning some of America's most loved soul anthems. Writing songs since a very young age, he was introduced to Berry Gordy by family friend Jackie Wilson and began his work in the music business at the tender age of fifteen. His first big hit with the Motown label was Money, which he sang himself. Strong then teamed up with another Motown legend, Norman Whitfield and the two became a dynamic songwriting and production duo that helped tailor songs to fit the unique talents of Motown greats Marvin Gaye, The Temptations, Gladys Knight & The Pips, Jerry Butler, The Dells, Chubby Checker, and many more. The timeless magic of Strong & Whitfield is still heard today in songs such as Papa Was A Rolling Stone, I Heard It Through The Grapevine, I Wish It Would Rain, Cloud Nine, Just My Imagination, and Smiling Faces to name a few of their smash hits. Barrett Strong has received numerous Grammy nominations and has been honored with one Grammy Award. He also possesses an almost unbelievable twelve Gold singles, two Platinum singles, and three Gold albums based on the enormous popularity of his hit songs. In 1990, he was acknowledged by the National Association of Songwriters in Los Angeles and was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award. Recently he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Unlike most of his peers who left Detroit when Motown moved to L.A., Strong decided to remain and dedicate himself to illuminating the city that had help make him such a shining star. Barrett Strong, Stronghold II Musicians: Al Turner / Bass Ron Otis / Drums Sonya Mastick / Drums on "In My Dreams" Brian Lord / Acoustic Guitar Stephen Grant Wood / Acoustic Guitar / Slide Guitar Carl Robinson / Guitar Leroy Hyter / Grand Piano / B 3 Organ Louis Resto / Grand Piano / Synthesizer William McPhail / Drum Program on Race Lorenzo Brown / Percussion Background Vocals: Eliza Neals Michelle Thomasian Valerie Taylor Kathy Kosins Lamonte Johnson Sheila Hardin More Than I Am: Duet featuring Barrett Strong and Eliza Neals Save Me From the Fire: Duet featuring Eliza Neals and Greg MacDonald AKA Sin of Zug Izland All songs written by Barrett Strong and Eliza Neals Except: - In My Dreams, Strong / Thomasian / Valerie Taylor - Man Up In The Sky, Strong and Billy Always - I Wish It Would Rain, Strong / Whitfield - Whiter Shade of Pale, Procol Harum - Race, Strong - Save Me From The Fire, Thomasian / Strong / Taylor All songs were written for Not Sampled Music Publishing and Elizbeth Thomasian Music 2008/BMI Except: - I Wish It Would Rain / Jobete Music - 1968/BMI - Man Up In The Sky / Strong and Billy Always / Chappel Music - 1971/BMI - Whiter Shade of Pale, Procol Harum Album Cover by Robert Paul Nixon String Arrangements by Paul Riser Vocal Arrangements by Barrett Strong and Eliza Neals Produced and Arranged by Barrett Strong Executive Producer Barrett Strong