#22: Norman Whitfield
Norman Whitfield brought a darker, more adventurous edge to the Motown story. When he became the Temptations’ producer and principal songwriter with Barrett Strong, the group moved into a funkier, more socially aware phase that gave us records unlike the smoother Motown hits that had come before. “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone” and “Cloud Nine” showed how psychedelic soul could carry atmosphere, tension, and commentary all at once.
