Deke Richards
Deke Richards | |
---|---|
Birth name | Dennis Lussier |
Also known as | Deke Lussier |
Born | Los Angeles,California,United States | April 8, 1944
Died | March 24, 2013 Bellingham, Washington,US | (aged 68)
Genres | Rhythm and blues,pop |
Occupation(s) | Record producer,songwriter |
Labels | Motown |
Deke Richards(bornDennis Lussier;[1]April 8, 1944 – March 24, 2013), also known asDeke Lussier,[2]was anAmericansongwriterandrecord producerwho was affiliated withMotown.[3]He was a member of both the Clan andthe Corporation,the latter a production team that wrote and produced some ofthe Jackson 5's early hits.[3]
Biography
[edit]He was born inLos Angeles, California.[4]His father was the screenwriterDane Lussier.Deke Lussier portrayed one of the band members in the movieEegahin 1962.[2]He later used thestage nameDeke Richards. While playing in a band that backed singerDebbie Dean,he wrote a song for her, and metBerry GordywhenThe Supremesplayed at theHollywood Palacein 1966. Gordy signed Richards to a contract as arecord producerand songwriter.[4]
Richards also wrote and produced forBobby Darin,Martha and the Vandellas,The Blackberries, Stacie Johnson, and others,[2]and producedDiana Ross and the SupremesafterHolland, Dozier and Hollandleft Motown in 1968.[4]He co-wrote the U.S. no.1 hit "Love Child"for the Supremes, and was responsible for"I'm Still Waiting",a UK no.1 hit, forDiana Ross.[5]He and fellow writerSherlie Matthewsalso formulated the vocal sextet Celebration, which released an album onMotown's Mowest label, in an attempt to replicate the success of the5th Dimension.
Richards died ofesophageal canceron March 24, 2013, at age 68.[5]
References
[edit]- ^"Jackson 5 producer Deke Richards dies aged 68".BBC News, March 26, 2013. Retrieved March 26, 2013.
- ^abcWeaver, Tom (2005).Earth vs. the sci-fi film makers.McFarland. p. 176.ISBN0-7864-2210-6.
- ^abWhitall, Susan (June 26, 2009)."From Motown to LA, Michael Jackson left a lasting mark".The Detroit News.
- ^abc"Deke Richards, Motown Songwriter and Producer, Dies at 68".Hollywood Reporter,March 25, 2013. Retrieved March 26, 2013.
- ^ab"Deke Richards, of Motown's The Corporation, dies".The Detroit News,March 25, 2013. Retrieved March 26, 2013.Archived2014-03-22 at theWayback Machine