Janie Bradford, “Money (That’s What I Want)” Songwriter, Dies at 87
Janie Bradford, a pioneering Motown songwriter and its first receptionist, has died aged 87 after an extended illness. She co-wrote “Money (That’s What I Want)”, Motown founder Berry Gordy’s first major hit, and helped shape the label’s early success and enduring musical legacy.
Bradford died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles on Friday, her family said. Her credits included Marvin Gaye’s 1969 No. 4 US hit “Too Busy Thinking About My Baby” and songs for Stevie Wonder, Mary Wells, The Temptations and The Supremes; she later led writer relations for Motown publisher Jobete. After around 25 years at Motown, she founded the Heroes and Legends Awards in the 1990s and was inducted into the Women Songwriters Hall of Fame in June.
- Motown songwriter Janie Bradford has died aged 87.
- She co-wrote “Money (That’s What I Want)”.
- Her work helped establish Motown’s early legacy.
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Motown was a Detroit-based record company founded by Berry Gordy in 1959. It became one of the most influential labels in popular music, bringing artists including Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, The Supremes and The Temptations to wide audiences in the United States and abroad.
Janie Bradford joined Motown at its beginning, initially working as the company’s receptionist before becoming a songwriter. “Money (That’s What I Want)”, written with Gordy, was recorded by Barrett Strong and helped establish the label’s commercial footing; it was later covered by several other performers.
Songwriters and music publishers were central to Motown’s approach, creating material for its roster of singers and managing the rights to those songs. Bradford later worked with Jobete, Motown’s publishing arm, supporting writers and their work within the company.