Throwback: Happy 84th Birthday, Lamont Dozier!

We’ve made it halfway through 2026 y’all. And for my friends, readers and dearest ones in the LGQBTIA+ community: Happy Pride!

June is a busy month for birthdays. 

• Alanis Morisette celebrated her 52nd birthday on June 1
• The Smiths‘ Mike Joyce celebrated his 63rd birthday on June 1
• Brandi Carlile celebrated her 45th birthday on June 1
• Cypress Hill’s and Prophets of Rage’s B Real celebrated his 56th birthday on June 2
• The Rolling Stones‘ Charlie Watts was born 85 years ago.on June 2
• One of the greatest singer/songwriters to ever live, Curtis Mayfield was born 84 years ago on June 3
• Al B. Sure! celebrated his 58th birthday on June 4
• The Psychedelic Furs and Love Spit Love frontman Richard Butler celebrated his 70th birthday on June 5
• The legendary Prince was born 68 years ago on June 7
• Duran Duran‘s Nick Rhodes celebrated his 64th birthday on June 8
• “Mr. Excitement,” the great Jackie Wilson was born 92 years ago on June 9
• Faith Evans celebrated her 53rd birthday on June 10
• Howlin’ Wolf, one of the greatest bluesmen to have done it was born 116 years ago on June 10
• ZZ Top‘s drummer Frank Beard celebrated his 77th birthday on .June 11
• Boy George celebrated his 65th birthday on June 14
• Ice Cube, one of the greatest emcees to ever spit a bar on an album celebrated his 57th birthday on June 15
• Waylon Jennings was born 89 years ago on June 15
• Tupac Shakur, one of the most dynamic, supremely talented and contradictory figures in hip hop was born 55 years ago today
• The O’Jays‘ Eddie Levert celebrates his 84th birthday today

Holland-Dozier-Holland, the songwriting and production team of Lamont Dozier and brothers Brian and Eddie Holland wrote, arranged and produced some of the most indelible, deeply beloved, important and most covered songs ever. 

During their five-year stint at Motown Records, the legendary songwriting, arranging and production team helped create and define the classic 1960s Motown soul sound. For casual music fans, Holland-Dozier-Holland probably won’t be all that familiar, especially because for most of their careers, they were behind the scenes. But I can tell you that not only do you know their songs, so do your parents — and in some cases, your grandparents, too. 

Holland-Dozier-Holland were behind 10 of 12 of The Supremes‘ 12 #1 singles, including “Baby Love,” “Stop! In The Name of Love,” “Where Did Our Love Go,” and “You Keep Me Hanging On,”  Marvin Gaye’s “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You),” Martha and the Vandellas‘ “Nowhere to Run,” and “Heat Wave,” and The Four Tops‘ beloved hits, including “Reach Out (I’ll Be There),” and “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch).” And this is an extremely short list that came to mind. Believe me y’all, it’s much, much, much longer. 

Deservedly, the trio were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame back in 1988 and the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame in 1990. They didn’t just write great, ridiculously memorable songs, their work is the soundtrack of our most cherished memories, and the bedrock of American post World War 2 culture. What we’re talking about with this trio is unparalleled Black Excellence.

The trio’s Lamor Dozier was born on this day 84 years ago. Happy birthday, sir! Happy birthday, wherever you are! And thank you so some of the greatest songs ever written or recorded. I don’t think any of us can imagine a world without your work.

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