(August 22, 2026) She quietly played an unexpected, key role in the rise of the greatest soul music label of all time and was, in many ways, one of the “hearts” of Motown. Today, we are saddened to report the passing of Janie Bradford, one of the largely unsung architects of the early Motown sound. Her death was announced by the R&B Hall of Fame. She was 87, and had been an inductee of the Hall in 2015.
Born in Charleston, Missouri, Bradford moved with her family to Detroit, where a connection with neighbor Jackie Wilson ultimately led her to Berry Gordy. She joined the fledgling Motown operation in 1958 as a secretary, but it didn’t take long for Gordy to recognize that Bradford had much more to offer. She became Motown’s first female songwriter and, with Gordy, co-wrote the label’s groundbreaking early hit, “Money (That’s What I Want),” recorded by Barrett Strong.
“Money” became far bigger than its original hit recording, emerging as one of the most enduring songs of the rock and soul era. It was later recorded by artists ranging from The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, and ultimately becoming a hit two decades later for The Flying Lizards.
But “Money” was only the beginning. Over more than two decades at Motown, Bradford contributed to an impressive collection of recordings, including Marvin Gaye’s “Too Busy Thinking About My Baby,” Mary Wells’ “Your Old Standby,” Stevie Wonder’s “Contract on Love,” and songs recorded by The Supremes, The Marvelettes, Kim Weston, Carolyn Crawford and others. She also rose within the company to become director of writer relations, working behind the scenes with many of the writers who helped turn Motown into a cultural institution.
Bradford’s impact continued long after her Motown years. She founded the Heroes and Legends (HAL) Scholarship Fund, creating the annual HAL Awards to honor entertainment industry veterans while raising scholarship money for young people pursuing careers in the performing arts. It was an appropriate second act for someone whose own career had demonstrated how much of music history is created by talented people whose names may not always appear on the marquee.
Janie Bradford occupied a special place in the Motown story. She was there virtually at the beginning, when Hitsville was still more dream than empire. And while millions of music fans may never have known her name, they certainly knew her songs and benefitted from her impact. Rest in peace, Janie Bradford.
