You may not have heard of Barrett Strong, but his best known song was probably "Money (That's What I Want)" [Motown's first hit single, which he didn't write].

He also wrote, alongside Norman Whitfield, "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" (Marvin Gaye), "Ball of Confusion", "Just My Imagination", and "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" (The Temptations), and "War" (Edwin Starr), among other

Strong's songs have been sampled or covered by everyone from Tupac to Tom Jones.

Sad news. He was a talented man.

Probably one of the most influential songwriters most folks have never heard of. A true heavyweight.

Motown!! That's some great music!! RIP Barrett

He was one of Motown's best songwriters. I personally love the songs he had composed (along with Norman Whitfield) for the Temptations. May he rest in peace.

I think he and Norman Whitfield also wrote Wherever I Lay My Hat (That's My Home), which makes me think that song and Papa Was a Rolling Stone were maybe two sides of the same story.

This dude was one of the greatest lyricists in the history of soul music. Don't forget "Smiling Faces Sometimes" (Undisputed Truth).

That's right, they wrote "Wherever I Lay My Hat" alongside Marvin Gaye (who did not write "Grapevine").