Janie Bradford Hobbs, the songwriter who helped shape some of Motown’s earliest music, has died at 87. Her family announced that she died on August 21 at a Los Angeles hospital following an extended illness.
Bradford Hobbs joined Motown in 1958 as a receptionist before becoming part of the label’s songwriting operation. In a statement following her death, Motown founder Berry Gordy remembered her as one of the people who believed in the company from its earliest days.
She co-wrote Money (That’s What I Want) with Gordy, recorded by Barrett Strong in 1959 and later covered by The Beatles. Her credits also included Too Busy Thinking About My Baby, first recorded by The Temptations and later turned into a hit by Marvin Gaye.
Bradford Hobbs also wrote for artists including Stevie Wonder, The Supremes and Martha & The Vandellas. Later, she worked in writer relations for Motown’s publishing arm and founded the Heroes and Legends Awards, which supported scholarships for young performers.