Janie Bradford, a songwriter and longtime figure in the music industry, passed away at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles following an extended illness. She was 87.
Bradford gained prominence for her work as a co-writer on “Money (That’s What I Want),” which became a significant early hit for Motown Records after being first recorded by Barrett Strong. The track reached No. 23 on the Billboard Hot 100 and has since been covered by numerous artists including The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Supremes, Boyz II Men, and others. Her songwriting credits extended to additional compositions, including “Too Busy Thinking About My Baby,” which Marvin Gaye recorded and brought to No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1969.
Bradford worked with an extensive roster of Motown artists throughout her career, contributing songs to Mary Wells, Stevie Wonder, The Temptations, the Four Tops, Martha & the Vandellas, and Diana Ross, among others. Beyond her songwriting work, she served as head of writer relations for Jobete, Motown’s publishing company, and spent approximately 25 years with the label. Berry Gordy, Motown’s founder, credited Bradford with being present “from the very beginning, before there was even a Motown” and noted her various roles in supporting the label’s operations and success.
In later decades, Bradford founded the Heroes and Legends Awards, an initiative that honored music industry figures and provided scholarships for educational pursuits. She was inducted into the Women Songwriters Hall of Fame in June. She is survived by her husband of 55 years, Wardean, along with her children and grandchildren.
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