Janie Bradford Shaped Motown’s Sound | Music News

Music News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Aug 22, 2026 · 1m

Janie Bradford, the brilliant Motown songwriter who co-wrote the legendary “Money (That’s What I Want)” and helped shape the sound of soul music, has died at 87. A key figure from Motown’s earliest days, she began as a receptionist but quickly became an essential creative force — adding the iconic verse that made the song a smash hit. Her work also fueled hits for Mary Wells, Stevie Wonder, The Supremes, and more. Beyond writing, she founded the Heroes And Legends Awards and championed young artists, earning her a spot in the Women Songwriters Hall Of Fame just this year. Gordy called her…