In Focus: Marilyn McLeod

Ever wondered what Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder and Smokey Robinson would sound like on one track? Recorded in 1978 for Berry Gordy Sr’s 90th Birthday, “Pops, We Love You” was co-written by one of Motown Records’ most influential yet wickedly overlooked hitmakers, Marilyn McLeod, whose six-decade long career as a composer, lyricist and. arranger spans chart-topping hits for the US R&B stars of the day, irresistible deep/rare soul cuts, classic disco, proto-rap, roots reggae, funk/boogie and some of the most distinctive samples in the US hip-hop canon. Marilyn was born in late 1930s into a musical family in Detroit, where the McLeod and Gordy families met (Marilyn’s half-brother, Ernie Farrow, played double bass in Yusef Lateef’s 1950/1960s group and used to box with Berry Gordy), before being taken on as a staff writer at Motown in 1970s, and forging a prolific songwriting partnership with Pam Sawyer, and penning hits for Diana Ross, Marvin Gaye, Freda Payne and many more. Marilyn’s sister is Alice Mcleod (musician & spiritual leader, later known as Alice Coltrane Turiyasangitananda) and her grandson is composer/producer, filmmaker & rapper, Steven Ellison, aka Flying Lotus. Mixed by Fabrice Robinson, featuring interviews with Marilyn Mcleod Ellison, Flying Lotus & Sita Michelle Coltrane. With thanks to Mark “Frosty” McNeill (ashramtapes.com), Saige Sounds, Steve Nowlan & Lewis Robinson.