Hits Late Motown Pioneer Janie Bradford Hobbs Wrote For Other Artists

Janie Bradford Hobbs, a pioneer at Motown Records who co-wrote the company’s first hit, died over the weekend at the age of 87.

Her family announced that she passed on August 21 in Los Angeles, following an extended illness.

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Bradford Hobbs made her mark in Motown early when the record label was founded. She was first introduced to Motown founder Berry Gordy by a neighborhood friend, Jackie Wilson, according to Rolling Stone. She joined the label in 1958 as a receptionist.

In 1959, she and Berry Gordy co-wrote “Money (That’s What I Want)” by Barrett Strong, which shot to number one and became an early hit for the label.