The Nashville Blues Society is to host A Tribute to Barrett Strong at BB Kings in Nashville on August 28 at 7pm. The lineup will include John Ford Coley, Sarah Buxton & Dave Pahanish, Markey, Eliza Neals, Jimmy Hall, Mike Farris, The McCrary Sisters, Maria Blues, James "Nick" Nixon & Chelson Strong, and other surprise guests.
Each performer will pick their favorite Strong song, while Barrett himself will be on hand to speak and answer questions about his impressive career.
Barrett Strong became an integral part of Berry Gordy’s Motown machine at the age of fifteen, after being introduced to Gordy and Jackie Wilson. He wrote “Money” for Motown, a song that was later covered by The Beatles. Alongside Norman Whitfield, Strong wrote songs for Motown greats including Marvin Gaye, the Temptations, Gladys Knight & The Pips, Jerry Butler, the Dells, Chubby Checker, and many more. Those songs included such Motown classics as "Papa Was A Rolling Stone”, “I Heard it Through the Grapevine”, “I Wish it Would Rain”, “Cloud Nine”, “Just My Imagination”, and “Smiling Faces”" to name just a few. Strong still writes from his beloved hometown of Detroit.
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