{
  "id": 2620642,
  "title": "Janie Bradford, Motown Songwriter Who Co-Wrote ‘Money (That’s What I Want’), Dead at 87",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/22/janie-bradford-motown-songwriter-who-co-wrote-money-thats-what-i-want",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-22T18:29:47.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Rolling Stone",
    "slug": "rolling-stone",
    "url": "https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/janie-bradford-motown-songwriter-money-dead-obituary-1235613355/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "Janie Bradford Hobbs, a songwriter who helped shape the sound of Motown, has died at the age of 87 following an extended illness at a Los Angeles hospital. According to her family, she passed away on August 22. Bradford Hobbs started her career at Motown as a receptionist in 1958, but soon became involved in the creative process, co-writing hits with founder Berry Gordy.\n\nSome of her notable works include \"Money (That's What I Want)\", which was recorded by Barrett Strong in 1959 and later covered by The Beatles, and \"Too Busy Thinking About My Baby\", which was recorded by The Temptations and later by Marvin Gaye. She also wrote songs for other Motown artists, including Stevie Wonder, The Supremes, Martha & The Vandellas, and Mary Wells.\n\nBerry Gordy paid tribute to Bradford Hobbs, saying she was with him from the very beginning, before Motown even existed, and holds a special place in his heart and in the Motown family. Bradford Hobbs was born in Charleston, Missouri, and was introduced to Gordy by neighbor and singer Jackie Wilson in the late 1950s.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 5,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Winnipeg Free Press",
        "title": "Early Motown songwriter Janie Bradford Hobbs dies in Los Angeles after illness at age 87",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/22/early-motown-songwriter-janie-bradford-hobbs-dies-in-los-angeles-2615722",
        "published": "2026-08-22T16:47:30.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Associated Press",
        "title": "Early Motown songwriter Janie Bradford Hobbs dies in Los Angeles after illness at age 87",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/22/early-motown-songwriter-janie-bradford-hobbs-dies-in-los-angeles",
        "published": "2026-08-22T16:53:02.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Hollywood Reporter",
        "title": "Janie Bradford, “Money (That’s What I Want)” Songwriter, Dies at 87",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/22/janie-bradford-money-thats-what-i-want-songwriter-dies-at-87",
        "published": "2026-08-22T17:02:14.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Billboard",
        "title": "Janie Bradford, Early Motown Songwriter & ‘Money (That’s What I Want)’ Co-Writer, Dies at 87",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/22/janie-bradford-early-motown-songwriter-money-thats-what-i-want-co",
        "published": "2026-08-22T18:05:19.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}