William “Mickey” Stevenson
(Producer / Creator / Songwriter)
Motown’s 1st A&R Director
Academy Award Nominee for the movie “Changes”
Producer & Writer of 6 Image Award Winning Stage Plays Producer of ABC Special – Motown 45

MR. STEVENSON has written and produced such hits songs as: “DANCING IN THE STREET”, “IT TAKES TWO”, “HITCH HIKE”,“PRIDE AND JOY”, “DEVIL WITH THE
BLUE DRESS”, “MY BABY LOVES ME”, and “ONCE IN MY LIFE”, just to name a few.


Stevenson, was a powerful presence around the halls of Motown where only Berry Gordy himself wielded more power over Motown's creative output. Berry played a hunch and hired the streetwise Stevenson as his first A&R (artist and repertoire) director, even before the job had been properly defined. From there on, Mickey's familiar imprimatur appeared on a plethora of Motown smashes as writer, producer, or both.


Once officially installed, Mickey quickly made himself invaluable. His search for talent was relentless. After building the house band, “The Funk Brothers”, finding gifted, talented artist, writers, and producers, was the order of the day; making Stevenson’s auditions, endless. Because of his talented discoveries he maintained no less than ten percent (10%) and as high as thirteen percent (13%) of the national charts for years.

Mickey's responsibilities as A&R man included such artist as Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross and the Supremes, Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye, Gladys Night, The Four Tops, Martha Reeves and the Vandella’s to name a few. As the A & R man, Stevenson had to provide the material for collaboration with the label's creative geniuses, and solving a myriad of problems so Berry - an expert at delegating authority - didn't have to.

The entire creative division of Motown was his responsibility until he resigned to form his own operation,

The Stevenson International Entertainment Group.

by ashley
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