Elgie Stover
Encyclopedia
Elgie Stover is an American
songwriter, composer, producer and background singer, most famous for his associations with uncle Harvey Fuqua
and legendary Motown star Marvin Gaye
, co-writing two of Gaye's songs from the singer's acclaimed 1971 album, What's Going On
.
Growing up in Cleveland, Ohio
, Elgie and Kenneth later moved to Detroit
, where the brothers worked closely with Harvey Fuqua on his Tri-Phi Records label. In the late-sixties, after befriending staff from Motown, the brothers signed with the label as staff songwriters and producers. Elgie's most famous works came as the result of working so closely with Gaye, with whom he and Kenneth had befriended shortly after they signed with Motown.
Elgie co-wrote with Marvin, wife Anna
and Iris Gordy on The Originals
' 1970 classic, "The Bells
". A year later, Stover's greatest contribution came when he took part in co-writing "Flying High in the Friendly Sky" and "God is Love" on Marvin's What's Going On. Elgie later co-wrote Gaye's 1973 ballad, "Just to Keep You Satisfied
". Stover is vocally heard shouting and screaming on a demo version of Gaye's later hit, "Distant Lover
", from a November 1970 session as Gaye struggled with Motown over releasing the "What's Going On
" single.
In later years, he served as caterer for Bill Clinton
and his Secret Service men.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
songwriter, composer, producer and background singer, most famous for his associations with uncle Harvey Fuqua
Harvey Fuqua
Harvey Fuqua, was an African-American rhythm and blues singer, songwriter, record producer, and record label executive.Fuqua founded the seminal R&B/doo-wop group the Moonglows in the 1950s...
and legendary Motown star Marvin Gaye
Marvin Gaye
Marvin Pentz Gay, Jr. , better known by his stage name Marvin Gaye, was an American singer-songwriter and musician with a three-octave vocal range....
, co-writing two of Gaye's songs from the singer's acclaimed 1971 album, What's Going On
What's Going On
What's Going On is the eleventh studio album by soul musician Marvin Gaye, released May 21, 1971, on the Motown-subsidiary label Tamla Records...
.
Growing up in Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
, Elgie and Kenneth later moved to Detroit
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
, where the brothers worked closely with Harvey Fuqua on his Tri-Phi Records label. In the late-sixties, after befriending staff from Motown, the brothers signed with the label as staff songwriters and producers. Elgie's most famous works came as the result of working so closely with Gaye, with whom he and Kenneth had befriended shortly after they signed with Motown.
Elgie co-wrote with Marvin, wife Anna
Anna Gordy Gaye
Anna Gordy Gaye is an American songwriter and composer, known as the elder sister of Motown founder Berry Gordy and the first wife of soul legend Marvin Gaye, who used their troubled marriage as the focal point of his critically acclaimed 1978 effort, Here, My Dear, an album from which Gordy...
and Iris Gordy on The Originals
The Originals
The Originals were a successful Motown R&B and soul group during the late 1960s and the 1970s, most notable for the hits "Baby I'm For Real", "The Bells" and the disco classic, "Down to Love Town"...
' 1970 classic, "The Bells
The Bells (The Originals song)
"The Bells" is a 1970 single recorded by The Originals for Motown Records' Soul label, produced by Marvin Gaye and co-written by Gaye, his wife Anna Gordy Gaye, Iris Gordy, and Elgie Stover.-The Originals version:...
". A year later, Stover's greatest contribution came when he took part in co-writing "Flying High in the Friendly Sky" and "God is Love" on Marvin's What's Going On. Elgie later co-wrote Gaye's 1973 ballad, "Just to Keep You Satisfied
Just to Keep You Satisfied
"Just to Keep You Satisfied" is a song by soul singer Marvin Gaye. The song was the b-side to Marvin's modest 1974 hit, "You Sure Love to Ball" and was the eighth and final song issued on the singer's 1973 album, Let's Get It On.-Background:...
". Stover is vocally heard shouting and screaming on a demo version of Gaye's later hit, "Distant Lover
Distant Lover
"Distant Lover" is the sixth song issued on singer Marvin Gaye's 1973 album, Let's Get It On and was later issued as a live recording in 1974. The live version of the song was Gaye's most successful single during the three-year gap between Let's Get It On and his following 1976 album, I Want...
", from a November 1970 session as Gaye struggled with Motown over releasing the "What's Going On
What's Going On (song)
"What's Going On" is a song written by Renaldo "Obie" Benson, Al Cleveland, and Marvin Gaye. It was the title track of Gaye's groundbreaking 1971 Motown album What's Going On, and it became a crossover hit single that reached #2 on the pop charts and #1 on the R&B charts...
" single.
In later years, he served as caterer for Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
and his Secret Service men.