Deke Richards
{{short description|American producer (1944–2013}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Deke Richards
| image =
| caption =
| image_size =
| birth_name = Dennis Lussier
| alias = Deke Lussier
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1944|4|8}}
| birth_place = Los Angeles, California, United States
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2013|3|24|1944|4|8}}
| death_place = Bellingham, Washington, US
| origin =
| instrument =
| genre = Rhythm and blues, pop
| occupation = Record producer, songwriter
| years_active =
| label = Motown
| associated_acts = Debbie Dean, The Jackson 5, Diana Ross and the Supremes, etc.
| website =
}}
Deke Richards (born Dennis Lussier;[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-21937274 "Jackson 5 producer Deke Richards dies aged 68"]. BBC News, March 26, 2013. Retrieved March 26, 2013. April 8, 1944 – March 24, 2013), also known as Deke Lussier, was an American songwriter and record producer who was affiliated with Motown.{{Cite news |url=http://www.detnews.com/article/20090626/ENT04/906260392/-1/rss |title=From Motown to LA, Michael Jackson left a lasting mark |first=Susan |last=Whitall |date=June 26, 2009 |newspaper=The Detroit News }} He was a member of both the Clan and the Corporation, the latter a production team that wrote and produced some of the Jackson 5's early hits.
Biography
He was born in Los Angeles, California. His father was the screenwriter Dane Lussier. Deke Lussier portrayed one of the band members in the movie Eegah in 1962. He later used the stage name Deke Richards. While playing in a band that backed singer Debbie Dean, he wrote a song for her, and met Berry Gordy when The Supremes played at the Hollywood Palace in 1966. Gordy signed Richards to a contract as a record producer and songwriter."[http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/deke-richards-motown-jackson-5-diana-ross-430875 Deke Richards, Motown Songwriter and Producer, Dies at 68]". Hollywood Reporter, March 25, 2013. Retrieved March 26, 2013.
Richards also wrote and produced for Bobby Darin, Martha and the Vandellas, The Blackberries, Stacie Johnson, and others,{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kGLtcc_pJxQC&q=%22deke+richards%22&pg=PT186 |title=Earth vs. the sci-fi film makers |first=Tom |last=Weaver |page=176 |publisher=McFarland |year=2005 |isbn=0-7864-2210-6 }} and produced Diana Ross and the Supremes after Holland, Dozier and Holland left Motown in 1968. He co-wrote the U.S. no.1 hit "Love Child" for the Supremes, and was responsible for "I'm Still Waiting", a UK no.1 hit, for Diana Ross. He and fellow writer Sherlie Matthews also formulated the vocal sextet Celebration, which released an album on Motown's Mowest label, in an attempt to replicate the success of the 5th Dimension.
Richards died of esophageal cancer on March 24, 2013, at age 68."[http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20130325/ENT04/303250429/1361/Deke-Richards--of-Motown-s-The-Corporation--dies Deke Richards, of Motown's The Corporation, dies]". The Detroit News, March 25, 2013. Retrieved March 26, 2013.{{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140322044910/http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20130325/ENT04/303250429/1361/Deke-Richards--of-Motown-s-The-Corporation--dies |date=2014-03-22 }}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|1883229}}
- [http://www.allmusic.com/artist/deke-richards-mn0000814546 Credits at Allmusic.com]
- [http://repertoire.bmi.com/writer.asp?page=1&blnWriter=True&blnPublisher=True&blnArtist=True&fromrow=1&torow=25&affiliation=BMI&cae=41297297&keyID=286941&keyname=RICHARDS%20DEKE&querytype=WriterID Songwriting credits at BMI.com]{{dead link|date=November 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
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Category:Musicians from Los Angeles
Category:Record producers from California
Category:Songwriters from California