Music
Janie Bradford
1939–2026 · songwriter
Motown's first receptionist, who as a teenager co-wrote "Money (That's What I Want)" with Berry Gordy at Hitsville.
- Born
Charleston, Missouri- Died
Los Angeles, California
aged 87- Also known as
- Janie Bradford Hobbs
- Detroit years
- 1940s–1970
- Field
- Music
01 / The Detroit story
The Detroit story
Bradford came to Detroit as a child with her family during the Great Migration from the rural South. Still in her teens, she was answering the phones at Motown's front desk on West Grand Boulevard when she contributed lyrics to "Money (That's What I Want)", recorded by Barrett Strong and later by the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. She also helped Raynoma Gordy run the young company's publishing office. Over more than 25 years with Motown she wrote or co-wrote "Too Busy Thinking About My Baby" (a hit for Marvin Gaye), "Your Old Standby" for Mary Wells, "Contract on Love" for Little Stevie Wonder and songs for the Marvelettes, Kim Weston and the Supremes. She moved to Los Angeles with the company in 1970, later ran a scholarship fund and the HAL Awards honoring entertainment legends, and died there in 2026.
Highlights
- Co-wrote "Money (That's What I Want)" (1959) with Berry Gordy
- Motown's first receptionist
- Co-wrote "Too Busy Thinking About My Baby"
- Founded the Heroes and Legends (HAL) Awards scholarship event
02 / Their Detroit places
Their Detroit places 1
Where they lived, worked, performed and liked to hang out. Closed and demolished places stay here too, because they are part of the city's history.
Worked here · 1959–1970
Motown Museum
She was the receptionist here when she co-wrote "Money".