Barrett Strong Jr. (February 5, 1941 – January 28, 2023) was an American singer and songwriter known for his recording of “Money (That’s What I Want)“, which was the first hit single for the Motown record label. He is also known for his songwriting work in association with producer Norman Whitfield; together, they penned such songs as “I Heard It Through the Grapevine“, “War“, “Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)“, and “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone“.

In 2004, Strong was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame alongside Whitfield.

Strong was born in West Point, Mississippi, on February 5, 1941, the only boy in a family of six children born to Barrett Strong Sr., a minister. His family moved to Detroit, Michigan, when he was four years old, and his father bought him a piano soon after. Strong began singing at Hutchins Middle School in Detroit, where his classmates included Aretha Franklin and Lamont Dozier.