Barrett Strong, a pivotal figure in the history of Motown Records, has died at the age of 81.
He sang the label's first major hit, Money (That's What I Want), in 1959, and went on to co-write classic songs like I Heard It Through the Grapevine, War and Papa Was a Rollin' Stone.
Those hits were "revolutionary in sound and captured the spirit of the times", Motown founder Berry Gordy said in a written tribute to the musician.
No cause of death has been disclosed.
"Barrett has left his indelible stamp... on music history," said Temptations founder Otis Williams in a statement. "Our Motown family has lost a beloved brother and extraordinary songwriter."
Gordy added: "Barrett was not only a great singer and piano player, but he, along with his writing partner Norman Whitfield, created an incredible body of work.
"Barrett is an original member of the Motown Family and will be missed by all of us."
Strong was born in Mississippi and grew up in Detroit, where he sang and played piano with his four sisters in The Strong Sisters, a gospel group.
While touring local churches, they befriended soul stars such as Jackie Wilson and Sam Cooke.
"My sisters were very pretty girls, so when all the singers would come to town, all the guys would stop by my house," he later recalled. "I'd play the piano and we'd have a jam session."
He was just 18 when he agreed to let Gordy manage him and release his music.
Within a year, he had a million-selling single, Money, which was subsequently covered by The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and the Flying Lizards.
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