How Sweet It Is by Lamont Dozier

Author:Lamont Dozier [Dozier, Lamont]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781947026315
Publisher: BMG Books
Published: 2019-11-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

WHERE DID OUR LOVE GO?

As Eddie, Brian, and I saw it, Holland-Dozier-Holland was one of the key ingredients in the secret sauce that transformed Motown from a scrappy independent R&B record label into a worldwide force in pop music. By 1967 we’d written and produced well over half the successful singles that had built Berry’s company into an unstoppable hit machine. But our accomplishments came at a cost. The relentless work and around-the-clock hours were not compatible with a healthy personal life. My first marriage fell apart, which resulted in ripple effects that damaged my ability to have the kind of relationship I wanted to have with my daughter Michelle.

Brian and his wife split up, too. We all internalized a tremendous amount of stress, but it wasn’t something we talked about with one another. In those days men weren’t supposed to talk about their feelings, express their fears, or appear emotionally vulnerable. Publicly, I tried to keep a stiff upper lip, but inside I felt like I was going to implode. My drinking continued to increase, and I developed serious anxiety problems that would reach a breaking point in the years to come.

Other relationships suffered in ways I couldn’t have imagined. I remember one day we wrapped up our studio work early, and I actually got away from the office at a decent hour. I was feeling a little melancholy and decided I’d drive down to the Jeffries Projects to visit some of my old buddies from high school. It sounds kind of funny because I was still living in the same city, but I felt homesick. I thought maybe I could find some of my friends, and we’d have a good time catching up and talking about the old days.

I parked my car and walked over to the courtyard outside the apartment where my mother used to stay. I spotted a guy named James that I’d gone to school with, and he waved me over. “Hey, Lamont,” he said, smiling. “What brings you around, brother?” I shrugged. “Oh, man,” I said, “you know, it’s been too long. I thought I’d just come by and see if I could buy a round of drinks and catch up with some of the guys.” James nodded. “Sounds like a plan, man. Let me get some people together, and we’ll meet you at the bar across the street.”

I headed over and found a large booth. In a few minutes James came through the door with a half dozen guys I hadn’t seen in a good while. We exchanged hugs and settled in around the table. We had a couple of rounds of drinks and were laughing and swapping stories about stuff that happened in the neighborhood back in the day. At some point, during the third round of drinks, there was a lull in the conversation. “Well, fellas” one of the guys at the table said as he locked eyes with me, “I guess Mr. Big Shit has finally come down from his fancy house in Palmer Woods to see how the poor folks live.

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