Sylvia Moy, a Motown songwriter who collaborated with Stevie Wonder on hits including “My Cherie Amour” and “I Was Made to Love Her,” died Saturday, the New York Times reported. She was 78.
According to Moy’s sister, Anita Moy, the songwriter died of complications from pneumonia.
RIP Sylvia Moy, iconic Motown artist & Stevie Wonder collaborator who cowrote “My Cherie Amour,” “Uptight (Everything’s Alright) & more pic.twitter.com/E6O2K0V4eK
— Motown Records (@motown) April 18, 2017
Moy came aboard Motown in 1964 when as the record label was weighing the career fate of Wonder because his voice was changing as he approached adulthood.
“There was an announcement in a meeting that Stevie’s voice had changed, and they didn’t know exactly how to handle that,” Moy said during an interview following her 2006 induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. “They asked for volunteers. None of the guys would volunteer. They were going to have to let him go.”
Moy’s other credits included “It Takes Two,” recorded by Marvin Gaye and Kim Weston, and the Isley Brothers’ hit “This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak for You).”
“We are extremely sad to hear about the death of Sylvia Moy whose songwriting played an important part in Motown’s history, including its influence on Stevie Wonder’s career. Sylvia co-wrote a number of Stevie’s hit songs such as ‘My Cherie Amour’ and ‘I Was Made To Love Her,’ while her songwriting versatility is also evident in songs including ‘It Takes Two’ and ‘This Old Heart Of Mine,’” Moy’s publisher, Sony/ATV, Music, said in a statement Tuesday. “She additionally broke down barriers as one of Motown’s first ever female producers. Her classic songs will live on forever.”
Motown paid tribute to Moy in a tweet reading, “RIP Sylvia Moy, iconic Motown artist & Stevie Wonder collaborator who co-wrote ‘My Cherie Amour,’ ‘Uptight (Everything’s Alright)’ & more.”
Moy, who was born in Detroit on Sept. 15, 1938, left Motown in 1973, joining 20th Century Records as a singer, songwriter and producer.