Harvey Fuqua, pioneering R&B singer, songwriter and producer, dies at 80

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Harvey Fuqua, 80, a singer, songwriter, record producer and early mentor of Marvin Gaye, died of a heart attack Tuesday at a Detroit hospital, according to Ron Brewington of the Motown Alumni Assn.

The Louisville, Ky., native founded the R&B-doo-wop group the Moonglows, which signed with DJ Alan Freed. The group’s first single was the 1954 hit “Sincerely.”

Fuqua added Gaye and others in 1958 to a reconstituted group Fuqua called Harvey and the Moonglows. It had the 1958 hit “Ten Commandments of Love.”

Fuqua started Tri-Phi and Harvey Records in 1961, recording the Spinners, Junior Walker & the All Stars, and Shorty Long.

Motown Records founder Berry Gordy later hired Fuqua to develop recording talent.

-- Associated Press