Motown Composers: Freddie Gorman

Freddie Gorman

Freddie Gorman was born Frederick Cortez Gorman on April 11th, 1939 in Detroit, Michigan.  While in high school, Gorman was a member of a group called the Qualitones who released one record on Josie Records.

Next, he would team up with Sonny Sanders and a very close friend, Brian Holland, to form the Fideletones.  They would record a single on Aladdin Records.  From there Gorman began delivering the U.S. Mail as a carrier.  He would come into contact with Berry Gordy while delivering mail.

Brian Holland would get the Motown gig composing and while working on a number called “Please Mr. Postman” Holland would tap his friend Gorman for lyrical assistance.  Gordy extended his appreciation to Freddie by permitting him to cut a single on the Motown subsidiary label Miracle in October of 1961 “The Day Will Come” b/w “Just For You”.

Following that it appeared that Brian Holland and Freddie Gorman would become part of a trio of writers with the addition of Lamont Dozier – “Holland-Dozier-Gorman” but we all know the final direction that would take when brother Edward arrived on the scene at Motown edging out Freddie.

So it would be continuing on delivering the U.S. Mail for a couple of years before he would pop back onto the scene co-writing the Detroit group the Reflections’ “Just Like Romeo and Juliet” as well as going back into the recording studio himself.

Always the entrepreneur, Gordy would acquire Golden World and so Freddie Gorman would land back a the Motown offices via being a member of the Motown group the Originals a group which include the brother of Four Top Levi Stubbs, Joe Stubbs.

So Gorman and the other Originals would mainly be employed to provide back up for many of the Motown mainstream recording stars.

Freddie Gorman would contribute several impressive songs to the Motown hit list and for other artists as well.  Gorman passed away in 2006 losing a battle with lung cancer.  He was 67 years old.

Freddie Gorman Composer/Artist Discography

The Marvelettes – Tamla 54046 – Please Mr. Postman Number 1 R&B for 7 Weeks Number Hot 100 for 1 Week – August, 1961

Note: Gorman’s composing credit not shown – He provided the lyrics)

The Marvelettes – Tamla 54065 – Someday, Someway – Number 8 R&B – July, 1962

The Marvelettes – Tamla 54072 – Strange, I Know – Number 10 R&B Number 49 Hot 100 – October, 1962

The Reflections – Golden World 9 – (Just Like) Romeo and Juliet – Number 3 R&B Number 6 Hot 100 – February, 1964

The Reflections – Golden World 12 – Like Columbus Did Number 96 Hot 100 – June, 1964

The Reflections – Golden World 16 – (I’m Just) A Henpecked Guy – Number 124 Bubbling Under – September, 1964

The Messengers – U.S.A. 874 – Romeo and Juliet Number 129 Bubbling Under – June, 1967

Baby Washington & Don Gardner – Master Five 9103 – Forever Number 30 R&B Number 119 Bubbling Under – July, 1973

The Carpenters – A&M 1646 – Please Mr. Postman Number 1 Hot 100 for 1 Week – Number 1 Adult Contemporary – November, 1974

Sha Na Na – Kama Sutra 602 – (Just Like) Romeo and Juliet – Number 55 Hot 100 Number 47 Adult Contemporary – March, 1975

Fallen Angels – Arista 0113 – Just Like Romeo and Juliet Number 106 Bubbling Under – March, 1975

Chuck Cissel – Arista 0499 – Forever Number 87 R&B – March, 1980

The Originals – Phase II 5653 – Medley: Waitin’ On A Letter/Please Mr. Postman Number 74 R&B – 1981