Bert Berns – $20 million
Greatest Hits: Hang on Sloopy, Twist and Shout, Here Comes the Night
Bert Berns, born in the Bronx, was a very influential producer and songwriter in the 1960s (also by Bert Russell and Russell Byrd). Famous parts such as “Twist and South,” “Hang on Sloopy” and more contain his credits. He created successful Atlantic, Boom, and Shout-signed songs such as “Brown Eyed Girl,” “Under the Boardwalk” and “Baby Please Don’t Go,” He used to party in mambo nightclubs when he was young and stayed in Havana until the Cuban Revolution took him back to America. He died of cardiac complications at 38 years of age.
Bert Berns
Marvin Gaye – $5 million
Greatest Hits: How Sweet It Is, Ain’t That Peculiar, I Heard it Through the Grapevine
Marvin Gaye, dubbed “Prince of Soul” and “Prince of Motown,” helped shape the Motown sound of the 1960s. Before becoming a solo artist, he was the first in-house session musician. He was one of the first Motown artists, in addition to Stevie Wonder, to break free from the album business and independently produce his own records. He was a significant influence on the neo-soul sound and quiet storm pop. For Midnight Devotion, he won a Grammy. The song was sang at his only TV performance at the 1983 NBA All-Star Game. He was still on Soul Train.
Marvin Gaye
