Songwriterobit: Harvey Fuqua

Harvey Fuqua, a member of Alan Freed-endorsed The Moonglows, has died.

Freed had signed the Moonglows when they were still called The Crazy Sounds; they had their first success - the top 20 hit Sincerely - after moving to Chess.

Harvey reorganised the Moonglows in 1958, adding his name to the band's, and - perhaps more significantly for music history - adding a chap called Marvin Gaye to the line-up.

Fuqua went on to establish Tri-Phi and Harvey Records, before taking up a role with Motown developing artists. He wrote, produced and supported any number of acts, even helping out with The Weather Girls.

In 1982, Fuqua reunited with Gaye to work together on the Midnight Love album; the sessions included Sexual Healing. The track turned Gaye's career around, and saved him from what had looked like a pretty terminal decline into drugs and an unhappy ending.

The Moonglows were inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2000; that year, Fuqua released a solo album on his own Resurging Artist label.

Harvey Fuqua, who was 80, died in Detroit on Tuesday of a heart attack.