Janie Bradford: key obituary facts
Is Janie Bradford dead? Yes. Janie Bradford died on August 22, 2026, at age 87.
Cause of death: Janie Bradford's cause of death has not been publicly confirmed.
What was Janie Bradford known for?
She was an American songwriter.
More about Janie Bradford
Born: 2 June 1939.
Place of birth: Charleston.
Gender: female.
Occupation: songwriter, record producer, composer, lyricist.
Nationality: United States.
Career began: 1958.
Genres: Soul.
Years active: 1958–2026.
Janie Bradford, the American songwriter whose work was closely associated with Motown, died on August 22, 2026, aged 87.
Born in Charleston, Missouri, on June 2, 1939, she began her career in 1958 and spent more than 25 years at the label. Bradford is best known for co-writing “Money (That’s What I Want)” with Berry Gordy; the song was first recorded by Barrett Strong and later covered by artists including the Beatles and the Rolling Stones.
Among her other credited songs was “Too Busy Thinking About My Baby,” recorded by Marvin Gaye and later by Phil Collins, along with other material written or co-written for Motown artists.