Deke Richards Dies: Motown Producer, Songwriter Behind Jackson 5, Diana Ross Hits Passes Away At 68

Deke Richards, a legendary Motown songsmith and producer, has passed away at the age of 68.

Richards-who founded the Corporation, a production team that wrote the Jackson 5's "I Want You Back" and "ABC"- passed away on Sunday in a Bellingham, Wash. hospice after suffering with esophageal cancer.

"I Want You Back" was the first number-one hit for the Jackson 5 (though it had originally been written as a song called "I Wanna Be Free", a radical anthem that was intended for Gladys Knight. Richards decided to change the song after catching a Jackson 5 performance at the Daisy in Los Angeles).

Richards had planned to turn the Jackson 5 into a sort of hit-making dynasty, with solo projects for each individual member. Of course only Michael, Jermaine and Jackie received these projects before the dissolution of the 5.

I was strictly after hits when it came down to the Jackson 5. That's all I was concerned with," he said to Rolling Stone. "With hits, we'd guarantee those concerts, and the records would get us back to those concerts. We'd have a nice round-robin going."

Richards worked for Motown from 1966 to 1975. In that time, he penned hits for the Supremes, Diana Ross, Bobby Darin and Martha Reeves and the Vandellas.

After leaving Motown in 1975, Richards never matched the success he had as a member of the Detroit powerhouse. Recently, Richards had worked on Motown projects. He helped put together a Jackson 5 rarities box set called Come and Get It: The Rare Pearls  as well as a Martha and the Vandellas 50^th anniversary box set.

Richards (who was born Dennis Lussier) is survived by his wife, Joan Lussier; his brother, Dane Lussier, and nephews Chris Lussier and Cory Lussier.

Stick with Mstarz for the latest in music and entertainment news.