Cornelius Grant(I)
- Composer
- Soundtrack
Cornelius Grant is an American guitarist, composer, and band leader. Grant served as the musical director, guitar player, and live show arranger for Motown vocal group The Temptations from 1964 until 1982.
Grant was born in Fairfield, Texas, a small town 80 miles south of Dallas. Raised by his grandmother, he taught himself how to play guitar at the age of nine. When he was 13, his family moved to Detroit. At 15, he was playing in clubs, bars, talent shows, and other functions. Within three years he was playing with Mary Wells, then Marvin Gaye before The Temptations snatched him up.
Grant used a Gibson Birdland and a Fender Telecaster. He created the opening guitar riff on "I Know I'm Losing You". He wrote the hit song with Eddie Holland and Norman Whitfield. He also wrote "You're My Everything" with Rodger Penzabene Sr. and Norman Whitfield. Penzabene, a close friend of Grant's, wrote "I Wish It Would Rain" and "I Could Never Love Another". Grant wrote "Take Me in Your Arms and Love Me" and "Ain't No Sun" (performed by Gladys Knight & The Pips); "You Got to Earn It", and "I Gotta Find A Way" (performed by the Temptations); and "My Weakness Is You" and "I Want My Baby Back" (performed by Edwin Starr); Grant also co-wrote "I'm More Than Happy" for Stevie Wonder, and "Love and Affection" for Marvin Gaye.
In 1983 Grant began writing for The Hollywood Reporter and contributed extensively to BRE Magazine as a columnist. A current project, "Flashbacks and Newtraks" is a radio show featuring interviews, entertainment news, oldies music, and many points of view by him and his co-host Sylkie Green.
Grant was born in Fairfield, Texas, a small town 80 miles south of Dallas. Raised by his grandmother, he taught himself how to play guitar at the age of nine. When he was 13, his family moved to Detroit. At 15, he was playing in clubs, bars, talent shows, and other functions. Within three years he was playing with Mary Wells, then Marvin Gaye before The Temptations snatched him up.
Grant used a Gibson Birdland and a Fender Telecaster. He created the opening guitar riff on "I Know I'm Losing You". He wrote the hit song with Eddie Holland and Norman Whitfield. He also wrote "You're My Everything" with Rodger Penzabene Sr. and Norman Whitfield. Penzabene, a close friend of Grant's, wrote "I Wish It Would Rain" and "I Could Never Love Another". Grant wrote "Take Me in Your Arms and Love Me" and "Ain't No Sun" (performed by Gladys Knight & The Pips); "You Got to Earn It", and "I Gotta Find A Way" (performed by the Temptations); and "My Weakness Is You" and "I Want My Baby Back" (performed by Edwin Starr); Grant also co-wrote "I'm More Than Happy" for Stevie Wonder, and "Love and Affection" for Marvin Gaye.
In 1983 Grant began writing for The Hollywood Reporter and contributed extensively to BRE Magazine as a columnist. A current project, "Flashbacks and Newtraks" is a radio show featuring interviews, entertainment news, oldies music, and many points of view by him and his co-host Sylkie Green.
