The legendary songwriter and producer Norman Whitfield who was behind such hits like The Temptations’ “Papa Was A Rolling Stone,” Marvin Gaye’s “I Heard It Through The Grapevine” and Rose Royce’s “Car Wash” died Tuesday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles at only 67. He suffered from complications caused by a long struggle with diabetes and had emerged from a coma recently.

Whitfield worked outside the spotlight for Berry Gordy's Motown, creating the sound of many artists, like The Temptations, Marvin Gaye, The Supremes, The Pips and many, many others, ever since he joined the famous label, in 1962.

He is considered to be one of the creators of the famous Motown Sound, also being credited for bringing “the psychedelic soul” to the music he made, like The Temptations’ “Cloud Nine” in late 1968, which earned Motown its first Grammy award (for Best Rhythm & Blues Performance by a Duo or Group.)

The 1973 Temptations’ hit song “Papa Was A Rolling Stone” brought him another three Grammys, one for Best R&B Group Performance. The instrumental B-side to “Papa Was a Rollin' Stone” earned Whitfield a Grammy with arranger Paul Riser for Best R&B Instrumental Performance, and Whitfield and Barrett Strong shared the songwriters' award for Best R&B Song. Whitfield had another smash hit in 1976 and Grammy Award for Best Score Soundtrack Album with Rose Royce's “Car Wash.”

Fellow Motown veteran and long time friend, Smokey Robinson, said in a statement Tuesday, “Norman Whitfield was one of the most prolific songwriters and record producers of our time. He will live forever through his great music.”

Other Whitfield great hits include “I Can't Get Next to You,” “Cloud Nine,” “Ball of Confusion,” “Just My Imagination,” “War” (what is it good for? absolutely nothing!) and many many others.

He will surely be missed and some might even recall a specific song that he wrote for The Velvelettes, when it comes to his rich life and untimely death: “He Was Really Sayin' Somethin.'”