Pam Sawyer: The London-Born Lyricist Behind Love Hangover and Love Child

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Pamela Joan Sawyer was born in London in 1938 and, set on writing pop songs, contacted media mogul Lew Grade, who introduced her to visiting American composer Bob Mersey. They married in 1958 and moved to New York in 1961, later separating. In the city's songwriting trade she wrote with Helen Miller and Mark Barkan, including If I Didn't Love You for Chuck Jackson, then partnered with Lori Burton on Try to Understand for Lulu, All or Nothing for Patti LaBelle and the Bluebelles, and a track for the Young Rascals. The pair also recorded as the White Boots, a group the label marketed with three models who did not sing.

In 1967 Sawyer and Burton auditioned for Holland-Dozier-Holland and won a Motown contract, but Burton soon left and Holland-Dozier-Holland departed in a royalty dispute. Sawyer stayed, writing with Ivy Jo Hunter and joining the writing collective known as the Clan with Henry Cosby, Frank Wilson and R. Dean Taylor. With the Clan and Deke Richards she co-wrote Love Child for Diana Ross and the Supremes, then I'm Livin' in Shame with a team that included Berry Gordy. In the early 1980s she left Motown to start Pam Sawyer Productions and Barley Lane Music.

• She co-wrote My Whole World Ended for David Ruffin, produced by Harvey Fuqua and Johnny Bristol.
• With Gloria Jones and Clay McMurray she wrote If I Were Your Woman, a No. 1 R&B hit for Gladys Knight and the Pips in 1970.
• Last Time I Saw Him, written with Michael Masser, was a hit for Diana Ross and later a country hit for Dottie West.
• With Marilyn McLeod she wrote Love Hangover in 1976 and Pops, We Love You, sung by Ross, Gaye, Wonder and Robinson for Berry Gordy's father.
• She moved to Florida and was inducted into the Women Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2023.