Producer-songwriter Norman Whitfield’s pioneering “psychedelic soul” ushered Motown into the counterculture and beyond. He broadened the label’s reach with incisive social commentary wrapped up in dancefloor grooves, often extended for maximum impact. His groundbreaking productions featured edgy rock attitude fused with R&B rhythms, all while retaining a canny pop sensibility. His expansive work set in motion the future of funk and created a vast sampling library for hip-hop.