Pam Sawyer

Pamela Joan Sawyer (born 1938) is an English songwriter/lyricist, who started writing songs in the mid-1960s and whose credits as a co-writer at Motown included "Love Child", "If I Were Your Woman", "My Whole World Ended (The Moment You Left Me)", and "Love Hangover".

Biography She was born in London. Wanting to become a songwriter, she contacted Lew Grade in London, who was impressed and introduced her to visiting American pianist and composer Bob Mersey. She and Mersey married in 1958, and moved to New York City in 1961. After they separated, she worked as a songwriter/lyricist, initially with co-writers including Helen Miller and Mark Barkan, with whom she wrote Chuck Jackson's R&B hit "If I Didn't Love You". She then teamed up with musician and singer Lori Burton, and the pair wrote songs recorded successfully by Lulu ("Try to Understand", UK No. 25, 1965), Patti LaBelle and the Bluebelles ("All or Nothing", US No. 68, 1965), and The Young Rascals ("I Ain't Gonna Eat Out My Heart Anymore", US No. 52, 1966). Sawyer and Burton also wrote and recorded together as the Whyte Boots, with Burton as lead singer, though their record company promoted the act as a trio of female singers, none of whom actually appeared on the recordings.

In 1967, Sawyer and Burton auditioned for Holland–Dozier–Holland, who had them signed to Motown as a songwriting partnership. After a few months, Burton decided to end her relationship with Motown at the same time that Holland–Dozier–Holland left the organisation.

Selected songwriting credits Song Co-Writer(s) Performer(s)"If I Were Your Woman" Gloria JonesClay McMurrayGladys Knight & the PipsGloria JonesBettye LaVetteStephanie MillsAlicia Keys"I Thought It Took a Little Time (But Today I Fell in Love)" Michael MasserDiana Ross"It's So Hard for Me to Say Goodbye" Frank WilsonEddie KendricksThe Supremes"Let Me Tickle Your Fancy" Jermaine JacksonPaul M. JacksonMarilyn McLeodJermaine Jackson"Love Child" Deke RichardsR. Dean TaylorFrank WilsonDiana Ross and the SupremesBooker T. & the M.G.'sSweet Sensation"Love Hangover" Marilyn McLeodThe Fifth DimensionDiana RossAssociatesJody WatleyPlayers AssociationSyleena Johnson"My Mistake (Was to Love You)" Gloria JonesMarvin Gaye and Diana Ross"My Whole World Ended (The Moment You Left Me)" Johnny BristolHarvey FuquaJimmy RoachDavid Ruffin"Touch"Frank WilsonThe SupremesJackson 5"You Can't Turn Me Off (In the Middle of Turning Me On)" Marilyn McLeodHigh Inergy