Suzee Ikeda

Suzee Ikeda is an American singer who was the first Asian-American solo artist at Motown. However, she is best known for her work "behind the scenes" at Motown with such acts as Michael Jackson and The Temptations.

Suzee Ikeda
Birth nameSusan Wendy Ikeda
Born (1947-08-25) August 25, 1947
OriginChicago, Illinois, USA
Genrespop, disco
Occupation(s)singer, producer
Instrumentsvocals
Years active1970's–1980's
LabelsMotown

Biography

Born Susan Wendy Ikeda on August 25, 1947 in Chicago, Illinois, the daughter of a Japanese father and an American mother.

Initially assigned to Mowest, Motown's subsidiary label, her first single was a cover version of "Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah" from the Disney film, Song of the South. The single failed to chart.

In April 1973, Suzee released her first single on the Motown label, a ballad written by Charles Fox and Norman Gimbel called, "Time For Me to Go." Unfortunately, the single and her solo career went nowhere.

During her tenure at Motown she was described as a "creative confidant" of Michael Jackson. “Michael Jackson could make you forget he was so young,” writes Suzee Ikeda, in her introductory essay to Hello World: The Complete Motown Solo Collection.[1]

Ikeda's rapport with artists soon led to a new role behind the scenes as a production executive for the company. One of her early projects was the A Song for You album by The Temptations, released in 1975.

In 1983, Ikeda became one of the principal players in Super Three, a division of Motown responsible for developing new and existing acts. Other participants in the partnership were off again-on again Motown figure Ray Singleton and Guy Costa (nephew of musician and arranger Don Costa), the latter who served as the entity's creative director.[2]

Selected credits

As a recording artist
Release Single Cat. #
Oct 1971 "Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah" b/w "Bah Bah Bah" MoWest 5004[3]
Jun 1972 "I Can't Give Back the Love I Feel For You" b/w "Mind, Body & Soul" MoWest 5016[3]
Apr 1973 "A Time For Me to Go" b/w "Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah" Motown 1237[4]

Serving in various capacities
Release Date Album Artist(s) or Group Capacity(ies)
Oct 1973 Diana & Marvin Diana Ross & Marvin Gaye Production Coordination;
Production Assistant
Jan 1975 A Song for You The Temptations Producer
1980 Jose Feliciano Jose Feliciano Producer
1982 Reunion The Temptations Producer
Sep 1983 Commodores 13 The Commodores Project Manager
1986 Dancing on the Ceiling Lionel Richie Engineer;
Background vocals

References
  1. "Michael Jackson: Hello World- The Complete Motown Solo Collection". Hip-O Select. Retrieved 2009-12-10.
  2. Gordy Singleton, Raynoma (1990). "Super Three". Berry, Me and Motown (First ed.). Chicago: Contemporary Books. pp. 297–299. ISBN 0-8092-4340-7. Suzee had proved her stuff over the years...
  3. "Motown Related Labels: MoWest". Seabear Studios. Retrieved 2009-11-02.
  4. "Motown Related Labels: Motown 1201-1300". Seabear Studios. Retrieved 2009-11-02.


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