Ivy Jo Hunter Obituary, Cause Of Death

George Ivy Hunter, best known as Ivy Jo Hunter, an American former R&B songwriter, record producer and singer, most associated with his work for Motown in the 1960s has died. Hunter was born on August 28, 1940 and died Oct.6, 2022 at age 82.

What was Ivy Jo Hunter’s cause of death? A cause of death is yet to be made public. However, it is being speculated he died of natural causes.

Raised in Detroit, Michigan, Hunter was trained in orchestral music — primarily trumpet and keyboards.

Following a short period in the United States Army, Hunter began performing as a singer in the proto-soul venues around Detroit, where he became friends with songwriter Hank Cosby who later introduced him to Motown’s first A&R man, William “Mickey” Stevenson.

Shortly after, Hunter played keyboards on Motown sessions before Stevenson began working with him as a songwriter.

Hunter became a mainstay in the Motown Records house band and began to write some of the most significant hits of the early Motown years such as;

• The Spinners’ “Truly Yours” and “Sweet Thing”,
• The Temptations’ “Sorry Is a Sorry Word”,
• The Isley Brothers’ “Behind a Painted Smile” and “My Love Is Your Love (Forever)”,
• “Ask the Lonely” and
• “Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever” for the Four Tops.

Hunter also produced and wrote songs for Motown artists like;

• The Velvelettes (their single “That’s a Funny Way”),
• The Contours (their 1964 hit, “Can You Jerk Like Me”),
• The Marvelettes (their hits “Danger Heartbreak Dead Ahead” and “I’ll Keep Holding On”),
• Gladys Knight & the Pips (the album track “The Stranger”) and
• Gaye, for whom he produced the Top 40 hit single “You” in 1968.