At the request of Motown that he produce songs in the disco genre, Marvin Gaye released "Got to Give It Up" in 1978, despite his dislike of disco. He vowed not to record any songs in the genre and actually wrote the song as a parody. However, several of Gaye's songs have disco elements, including "I Want You" (1975). Stevie Wonder released the disco single "Sir Duke" in 1977 as a tribute to Duke Ellington, the influential jazz legend who had died in 1974. Smokey Robinson left the Motown group the Miracles for a solo career in 1972 and released his third solo album A Quiet Storm in 1975, which spawned and lent its name to the "Quiet Storm" musical programming format and subgenre of R&B. It contained the disco single "Baby That's Backatcha". Other Motown artists who scored disco hits were Robinson's former group, the Miracles, with "Love Machine" (1975), Eddie Kendricks with "Keep On Truckin'" (1973), the Originals with "Down to Love Town" (1976), and Thelma Houston with her cover of the Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes song "Don't Leave Me This Way" (1976). The label continued to release successful songs into the 1980s with Rick James's "Super Freak" (1981), and the Commodores' "Lady (You Bring Me Up)" (1981).
at the request of motown that he produce songs in the disco genre marvin gaye released "got to give it up" in 1978 despite his dislike of disco he vowed not to record any songs in the genre and actually wrote the song as a parody however several of gaye's songs have disco elements including "i want you" (1975) stevie wonder released the disco single "sir duke" in 1977 as a tribute to duke ellington the influential jazz legend who had died in 1974 smokey robinson left the motown group the miracles for a solo career in 1972 and released his third solo album a quiet storm in 1975 which spawned and lent its name to the "quiet storm" musical programming format and subgenre of r&b it contained the disco single "baby that's backatcha" other motown artists who scored disco hits were robinson's former group the miracles with "love machine" (1975) eddie kendricks with "keep on truckin'" (1973) the originals with "down to love town" (1976) and thelma houston with her cover of the harold melvin and the blue notes song "don't leave me this way" (1976) the label continued to release successful songs into the 1980s with rick james's "super freak" (1981) and the commodores' "lady (you bring me up)" (1981)