Motown trio honoured

The trio have had 20 number one hits

The songwriting trio responsible for Motown classics such as How Sweet It Is and Where Did Our Love Go are to be honoured with an award in Los Angeles.

Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, and Brian's older brother Edward Jr, will have their handprints cast in cement on the Hollywood RockWalk on Monday, followed by an Icon Award at the Broadcast Music annual awards on Tuesday.

From 1962 until 1968, Holland-Dozier-Holland, as they were known on writing credits, wtote more than 200 songs, including most of the hits for the Supremes and the Four Tops.

In all, the trio had more than 20 number one records, including five consecutive chart toppers.

'One mission'

Their songs have been played more than 100 million times on radio and TV in the US.

"We would come together with one mission in mind and that's to come up with the goods," Lamont Dozier said, recalling how the trio worked together.

"We'd sit at the piano and pound out something and come to terms with whatever idea we had to make sure that we had the right stuff."

The trio quit the legendary Motown label in 1968 in a dispute over royalties, which is still ongoing.

The label was reponsible for some of the biggest pop hits of all time and looked after artists such as The Jackson Five, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye and Martha Reeves.

Founded by Berry Gordy in 1959, Motown became the largest and most successful independent record company in the United States by 1964.