[3] He was a member of both the Clan and the Corporation, the latter a production team that wrote and produced some of the Jackson 5's early hits.
Deke Lussier portrayed one of the band members in the movie Eegah in 1962.
Gordy signed Richards to a contract as a record producer and songwriter.
[4] Richards also wrote and produced for Bobby Darin, Martha and the Vandellas, The Blackberries, Stacie Johnson, and others,[2] and produced Diana Ross and the Supremes after Holland, Dozier and Holland left Motown in 1968.
[5] He and fellow writer Sherlie Matthews also formulated the vocal sextet Celebration, which released an album on Motown's Mowest label, in an attempt to replicate the success of the 5th Dimension.