R.I.P. Alphonso 'Fonce' Mizell

R.I.P. Alphonso "Fonce" Mizell

By Rebecca Haithcoat Mon., Jul. 11 2011 at 10:02 AM

Alphonso "Fonce" Mizell

Alphonso "Fonce" Mizell, member of Motown hit-makers The Corporation and half of the production duo The Mizell Brothers, has passed away. He was 68 years old. The cause of death is unknown.

Mizell was recruited by writer-producer Deke Richards to join The Corporation, which also included Berry Gordy and Freddie Perren. The production team was responsible for writing and producing The Jackson 5's early hits, including "I Want You Back" and "ABC." After Motown moved to Los Angeles, Fonce and his brother Larry, aka The Mizell Brothers, moved as well and formed their own production company, Sky High Productions.

The first album they produced, Donald Byrd's Black Byrd, for Blue Note Records label, launched a string of albums that helped shape the jazz fusion genre as well as lay the foundation for neo-soul.

The Mizell Brothers' production work has been widely sampled and remixed by artists such as J Dilla, A Tribe Called Quest, and Madlib. Recognize this?:

Rest in peace to a legendary, profoundly significant producer.

Tags:

Alphonso Fonce Mizell, Donald Byrd, Motown, Rebecca Haithcoat, RIP, The Mizell Brothers

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RIP=I will enjoy your music forever

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R.I.P. in peace my friend. Thank you for the good times. Your music creativity will live forever. Karen Mc

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I paid $32.67 for a XBOX 360 and my mom got a 17 inch Toshiba laptop for $94.83 being delivered to our house tomorrow by FedEX. I will never again pay expensive retail prices at stores. I even sold a 46 inch HDTV to my boss for $650 and it only cost me $52.78 to get. Here is the website we using to get all this stuff, PennyJump.com

R Kellar

That's my late cousin, Fonce, singing background on "Think Twice". with his brother, Larry and their old friend, Freddie Perren.

Mbaji

My condolence I co wrote Think Twice with Larry and my cousin who also just passed Sigidi Fonce was a very cool brother and I thank him and Larry for producing my songsI also wrote Fallin Like Dominoes which they also produced