Whitfield Pleads Guilty

Songwriter Norman Whitfield, who co-wrote hits including “I Heard It Through the Grapevine,” “War” and “Papa Was a Rolling Stone,” pleaded guilty to failing to report more than $2 million in royalty income, authorities said.

The plea was part of a deal with the government that requires Whitfield to file delinquent tax returns, said Gary Tang, a spokesman for the Internal Revenue Service.

The songwriter admitted he failed to file tax returns on about $600,000 a year between 1995 and 1999.

He is scheduled to be sentenced April 18th.