Gamble and Huff

Gamble and Huff

Kenneth Gamble (born August 11, 1943, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) and Leon A. Huff (born April 8, 1942, Camden, New Jersey) are an American songwriting and record production team who have written and produced over 170 gold and platinum records. They were pioneers of Philadelphia soul and the in-house creative team for the Philadelphia International record label. On March 10, 2008 the team was inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in the non-performer category.[1]

Contents

History

Early years

Kenneth Gamble's childhood in Philadelphia shaped his adult life: he recorded himself on various arcade recording machines, assisted the morning show DJs on WDAS, operated a record store, and sang with The Romeos. In 1964, before there was "Gamble & Huff" there was "Gamble & Ross." Gamble was discovered and managed by Jerry Ross when Gamble was only 17 years old and they collaborated for many years. Gamble teamed up with Leon Huff (keyboards) for the first time on a recording for Candy & The Kisses. Ross then signed Gamble to Columbia Records in 1963 as a solo recording artist, releasing "You Don't Know What You Got Until You Lose It". Gamble & Ross & Huff collaborated on the hit song "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me", recorded by Dee Dee Warwick and later by Diana Ross & The Supremes and The Temptations.

In 1967 they produced their first Top 5 hit: "Expressway To Your Heart" by The Soul Survivors. Working for Atlantic Records, the team worked with Archie Bell & the Drells, Wilson Pickett, Aretha Franklin, Dusty Springfield, and The Sweet Inspirations. They also produced Mercury Records artists Jerry Butler and Dee Dee Warwick, scoring numerous hits along the way.

Philadelphia International

With a solid track record now behind them, Gamble and Huff formed Philadelphia International Records in 1971 as a rival to Berry Gordy and Motown. They originally approached Atlantic Records, which passed on the deal as being too expensive. CBS Records, headed at the time by Clive Davis, backed the venture and distributed Philadelphia International's records. Aided and abetted by in-house arrangers Thom Bell, Bobby Martin (musician), and Norman Harris, Philadelphia International released a number of the most popular soul music hits of the 1970s, including "If You Don't Know Me by Now" by Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, "Back Stabbers" and "Love Train" by the O'Jays, and the Grammy-winning "Me and Mrs. Jones" by Billy Paul. According to an interview on BBC Radio Four on 28 June 2006, Gamble and Huff were inspired to write Me and Mrs. Jones after seeing someone they knew who appeared to be involved in an affair, meeting a woman in a cafe frequented by the songwriters.

Gamble and Huff's Philadelphia soul sound evolved from the simpler arrangements of the late-1960s into a style featuring lush strings, thumping basslines, and sliding hi-hat rhythms—elements that soon became the distinguishing characteristics of a new style of music called disco. By 1975, Philadelphia International and the Philadelphia soul genre it helped define had largely eclipsed Motown and the Motown Sound in popularity, and Gamble and Huff were the premiere producers of soul.

Nearly all of the Philadelphia International records featured the work of the label's in-house band of studio musicians, MFSB. MFSB cut a number of successful instrumental albums and singles written and produced by the Gamble & Huff team and arranged by Bobby Martin, including their 1974 #1 hit "TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)", now best known as the theme song from the American television show Soul Train.

Gamble's humanitarian work

Through the 1970s, Gamble and Huff continued to work with some of the biggest acts in the music industry, and Gamble in particular began his continuing work to clean up the inner cities and help African-American youth. He also contributed his time and energy to the T.J. Martell Leukemia Foundation and The AMC Cancer Research Center and Hospital. His charitable works and civic efforts continue today. He has served on the board of directors for the Philadelphia Music Foundation, which honors the artists, songwriters, and producers from Philadelphia. His Universal Companies have opened a restaurant, a bookstore, a mosque, low-income housing, and a charter school. These buildings, mostly built by locally hired labor, have served as the beginnings of a resurgence in the neighborhood. He also helped start the "Clean Up The Ghetto" project, which involved the youth of blighted communities helping with the clean-up and repair of damaged or neglected properties. P.I.R recorded a song using many of their popular artists in support of the project. Started in Philadelphia, "Clean Up The Ghetto" spread to Los Angeles, Atlanta, and Chicago, and similar events have been held throughout the country.

Later years

In 1975, Philadelphia International became involved in a payola-related scandal; Gamble was fined and Huff was not. By the late 1970s, however, the popularity of the Philadelphia soul sound began to decline. Disco had suffered a backlash, R&B was going back toward the ballad, and rock had returned to the American charts. Still, the label had its share of late 1970s success. Among the later hits were "Enjoy Yourself" by The Jacksons in 1976, and "Ain't No Stopping Us Now" by McFadden and Whitehead in 1979.

One song they wrote, called "My Mood" was adopted in 1980 as the close of WRC's Friday Night 6pm newscasts. As of 2008, WRC still uses this music.

In 1982, Philadelphia International's biggest star, former Blue Notes singer Teddy Pendergrass, became paralyzed from the waist down in a car accident, and the future of the label came to be in doubt. That year, Philadelphia broke its ties with CBS and made a new deal with EMI. Although the hits had by now dried up, Gamble and Huff continued to write and produce for the label's artists.

1990 finally saw Gamble and Huff recognized with a Grammy Award for Best R&B Song, awarded for Simply Red's cover of the Blue Notes' 1972 hit "If You Don't Know Me By Now". In 1999, Gamble and Huff were honored with the Grammy Trustees Award, joining musical luminaries like Frank Sinatra, The Beatles, and Walt Disney. Their career output of over 3,000 songs places them among the most prolific professional songwriters of all time.

Today, Kenneth Gamble continues to write, often with Leon Huff, and Philadelphia International continues. He still lives in South Philadelphia, and remains active in his community. Gamble owns the shuttered Royal Theater and surrounding properties.

On September 19, 2005 Gamble and Huff were inducted into the Dance Music Hall of Fame for their outstanding achievements as producers at a ceremony held in New York City.

Gamble now works as a music instructor at Raising Horizons Quest Charter School.

In 2008, Gamble and Huff were the first recipients of the newly created "Ahmet Ertegün Award" by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The award replaces the former "non-performer" inductee category.[1]

On May 20, 2009, Gamble & Huff were named BMI Icons at the 57th annual BMI Pop Awards. Together, the duo has collected an astounding 86 BMI Pop and R&B Awards.[2]

Discography

Studio albums produced

Year Album Artist
1970 A Brand New Me Dusty Springfield
1971 Gonna Take a Miracle Laura Nyro and Labelle
1972 Back Stabbers The O'Jays
360 Degrees Of Billy Paul Billy Paul
Drowning in the Sea of Love Joe Simon
1973 Ship Ahoy The O'Jays
TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia) MFSB
Black & Blue Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes
1975 Dance Your Troubles Away Archie Bell & the Drells
Wake Up Everybody Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes
To Be True Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes
Love Is the Message MFSB
Philadelphia Freedom MFSB
Survival The O'Jays
Family Reunion The O'Jays
1976 We Got the Rhythm People's Choice
Message in the Music The O'Jays
All Things in Time Lou Rawls
The Jacksons The Jacksons
1977 Goin' Places The Jacksons
Travelin' at the Speed of Thought The O'Jays
Teddy Pendergrass Teddy Pendergrass
Unmistakably Lou Lou Rawls
When You Hear Lou, You've Heard It All Lou Rawls
1978 So Full of Love The O'Jays
Life Is a Song Worth Singing Teddy Pendergrass
1979 Identify Yourself The O'Jays
Teddy Teddy Pendergrass
Let Me Be Good to You Lou Rawls
Live! Coast to Coast Teddy Pendergrass
1980 The Year 2000 The O'Jays
TP Teddy Pendergrass
Sit Down and Talk to Me Lou Rawls
1981 Get as Much Love as You Can The Jones Girls
The Spirit's in It Patti LaBelle
1983 I'm in Love Again Patti LaBelle
1984 Keep It Comin' The Jones Girls

Singles produced

Title Artist
"Expressway To Your Heart" The Soul Survivors
"Cowboys To Girls" The Intruders
"I Can't Stop Dancing" Archie Bell & the Drells
"Only The Strong Survive" Jerry Butler
"I'm Gonna Make You Love Me" Dee Dee Warwick
(later covered by Diana Ross & the Supremes and The Temptations)
"One Night Affair" The O'Jays
"(We'll Be) United" The Intruders
"A Brand New Me" Dusty Springfield
"Don't Let The Green Grass Fool You" Wilson Pickett
"Silly, Silly Fool" Dusty Springfield
"Slow Motion" Johnny Williams
"Me and Mrs. Jones" Billy Paul
"Regina" Bunny Sigler
"The Bells" Laura Nyro and Labelle
"Drowning In The Sea Of Love" Joe Simon
"If You Don't Know Me by Now" Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes / Simply Red
"992 Arguments" The O'Jays
"You're The Reason Why" The Ebonys
"I Miss You" Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes
"When The World's At Peace" The O'Jays
"That's How Long I'll Be Loving You" Bunny Sigler
"Backstabbers" The O'Jays
"Love Train" The O'Jays
(later covered by Bunny Sigler)
"The Love I Lost" Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes
"Now That We Found Love" The O'Jays
"Yesterday I Had The Blues" Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes
"I'll Always Love My Mama" The Intruders
"For the Love of Money" The O'Jays
"Bad Luck" Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes
"Don't Call Me Brother" The O'Jays
"Zach's Fanfare (I Hear Music)" MFSB
"Love Is The Message" MFSB
"Am I Black Enough For You" Billy Paul
"Sunshine" The O'Jays
"When Will I See You Again" The Three Degrees
"Livin' For The Weekend" The O'Jays
"Wake Up Everybody" Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes
"Enjoy Yourself" The Jacksons
"I Could Dance All Night" Archie Bell & the Drells
"I Love Music" The O'Jays
"Love Epidemic" The Trammps
"Stairway To Heaven" The O'Jays
"Show You the Way to Go" The Jacksons
"Do It Any Way You Wanna" People's Choice
"My One And Only Love" MFSB
"Rich Get Richer" The O'Jays
"Hope That We Can Be Together Soon" Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes
"Ooh Child" Dee Dee Sharp

References

  1. ^ a b "Indictees for 2008". Rock and Roll Hall of Fame official website. 2007-12-13. Archived from the original on 2008-02-01. http://web.archive.org/web/20080201220931/http://www.rockhall.com/pressroom/2008-inductee-announcement/. Retrieved 2008-03-11. 
  2. ^ "Gamble & Huff Named BMI Icons at 57th Annual Pop Awards". bmi.com. http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/538583. Retrieved 2010-09-22. 

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