Freddie Perren

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Freddie Perren
Birth nameFrederick James Perren
Born(1943-05-15)May 15, 1943
Englewood, New Jersey, U.S.
OriginLos Angeles, California, U.S.
DiedDecember 16, 2004(2004-12-16) (aged 61)
Chatsworth, California, U.S.
GenresR&B, soul, funk, disco, dance-pop
Occupation(s)Record producer, songwriter, arranger
Instrument(s)Keyboards, drums
Years active1968–1986

Frederick James Perren (May 15, 1943 – December 16, 2004) was an American songwriter, record producer,

arranger, and orchestra conductor. He co-wrote and co-produced songs including "Boogie Fever" by the Sylvers, "I Will Survive" by Gloria Gaynor, and "Shake Your Groove Thing" by Peaches & Herb
.

Biography

Early life

Perren was born on May 15, 1943, in Englewood, New Jersey, and graduated from Englewood's Dwight Morrow High School with future songwriting partner Alphonse Mizell in 1961.[1] Perren attended Howard University in Washington, D.C. graduating in 1966. It was here he met future Capitol Records R&B A&R executive Larkin Arnold. He met Christine Yarian in 1967, and they married in 1970. They remained married until his death.[2] She also co-wrote some songs with him.

Motown and The Jackson 5

Shortly after moving to California from Washington, D.C., in 1968, Perren and bassist

Alphonzo Mizell met guitarist Deke Richards. They started writing songs together. In 1969 Motown president Berry Gordy invited them to be part of his collective the Corporation, a collection of songwriters and record producers for the Jackson 5. "I Want You Back" was the first hit from this new collaboration, going to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in early 1970.[3] They wrote and produced more Jackson 5 hits such as "ABC", "The Love You Save", "Mama's Pearl", and "Maybe Tomorrow", among others. Perren and the Corporation continued their work for Motown on soundtracks such as Hell Up in Harlem and Cooley High, which featured "It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday" (later a hit for Boyz II Men).[3]

The birth of disco and a break with Motown

Perren then moved into the

High School Dance
".

Tavares and Fever

Also successful collaborations for Perren were

soundtrack to Saturday Night Fever. The Bee Gees recorded another of their own compositions, "If I Can't Have You", for the film and its soundtrack, but after hearing the Perren-produced version by Yvonne Elliman, preferred it to their own, which was relegated to a b-side. The Elliman production topped the Hot 100 and went gold for U.S. sales over one million. The Saturday Night Fever soundtrack album sold over 15 million copies and, in 1979, Perren received a Grammy Award for Album of the Year for his contribution, the first of two back-to-back Grammys he earned.[4]

MVP Productions and "Reunited"

In 1978, Perren signed Peaches & Herb to his production company, MVP Productions. Through him, the duo inked a deal with Polydor Records. Their first Polydor album, 2 Hot, included the gold single and top five pop and R&B hit "Shake Your Groove Thing", as well the number-one crossover smash "Reunited" and third single "We've Got Love". 2 Hot went platinum on the strength of those three hits, occupying the number-two pop albums spot for six weeks in early 1979. Peaches & Herb follow-up Twice the Fire went gold and yielded the singles, "Roller Skate Mate (Part 1)", and "I Pledge My Love".

"Survive": the peak and death of disco

He received his second accolade from the Recording Academy by winning the first

Warner Bros. Records (for Atkins in 1982) and Atlantic (for The Spinners' 1982 album Grand Slam and Johnny Gill
's self-titled debut).

Later years

Perren last worked with

911 took a cover of "More Than a Woman
" to number two in the UK Singles Chart.

In 1993, Perren suffered a massive stroke. He died 11 years later at the age of 61 in his home in Chatsworth, Los Angeles.[5] He is interred in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills).

References

  1. ISBN 0-7876-7932-1
    . Accessed August 19, 2011. "At Dwight Morrow High School, Perren was a member of the marching band, the orchestra, and sang in the chorus."
  2. ^ "Motown Producer Freddie Perren Dies". Billboard. Retrieved October 23, 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d "Freddie Perren Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More". AllMusic.
  4. ^ "Freddie Perren". Grammy.com. Retrieved January 16, 2020.
  5. ^ "Respect 2004 Page". www.soulwalking.co.uk. Retrieved February 24, 2024.

External links

Freddie Perren Beats And Grooves Inc

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