Gamble and Huff
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Kenneth Gamble (born August 11, 1943, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)[1] and Leon A. Huff (born April 8, 1942, Camden, New Jersey)[2] are an American songwriting and production team credited for developing the Philadelphia soul music genre (also known as Philly sound) of the 1970s. In addition to forming their own label, Philadelphia International Records, Gamble and Huff have written and produced 175 gold and platinum records, earning them an induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in the non-performer category[3] in March 2008.
History
Early years
Gamble's childhood in Philadelphia shaped his adult life: he recorded himself on various
In 1967 they produced their first Top 5 hit: "
Philadelphia International
With a solid track record now behind them, Gamble and Huff formed
Gamble and Huff's
Nearly all of the Philadelphia International records featured the work of the label's in-house band of studio musicians, MFSB (Mother Father Sister Brother). MFSB cut a number of successful instrumental albums and singles written and produced by the Gamble & Huff team and arranged by Bobby Martin including the 1974 number-one hit "TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)", now best known as the theme song from the American television show Soul Train.
Political activism
Throughout the 1970s, Gamble and Huff made music that addressed political and social issues faced by the African American community. Many of their songs articulated the theme of
Gamble's "Clean Up The Ghetto" project, which involves the youth of blighted communities to help clean-up and repair damaged or neglected properties, started in Philadelphia, and has spread to Los Angeles, Atlanta, and Chicago with similar events being held throughout the country. Gamble has also contributed his time and energy to the T. J. Martell Foundation and The AMC Cancer Research Center and Hospital. He has served on the board of directors for the Philadelphia Music Foundation, which honors the artists, songwriters, and producers from Philadelphia. He founded the organization Universal Companies which has opened a restaurant, a bookstore, a mosque, low-income housing, and several charter schools. These buildings, mostly built by locally hired labor, have served as springboards to revitalizing neighborhoods. For example, in 2003 Gamble and Universal Companies partnered with others for a $100 million plan to construct and renovate 400 homes in south Philadelphia.[12]
Later years
In 1975, Philadelphia International became involved in a
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.[4] 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.[4]
1990 finally saw Gamble and Huff recognized with a
Today,[
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.[14][15]
In 2008, Gamble and Huff were the first recipients of the newly created "
In May 2010, Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff were each awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Music from Berklee College of Music. The ceremony was held at Boston University's Agganis Arena, where the songwriting duo gave the commencement address.[17]
On March 16, 2012, the
"Our mother was extremely special," Kenny Gamble said. "She was the kindest person in our lives. More importantly, she was the inspiration for everything I have done in life, including creating the wonderful music that others have enjoyed around the world." "As the matriarch of the family, she was a spiritual person who devoted her life as one of Jehovah's Witnesses. Her kindness and peacefulness will never be forgotten."[18]
In April 2014, Gamble & Huff was presented a tribute by
In 2021, Gamble & Huff wrote a song titled All in the Family Blues for Tito Jackson's second album Under Your Spell.
Legacy
Gamble and Huff are featured on the documentary series Profiles of African-American Success.
Leon Huff has a son, Leon Huff Jr., who produces for the record companies of today, as well, working with notable artists such as 8Ball & MJG, Beanie Sigel & State Property, Ruff Ryders, Lil’ Bow Wow, and more. Leon Huff Jr. goes by the stage name Pop Traxx, and he is the owner of the luxury HDE Studios in the Fishtown neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Discography
Studio albums produced
Singles produced
References
- ^ "Kenneth Gamble". Songwriters Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on 7 May 2018. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
- ^ "Leon Huff". The HistoryMakers. 26 March 2013. Archived from the original on 8 April 2018. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
- ^ a b "Inductees for 2008". Rock and Roll Hall of Fame official website. 2007-12-13. Archived from the original on 2008-02-01. Retrieved 2008-03-11.
- ^ ISBN 0-85112-939-0.
- ^ Gamble, Kenny. "Gamble-Ross". Spectro Pop. Archived from the original on 31 July 2015. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
- ^ Gamble, Kenny. "Kenny scores hit with Expressway To Your Heart by Soul Survivor". The Year in Music. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
- ^ Gamble & Huff. "Gamble & Huff During their Atlantic Record Years". Record Producers.com. Archived from the original on 3 April 2016. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
- ^ Gamble & Huff. "Gamble & Huff Scored hits for Mercury Records". Songwriters Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on 3 April 2015. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
- ^ "R.I.P. Legendary soul music producer Bobby Martin". 10 September 2013. Archived from the original on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2015-08-10. Bobby Martin obituary
- ^ Bobby Martin discography at Discogs
- S2CID 96427971.
- South Philly Review. Archived from the originalon 2015-05-28.
- ProQuest 281123647. Retrieved 2020-12-30.
- ^ Vanhoenacker, Mark (2012-05-24). "Romney faces tough questions from black leaders in Philadelphia". Slatest.slate.com. Archived from the original on 2013-07-09. Retrieved 2013-06-27.
- ^ "A Philadelphia Non-Profit | Real Estate Development". Universal Companies. Archived from the original on 2013-05-08. Retrieved 2013-06-27.
- ^ "Gamble & Huff Named BMI Icons at 57th Annual Pop Awards". bmi.com. 20 May 2009. Archived from the original on 2011-05-31. Retrieved 2010-09-22.
- ^ "Several Jazz Artists Honored at Berklee Commencement - JazzTimes". jazztimes.com. Archived from the original on 27 September 2017. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
- ^ John F. Morrison, "Ruby Gamble, 96, mother of musician Kenneth Gamble" Archived 2013-10-22 at the Wayback Machine, Philly.com, March 16, 2012; retrieved on April 16, 2012.
External links
- Official website
- Gamble & Huff interview by Pete Lewis, 'Blues & Soul' December 2011
- "Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff: The Sound of Philly Lives On," Crawdaddy!, March 26, 2008.
- Kenneth Gamble at bmi.com
- Leon Huff at bmi.com
- The Leon Huff 2012 Audio Interview at Soulinterviews.com
- Leon Huff Interview - NAMM Oral History Library (2013)
- Kenneth Gamble Interview at NAMM Oral History Library (2013)