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Kenneth Gamble was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on August 11, 1943. Together with Leon Huff, Gamble produced and wrote 175 gold and platinum records, a feat unrivaled. He is a major part of music history, having pioneered Philadelphia soul.
His childhood in Philadelphia shaped his adult life. He recorded himself on the arcade machines that would create a record for you, he assisted the morning show DJs on WDAS, operated a record store, and sang with The Romeos. In 1964, Gamble teamed up with Leon huff for the first Gamble/Huff song, performed by Candy & The Kisses.
In 1967, they struck gold "Expressway To Your Heart" by the Soul Survivors became their first top 5 hit, and the die was cast. The team worked with Archie Bell & The Drells, Wilson Pickett, Aretha Franklin, and Jerry Butler, scoring hits along the way.
Philadelphia International Records or PRI was formed in 1971 as a result of the success of Berry Gordy and Motown. Columbia Records backed the venture. Philadelphia International released hits including "If You Don't Know Me by Now" by Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, "Back Stabbers", "Back Stabbers", and "Love Train" by the O'Jays, and the Grammy winning "Me and Mrs. Jones" by Billy Paul.
Their signature sound evolved into the lush strings and thumping bassline that later got categorized as disco. Certainly, some of the elements of Philadelphia Soul were included in the later dance craze, and that positioned Gamble and Huff as the premiere producers of disco and soul in the 1970s. Even the house musicians were able to score a hit with "TSOP". They named themselves MFSB, and the song became the theme to the long-running dance show Soul Train.
Through the early 70s, Gamble and Huff continued to work with some of the greats 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 United Companies have opened a restaturant, A bookstore, a mosque, low-income housing, and a school. These buildings, mostly built by labor hired locally, 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. PRI 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, California. Atlanta, Georgia, and Chicago, Illinios, and similar events have been held throughout the country.
In 1975, PRI became involved in a payola scandal, Gamble was fined, Huff was not, but the popularity of the songs began to decline. Disco has suffered a backlash, R&B music was going back toward the ballad, and rock had regained the American charts. The duo had one last gasp in 1979 with "Ain't No Stopping Us Now" by McFadden and Whitehead, which became a hit.
By the early 1980s, One of PRI's main artists Teddy Pendergrass had become paralyzed in a car accident, and the future if PRI came to be in doubt. But the duo never stopped writing together. 1989 finally saw Gamble and Huff recognized with a Grammy.
In 1999 Gamble and Huff were honored with the Lifetime Achievement Grammy, joining musical luminaries like Frank Sinatra, The Beatles, and Walt Disney. Their career output of over 3000 songs rivals the great songwriters of all time.
Today, Kenneth Gamble continues to write, often with Leon Huff, and PRI continues. He still lives in South Philadephia, and remains active in his community.
Selected Discography
Expressway To Your Heart - Soul Survivors
Cowboys To Girls - The Intruders
I Can't Stop Dancing - Archie Bell And The Drells
Only The Strong Survive - Jerry Butler
One Night Affair - The O'Jays
(We'll Be) United - The Intruders
Silly, Silly Fool - Dusty Springfield
Don't Let The Green Grass Fool You - Wilson Pickett
Slow Motion - Johnny Williams
Me And Mrs. Jones - Billy Paul
Regina - Bunny Singler
The Bells - Laura Nyro And LaBelle
Drowning In The Sea Of Love - Joe Simon
If You Don't Know Me By Now - Harold Melvin And The Blue Notes
992 Arguments - The O'Jays
You're The Reason Why - The Ebonys
I Miss You - Harold Melvin And The Blue Notes
When The World's At Peace - The O'Jays
That's How Long I'll Be Loving You - Bunny Sigler
Back Stabbers - The O'Jays
Love Train - The O'Jays
The Love I Lost - Harold Melvin And The Blue Notes
Now That We Found Love - The O'Jays
Yesterday I Had The Blues - Harold Melvin And The Blue Notes
I'll Always Love My Mama - The Intruders
For The Love Of Money - The O'Jays
Bad Luck - Harold Melvin And 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
TSOP (The Sound Of Philadelphia) - MFSB
Livin' For The Weekend - The O'Jays
Wake Up Everybody - Harold Melvin And The Blue Notes
Enjoy Yourself - The Jacksons
I Could Dance All Night - Archie Bell And 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 - Peoples Choice
My One And Only Love - MFSB
Rich Get Richer - The O'Jays
Hope That We Can Be Together Soon - Harold Melvin And The Blue Notes
Ooh Child - Dee Dee Sharp
Love Train - Bunny Sigler
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