LarryG
01-29-2006, 04:44 PM
Gene McFadden, Philly native, and the man responsible for so many Philly Soul hits, has lost his battle with lung and liver cancer, Friday, January 27th.
Best known for the 1979 hit, "Ain't no Stoppin' Us Now". Mr. McFadden was half of the hit-making duo McFadden and Whitehead. John Whitehead was shot and killed outside his Philadelphia home in May 2004. The pain of his death really took a toll on Gene McFadden.
Before he started burnin up the charts with Whitehead, he was a member of the Epsilons while in high school. Otis Redding soon discovered his band and managed the duo until his death in 1967.
Gene and John Whitehead joined the legendary Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff at the Philadelphia International record label as producers. Their first song for the label was "Back Stabbers", and it took the O'Jays to the top of the R&B charts in 1972. They went on to pen other hits in the 70's including: "For the Love of Money", I'll Always love my Momma" and the Grammy nominated "Ain't No Stoppin Us Now". He worked with such artists as Melba Moore, Tenny Pendergrass, Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, Gladys Knight, and Stevie Wonder.
Chuck Gamble, executive vice president of Philly International, said that "Clearly, McFadden and Whitehead were very instrumental in the success of this label. They could make a song fun, like "Ain't No Stoppin Us Now", or awaken the social consciousness of people with something like, "Wake Up Everybody."
A great loss to the Philadelphia music community.
Best known for the 1979 hit, "Ain't no Stoppin' Us Now". Mr. McFadden was half of the hit-making duo McFadden and Whitehead. John Whitehead was shot and killed outside his Philadelphia home in May 2004. The pain of his death really took a toll on Gene McFadden.
Before he started burnin up the charts with Whitehead, he was a member of the Epsilons while in high school. Otis Redding soon discovered his band and managed the duo until his death in 1967.
Gene and John Whitehead joined the legendary Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff at the Philadelphia International record label as producers. Their first song for the label was "Back Stabbers", and it took the O'Jays to the top of the R&B charts in 1972. They went on to pen other hits in the 70's including: "For the Love of Money", I'll Always love my Momma" and the Grammy nominated "Ain't No Stoppin Us Now". He worked with such artists as Melba Moore, Tenny Pendergrass, Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, Gladys Knight, and Stevie Wonder.
Chuck Gamble, executive vice president of Philly International, said that "Clearly, McFadden and Whitehead were very instrumental in the success of this label. They could make a song fun, like "Ain't No Stoppin Us Now", or awaken the social consciousness of people with something like, "Wake Up Everybody."
A great loss to the Philadelphia music community.