Philadelphia International Records celebrates 50 years
Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff are two of the prolific and iconic producers/songwriters in the music industry and are known for creating that “Philly soul sound.” Gamble and Huff broke through with in 1967 they produced their first Top 5 hit “Expressway to Your Heart” by The Soul Survivors.” The writing duo scored another hit that reached the Top 10 in 1968 with song “Cowboys to Girls,” which was recorded by The Intruders that hail from Philadelphia.
Gamble and Huff in the late 60’s created a solid work of material they’ve written and produced, so they decided to start their own label called Philadelphia International Records in 1971. Philadelphia International Records were to rival berry Gordy’s Motown Records. They went to several labels for financial backing until Clive Davis, who at the time was the head of CBS records gave them a chance.
Now with the backing of Clive Davis they began recruiting like minded talent for Philadelphia International Records. They had in house arrangers such as Bobby Martin, Thom Bell, and Norman Harris. Their in house studio musicians MFSB, who in 1974 recorded the hit TSOP (The Sound Of Philadelphia) which was the theme song of the hit dance tv show Soul Train.
In the 70’s Philadelphia International Records produced a slew of hits “If You Don’t Know Me By Now” by Harold Melvin & the Bluenotes and the Grammy award winning song “Me & Mrs.Jones” by the late great Billy Paul. Those hits did not stop coming Gamble & Huff produced/written three consecutive hits for the legendary group The O’Jays “For the Love of Money,” “Back Stabbers,” and “Love Train.”
In the later years they still produced hits for the likes of The Jacksons, Patti LaBelle, Lou Rawls, and Teddy Pendergrass. Music Life Social is celebrating producers and songwriters Kenny Gamble & Leon Huff and Philadelphia International Records for 50 year anniversary of music.
