Gene McFadden
{{short description|American singer-songwriter (1949–2006)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2011}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Gene McFadden
| image =
| caption =
| background = solo_singer
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date|1949|1|28}}
| birth_place = Olanta, South Carolina, U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|2006|1|27|1949|1|28}}
| death_place = Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
| origin =
| genre = Disco, R&B, Philly soul
| occupation = Singer, songwriter, record producer
| instrument = Vocals
| years_active = 1966–2006
| label = Philadelphia International
| past_member_of = McFadden & Whitehead
| website =
}}
Gene McFadden (January 28, 1949 – January 27, 2006) was an American singer, songwriter, and record producer. He was one of the key members of the Philadelphia International record label, and was one-half of the successful team of McFadden & Whitehead with John Whitehead.Schmidt, Tom. "[https://www.newspapers.com/image/197966823/ Philly great Gene McFadden dies at 56]." Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Philadelphia Daily News, January 28, 2006, p. 2 (subscription required).Watson, Bob. "[https://www.newspapers.com/image/199338776/ Gene McFadden, R&B songwriter, dies]." Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: The Philadelphia Inquirer, January 28, 2006, p. B1 (subscription required).
Biography
McFadden met John Whitehead as a teenager and together they founded the Epsilons, a soul music group. The group was discovered by Otis Redding, who acted as their manager. They later toured with Redding until his death in 1967, after which, they signed with Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff's Philadelphia International record label.
McFadden & Whitehead soon gained attention for their songwriting ability when their song "Back Stabbers", recorded by The O'Jays, went to No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100. The duo wrote many songs for other Philadelphia International artists and had hits such as Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes' "Wake Up Everybody (Part 1)", "Bad Luck", The Intruders' "I’ll Always Love My Mama," and their own, "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now" (#1 R&B) in 1979."[https://www.newspapers.com/image/280684451/ Songwriter Gene McFadden dies; also part of singing duo]." Allentown, Pennsylvania: The Morning Call, January 31, 2006, p. 13 (subscription required).{{cite book
| first= John
| last= Tobler
| year= 1992
| title= NME Rock 'N' Roll Years
| edition= 1st
| publisher=Reed International Books Ltd
| location= London
| page= 327
| id= CN 5585}} McFadden, along with Whitehead, was instrumental in defining the sound of Philadelphia soul.
Illness and death
McFadden was diagnosed with liver and lung cancer in 2004, and died from the disease at his home in the Mount Airy section of Philadelphia on January 27, 2006, one day shy of his 57th birthday. He was survived by his wife Barbara, two daughters, and two sons.{{cite web|url=https://www.today.com/popculture/r-b-singer-gene-mcfadden-dies-wbna11193226 |title=R&B singer Gene McFadden dies |date=February 6, 2006 |access-date=August 11, 2021|publisher=Today (American TV program) |website=today.com}}Schmidt, "Philly great Gene McFadden dies at 56," Philadelphia Daily News, January 28, 2006.Watson, "Gene McFadden, R&B songwriter, dies," The Philadelphia Inquirer, January 28, 2006.
Legacy
In 2016, a federal appeals court ruled that the estates of both McFadden and Whitehead were allowed to retain control of the duo's song catalog."[https://www.newspapers.com/image/280684451/ Ain't no stopping them now]." Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: The Philadelphia Inquirer, January 28, 2016, p. C2 (subscription required).
References
{{Reflist}}
Other sources
- Jeckell, Barry A. (January 30, 2006). "[http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/59868/rb-artistsongwriter-gene-mcfadden-dies R&B Artist/Songwriter Gene McFadden Dies]". Billboard. Retrieved on April 13, 2007.
- Perrone, Pierre (January 31, 2006). "[https://web.archive.org/web/20060513035247/http://news.independent.co.uk/people/obituaries/article342106.ece Obituary]". The Independent. Retrieved on April 13, 2007.
External links
- {{IMDb name|id=1213501}}
- {{IBDB name}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:McFadden, Gene}}
Category:Deaths from liver cancer in Pennsylvania
Category:Deaths from lung cancer in Pennsylvania
Category:African-American male singer-songwriters
Category:American male singer-songwriters
Category:Singers from Philadelphia
Category:Record producers from Pennsylvania
Category:American soul musicians
Category:Singer-songwriters from Pennsylvania
Category:20th-century African-American male singers