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| John Whitehead Born: 7-2-1948 Died: 5-11-2004 ......drive-by shooting |
| Born July 2, 1948, John Whitehead and Gene McFadden were raised in the same impoverished Philadelphia neighborhood. While in high school, they formed The Epsilons with Whitehead's cousin Ronald “Roame" Lowry (later a member of Frankie Beverley's Maze) and Allen Beatty—in 1966, Otis Redding saw the group perform and hired them as his backing vocalists. The Epsilons also backed Arthur Conley on his classic "Sweet Soul Music," but following Redding's tragic death the group's fortunes waned, and after the 1968 Stax single "The Echo" they dissolved. Whitehead and McFadden returned to Philadelphia, forming Talk of the Town with James Knight and Lloyd Parks. Two singles, "Little Bit Of Your Lovin'" and "Don't Be So Mean," appeared on North Bay in 1971; neither was a hit, and Whitehead went to work in the mailroom of the fledgling Philadelphia International Records. He and McFadden also began writing songs, eventually convincing Philadelphia International bosses Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff to listen to their composition "Back Stabbers." Recorded by the O'Jays in 1972, "Back Stabbers" would prove the label's first gold record and a landmark in the evolution of Philly soul. As writers and producers McFadden and Whitehead would go on to score 22 gold records, two platinum albums and two Grammy nominations over the next six years—their hits included Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes' "Wake Up Everybody" and "Where Are All My Friends," along with Archie Bell and the Drells' "Don't Let Love Get You Down." The duo also revived their Talk of the Town project, releasing the singles "Super Groover (All Night Mover)," "Bumpin' Boogie" and "I Apologize" on the Philadelphia International spinoffs Gamble and TSOP. In 1978 they returned to the studio as simply McFadden and Whitehead, recording "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now" in one take—Whitehead even made up most of the lyrics on the spot. The single was a global blockbuster, topping the Billboard R&B charts and later becoming a Philadelphia sports anthem, but the duo proved unable to generate a successful follow-up, with " Heard It in a Love Song" and "I've Been Pushed Aside" barely scraping the charts. After 1982's "Movin' On," McFadden and Whitehead went their separate ways—the latter subsequently went to prison for tax evasion, issuing the 1988 solo LP "I Need Money Bad" following his release. He and McFadden reunited in the 1990's, performing at corporate events and disco nostalgia shows. Then on Tuesday May 11, 2004 Whitehead, 55, and another man were working on a vehicle when they were shot by two gunmen, police said. The assailants fled. Whitehead was shot in the neck and collapsed. Ohmed Johnson, who was shot in the buttocks, was in good condition early Wednesday, a hospital spokeswoman said. Police said the gunmen fired a series of bullets; a young neighborhood girl said she heard about a dozen shots. "Why did they do this to my dad?'' Dawn Whitehead, 33, asked at the scene. "I just talked to him yesterday ... He was a fun person. Who would want to kill him?'' Police had no immediate suspects or motive. Gene McFadden, who was Whitehead's partner in the singing group McFadden & Whitehead, went to the scene in the city's West Oak Lane neighborhood and stood there trembling, WPVI-TV reported. Disco has lost another legend.....gone too soon. |
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