McFadden & Whitehead: Biography

• Overview
• Discography
• Biography
• Related Artists

• Videos
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• Fan Sites

• Ashford & Simpson
• People's Choice
• The Three Degrees
• Chic
• First Choice
• The Jones Girls
• Earl Young

• Holland-Dozier-Holland
• Smokey Robinson
• The Temptations
• The Four Tops
• Marvin Gaye

• Leon Huff
• Kenny Gamble
• Archie Bell
• The O'Jays
• MFSB
• The Intruders
• Harold Melvin

• Jerry Cohen
• John Whitehead
• Gene McFadden

Genres:

Disco Music, 70s Music, R&B and Soul Music, Funk Music, Rock Music, Soul Music

Decades Active:

1970's|1980's

Artistic Quality

Low

Popularity

Low

Ratings Guide

A Philadelphia songwriting, production, and performing duo who were prominent at Philadelphia International during the '70s, Gene McFadden and John Whitehead also scored a number one RB hit as vocalists. Their single "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now" was number one RB in 1979 and peaked at number 13 pop. The two were members of the Epsilons as teens, a band that toured with and were managed by Otis Redding until his death in 1967. They later signed with Stax and had a moderate hit in 1970 with "The Echo." When Lloyd Parkes left, McFadden Whitehead changed their name to Talk of the Town and began working with Gamble Huff. Although they were being primed to record for North Bay, when Gamble Huff discovered the duo's writing talents, they decided instead to employ them in that capacity at their label, Philadelphia International. Their first collaboration came on the Intruders' "I'll Always Love My Mama." They later wrote and/or produced such classics as "Backstabbers" for the O'Jays, "Bad Luck" and "Wake Up Everybody" for Harold Melvin the Blue Notes, and "Let's Groove," "Soul City Walk," "Strategy," and "Don't Let Love Get You Down" for Archie Bell the Drells. They also worked with Carolyn Crawford and did outside projects during the '70s and '80s with Melba Moore, Gloria Gaynor, Freddie Jackson, Willie Collins, and Beau Williams. The duo cut their own album, McFadden Whitehead, in 1979 and made more singles for TSOP in 1980 and Capitol in 1982. "I Heard It in a Love Song" was a Top 30 RB hit in 1980.

- Ron Wynn, All Music Guide