Freddie Perren facts for kids

Frederick James Perren (born May 15, 1943 – died December 16, 2004) was an American music expert. He was a talented songwriter, record producer, and music arranger. He helped create many famous songs. Some of his biggest hits include "Boogie Fever" by The Sylvers, "I Will Survive" by Gloria Gaynor, and "Shake Your Groove Thing" by Peaches & Herb.

About Freddie Perren's Life

His Early Years

Freddie Perren was born in Englewood, New Jersey, on May 15, 1943. He went to Dwight Morrow High School. There, he met Alphonse Mizell, who would later become his songwriting partner. Freddie then studied at Howard University in Washington, D.C., and graduated in 1966. He married Christine Yarian in 1970, and they stayed together until his death. Christine also helped him write some songs.

Working with Motown and The Jackson 5

In 1968, Freddie moved to California. He met Alphonzo Mizell and Deke Richards. They started writing songs together. In 1969, Berry Gordy, the head of Motown Records, asked them to join a special team. This team was called "The Corporation." Their job was to write and produce songs for The Jackson 5.

Their first big hit was "I Want You Back." It became a number-one song in early 1970. They also wrote and produced other popular Jackson 5 songs. These included "ABC", "The Love You Save", and "Mama's Pearl". Freddie and The Corporation also worked on movie soundtracks.

The Rise of Disco Music

Freddie Perren then started working on disco music. He produced hits like "Do It Baby" and "Love Machine" for The Miracles. By 1976, Freddie left Motown. He moved to Capitol Records. There, he worked with his old college friend, Larkin Arnold.

Over the next two years, Freddie had great success with The Sylvers. He produced their first two albums for Capitol. They had two "Gold singles," meaning they sold over 500,000 copies. These hits were "Boogie Fever" and "Hot Line." They also had a top ten song called "High School Dance."

Success with Tavares and Saturday Night Fever

Freddie also worked with the group Tavares. He produced three of their albums. He helped write and produce "Don't Take Away The Music" and "Heaven Must Be Missing An Angel." These were both number-one disco hits.

He also produced Tavares' version of The Bee Gees' song "More Than A Woman." Both Tavares' and The Bee Gees' versions of this song were in the famous 1977 movie Saturday Night Fever. The movie's soundtrack was a huge success. It sold over 15 million copies. In 1979, Freddie Perren won a Grammy Award for Album of the Year for his work on the soundtrack. This was his first of two Grammy Awards.

MVP Productions and "Reunited"

In 1978, Freddie started his own production company, MVP Productions. He signed the duo Peaches & Herb. Their first album with him, 2 Hot, was a big hit. It included the popular song "Shake Your Groove Thing." It also had the number-one song "Reunited." The album 2 Hot sold over a million copies, earning it "Platinum" status. Their next album, Twice the Fire, also sold well and went "Gold."

The Impact of "I Will Survive"

Freddie received his second Grammy Award in 1980. He won for Gloria Gaynor's song "I Will Survive." This song became a number-one hit in both the U.S. and the UK. It sold over four million copies in the U.S. and became a classic disco song. Many artists have covered it since then.

However, the disco music trend started to fade. The Grammy Award for Best Disco Recording was only given out once. After 1981, Freddie worked with other record labels. He produced music for artists like Johnny Gill and The Spinners.

Later Career and Legacy

Freddie Perren's last major work was with New Edition in 1986. After that, he was less active in music production. In the 1990s, his songs became popular again. Many boy bands covered his old hits. For example, Boyz II Men covered "It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday." Their version was a huge success. The Irish boyband Westlife also covered it. In 1998, the British boyband 911 had a hit with their cover of "More Than a Woman."

In 1993, Freddie had a serious stroke. He passed away 11 years later, at age 61, in his home in Chatsworth, Los Angeles. He is buried in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills).

Freddie Perren's Production Work