Gene McDaniels facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gene McDaniels
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McDaniels in 2010 (Photo by Frank Beacham)
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Eugene Booker McDaniels |
| Also known as | Eugene McDaniels, The Left Reverend McD |
| Born | February 12, 1935 Kansas City, Kansas, U.S. |
| Died | July 29, 2011 (aged 76) Kittery Point, Maine, U.S. |
| Genres | Jazz, pop, political |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter, producer |
| Instruments | Vocals, saxophone, trumpet |
| Years active | 1960–2011 |
| Labels | Liberty, London, Columbia, RCA, Atlantic, Ode |
Eugene Booker McDaniels (born February 12, 1935 – died July 29, 2011) was an American singer and songwriter. He became very famous in the early 1960s. Two of his songs, "A Hundred Pounds of Clay" and "Tower Of Strength", were big hits in 1961.
Gene McDaniels also wrote many popular songs for other artists. One of his most famous songs was "Feel Like Makin' Love", sung by Roberta Flack.
Contents
Early Life and Musical Beginnings
Gene McDaniels was born in Kansas City, Kansas, in the United States. He grew up in Omaha, Nebraska. From a young age, he loved music. He sang gospel music in church and also enjoyed jazz.
He learned to play the saxophone and trumpet. As a teenager, he started a singing group called the Echoes of Joy, which later became the Sultans. He studied music at the University of Omaha and then toured with a group called the Mississippi Piney Woods Singers.
Music Career Highlights
Becoming a Pop Star in the 1960s
When Gene McDaniels moved to California, he started singing in jazz clubs. He became known for his performances with the Les McCann Trio. Soon, a record company called Liberty Records noticed his talent.
After a couple of songs that weren't big hits, McDaniels worked with producer Snuff Garrett. Together, they created his first major hit song, "A Hundred Pounds of Clay". This song reached number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in early 1961. It sold over one million copies, earning a special "gold disc" award.
His next big hit was "Tower Of Strength". This song, partly written by Burt Bacharach, reached number 5 on the charts and earned him another gold record. In 1962, Gene McDaniels appeared in the movie It's Trad, Dad!, where he sang "Another Tear Falls." He continued to have hits like "Chip Chip" and "Point Of No Return."
Changing Musical Style in the Late 1960s
By the mid-1960s, Gene McDaniels' smooth singing style became less popular. In 1965, he moved to Columbia Records, but his songs there didn't have much success. After the death of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968, McDaniels left the U.S. He lived in Denmark and Sweden for a while, focusing on writing songs.
He started writing songs with a stronger message, often about social issues. One of his most famous songs from this time was "Compared to What". This jazz-soul protest song became a hit when Les McCann and Eddie Harris performed it. Many other artists, including Roberta Flack and Ray Charles, also sang this powerful song.
Success as a Songwriter in the 1970s
Gene McDaniels returned to the U.S. in 1971 and continued to record music under his full name, Eugene McDaniels. He became a top songwriter. In 1974, Roberta Flack's song "Feel Like Makin' Love", which he wrote, reached number 1 on the charts. This song was even nominated for a Grammy Award. McDaniels also received an award for how much the song was played on the radio, with over five million plays!
In the early 1970s, he released albums like Headless Heroes of the Apocalypse and Outlaw on the Atlantic label.
Later Career and Other Projects
In 2005, McDaniels released an album called Screams & Whispers on his own record label. In 2009, he announced a new album, Evolution's Child, which featured his lyrics and collaborations with pianist Ted Brancato.
His song "Jagger the Dagger" was sampled by the famous hip-hop group A Tribe Called Quest. This led to his song being included on the Tribe Vibes album.
Besides music, Gene McDaniels also appeared in films. He was in It's Trad, Dad! (1962) and briefly sang in the choir in the 1974 film Uptown Saturday Night. He also lent his voice to the character "Nasus" in the popular computer game League of Legends. In 2010, he started sharing videos on YouTube about his music and ideas.
Personal Life and Passing
Gene McDaniels lived a quiet life in the state of Maine. He passed away peacefully at his home on July 29, 2011. He was survived by his wife and six children.
Discography
Albums
| Year | Album | Record Label |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | In Times Like These | Liberty Records |
| Somestimes I'm Happy Sometimes I'm Blue | ||
| 1961 | 100 Lbs. of Clay! | |
| Tower of Strength | ||
| 1962 | Hit After Hit | |
| Gene McDaniels Sings Movie Memories | ||
| 1963 | The Wonderful World of Gene McDaniels | |
| 1966 | The Facts of Life | |
| 1970 | Outlaw | Atlantic Records |
| 1971 | Headless Heroes of the Apocalypse | |
| 1975 | Natural Juices | Ode Records |
| 2004 | Screams and Whispers | Genepool Records |
Singles
| Year | Titles (A-side, B-side) | Peak chart positions | Record Label | Album | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | AC | R&B | UK | ||||
| 1960 | "In Times Like These" | – | – | – | – | Liberty Records | In Times Like These |
| "Green Door" | – | – | – | – | Sometimes I'm Happy Sometimes I'm Blue | ||
| 1961 | "A Hundred Pounds Of Clay" | 3 | – | 11 | – | 100 Lbs. Of Clay! | |
| "Take Good Care Of Her" | – | – | – | – | |||
| "A Tear" | 31 | – | – | – | Tower Of Strength | ||
| "Tower Of Strength" | 5 | – | 5 | 49 | |||
| "Chip Chip" | 10 | – | – | – | Hit After Hit | ||
| 1962 | "Funny" | 99 | – | – | – | Tower Of Strength | |
| "Point Of No Return" | 21 | – | 23 | – | Hit After Hit | ||
| "Spanish Lace" | 31 | – | – | – | Spanish Lace | ||
| 1963 | "The Puzzle" | – | – | – | – | Golden Greats | |
| "It's A Lonely Town (Lonely Without You)" | 64 | 30 | – | – | Non-album tracks | ||
| "Anyone Else" | – | – | – | – | |||
| 1964 | "Make Me A Present Of You" | – | – | – | – | 100 Lbs. Of Clay! | |
| "(There Goes The) Forgotten Man" | – | – | – | – | Non-album tracks | ||
| 1965 | "Walk With A Winner" | – | – | – | – | The Very Best Of Gene McDaniels | |
| "Will It Last Forever" | – | – | – | – | Non-album tracks | ||
| 1966 | "Something Blue" | – | – | – | – | Columbia Records | |
| 1967 | "Touch Of Your Lips" | – | – | – | – | ||
| 1971 | "Tell Me Mr. President" | – | – | – | – | Atlantic Records | |
| 1973 | "River" | – | – | – | – | MGM Records | |
Film and Video Game Appearances
- It's Trad, Dad! (also known as Ring-A-Ding Rhythm, 1962)
- Uptown Saturday Night (1974) - briefly seen singing in a choir
- League of Legends (video game) – voice of the character Nasus
