Gamble and Huff facts for kids

Kenny Gamble (left) and Leon Huff (right) in 1995

Kenneth Gamble (born August 11, 1943, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) and Leon A. Huff (born April 8, 1942, in Camden, New Jersey) are a famous American songwriting and music production team. They are known for creating the Philadelphia soul music style in the 1970s, often called "Philly sound."

Gamble and Huff started their own record company, Philadelphia International Records. They wrote and produced an amazing 175 gold and platinum records. This means their songs sold millions of copies! Because of their huge impact on music, they were welcomed into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2008. They received this honor in the "non-performer" category, which means they were recognized for their work behind the scenes, not as singers.

History of Gamble and Huff

Early Music Adventures

Kenny Gamble grew up in Philadelphia. His love for music started early. He recorded himself on arcade machines and helped DJs at a local radio station. He even ran a record store and sang in a group called The Romeos.

In 1964, Kenny Gamble met Jerry Ross, who became his manager. They worked together on music. Gamble then teamed up with Leon Huff, who played keyboards. Their first recording together was for a group called Candy & The Kisses.

Gamble also signed with Columbia Records as a solo artist in 1963. Gamble, Ross, and Huff all worked on the hit song "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me." This song was first sung by Jay & The Techniques. Later, famous artists like Diana Ross & The Supremes and The Temptations also sang it.

First Big Hits

In 1967, Gamble and Huff produced their first song that reached the top 5 on the music charts. It was "Expressway to Your Heart" by The Soul Survivors.

In 1968, they wrote and produced another top 10 hit for their own company, Gamble Records. This song was "Cowboys to Girls" by The Intruders, a group from Philadelphia. They also worked with other popular artists like Wilson Pickett and Dusty Springfield, creating many more hit songs.

Starting Philadelphia International Records

With many successes under their belt, Gamble and Huff decided to create their own record label. They started Philadelphia International Records in 1971. They wanted it to be a big music company, like Motown Records.

CBS Records, led by Clive Davis, supported their new company. CBS helped distribute Philadelphia International's records to stores everywhere. With the help of talented music arrangers like Thom Bell, Bobby Martin, and Norman Harris, Philadelphia International released many popular soul music hits in the 1970s.

Some of these famous songs included "If You Don't Know Me by Now" by Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes. They also produced "Back Stabbers", "For the Love of Money", and "Love Train" by The O'Jays. Another big hit was the Grammy-winning song "Me and Mrs. Jones" by Billy Paul. Gamble and Huff said they were inspired to write "Me and Mrs. Jones" after seeing someone they knew meeting a woman in a cafe.

The Philadelphia Soul Sound

Gamble and Huff's "Philadelphia soul" sound became very popular. It started with simpler music but grew into a style with beautiful strings, strong basslines, and smooth hi-hat rhythms. These musical parts became the special features of a new music style called disco.

By 1975, Philadelphia International and its unique sound were more popular than Motown. Gamble and Huff became the top producers of soul music.

Almost all of the records from Philadelphia International featured their own studio band, MFSB. MFSB stands for Mother Father Sister Brother. MFSB also released their own successful instrumental songs. One of their biggest hits was "TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)" in 1974. This song is famous as the theme song for the American TV show Soul Train.

Making a Difference in Communities

Throughout the 1970s, Gamble and Huff created music that talked about important social issues. Many of their songs shared messages of black pride and supported the Black Power Movement's goal for fairness and self-reliance.

Some examples include Billy Paul's "Am I Black Enough for You?" (1972) and The O'Jays' "Give the People What They Want" (1975). They also made a song called "Let's Clean Up the Ghetto" (1977). This song was the title track of an album that showed Philadelphia International's wider goals for social change.

Kenny Gamble started the "Clean Up The Ghetto" project. This project encourages young people in struggling neighborhoods to help clean and fix damaged buildings. This project began in Philadelphia and has spread to other cities like Los Angeles, Atlanta, and Chicago.

Gamble has also helped other charities and foundations. He served on the board of directors for the Philadelphia Music Foundation. He also started an organization called Universal Companies. This group has opened restaurants, bookstores, and schools. They have also built affordable homes. These projects have helped bring new life to neighborhoods. For example, in 2003, Gamble and Universal Companies worked on a plan to build and fix 400 homes in South Philadelphia.

Later Achievements

By the late 1970s, the popularity of the Philadelphia soul sound started to change. However, the label still had some hits. These included "Enjoy Yourself" by The Jacksons in 1976, and "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now" by McFadden & Whitehead in 1979.

In 1982, Philadelphia International's biggest star, Teddy Pendergrass, had a car accident that left him unable to walk. This made the future of the label uncertain. That year, Philadelphia International partnered with EMI. Even though new hits were less frequent, Gamble and Huff continued to write and produce music for their artists.

In 1990, Gamble and Huff finally won a Grammy Award for Best R&B Song. They won for Simply Red's version of the Blue Notes' 1972 hit "If You Don't Know Me By Now". In 1999, Gamble and Huff received the Grammy Trustees Award. This award honors people who have made important contributions to music. They joined other music legends like Frank Sinatra and The Beatles. They have written over 3,000 songs, making them some of the most productive songwriters ever.

Kenny Gamble continues to write music, often with Leon Huff. He still lives in South Philadelphia and is active in his community. He owns the historic Royal Theater and nearby properties.

In 2005, Gamble and Huff were honored and inducted into the Dance Music Hall of Fame. In 2008, they were the first to receive the new "Ahmet Ertegün Award" from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. This award replaced the old "non-performer" category. In 2009, they were named BMI Icons, recognizing their many achievements in music. They have won 86 BMI Pop and R&B Awards together.

In May 2010, Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff each received an Honorary Doctorate of Music from Berklee College of Music. They also gave the graduation speech at the ceremony.

In 2014, TV One honored Gamble & Huff at "The Trumpet Awards." Many artists performed their songs as a tribute. In 2021, Gamble & Huff wrote a song called All in the Family Blues for Tito Jackson's album. In 2024, they received Doctor of Music degrees from the University of Pennsylvania.

"Our mother was extremely special," Kenny Gamble said about his mother, Ruby Gamble. "She was the kindest person in our lives. More importantly, she was the inspiration for everything I have done in life, including creating the wonderful music that others have enjoyed around the world."

"As the matriarch of the family, she was a spiritual person who devoted her life as one of Jehovah's Witnesses. Her kindness and peacefulness will never be forgotten."

Music Produced by Gamble and Huff

Studio Albums Produced

Singles Produced

See also

In Spanish: Gamble y Huff para niños