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18-522: Due to the emphasis on sound and arrangement and the relative anonymity of many of its artists, Philadelphia soul is often considered a producers' genre. Songwriters and producers Bunny Sigler , Kenny Gamble , and Leon Huff are credited with developing the genre. Other notable Philadelphia soul songwriters and producers included Bobby Martin , Thom Bell , Linda Creed , Norman Harris , Dexter Wansel , and McFadden & Whitehead of Gamble and Huff's Philadelphia International Records , who worked with

36-591: A session singer on records by Sonny and Cher , Dr. John and others, and also formed a duo for a time with Jessie Hill . She sang backing vocals on The Rolling Stones ' Exile On Main Street album , but then briefly retired from the music industry . On October 15, 1971, Shirley & Lee were reunited for one show only at the Madison Square Garden in New York City . The playbill included musicians of

54-545: A duo album with Barbara Mason . In 1977, he moved to the Gold Mind label, set up by MFSB musician Norman Harris and distributed by Salsoul Records . There, he had his biggest R&B hit, reaching #8 in early 1978 with "Let Me Party With You (Party, Party, Party)". He also continued to work with Instant Funk on their breakthrough hit "I Got My Mind Made Up (You Can Get It Girl)", and with other acts on Salsoul. In 1978, his recording with Loleatta Holloway , "Only You", reached #11 on

72-653: A songwriting and production team and recorded as the Trammps . These three were the base rhythm section for MFSB and created a sub-label of Philadelphia International Records called Golden Fleece, distributed by CBS Records (now Sony Music ). Soon after, Harris created the Gold Mind label in conjunction with Salsoul Records . Gold Mind's roster included First Choice , Loleatta Holloway , and Love Committee, all of whom would feature Baker/Harris/Young productions of their material. Their 1976 hit by Double Exposure , " Ten Percent ",

90-570: A stable of studio musicians to develop the unique Philadelphia sound. Many of these musicians would also record as MFSB , which had a hit with the seminal Philadelphia soul song " TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia) " in 1974. Written and produced by Gamble and Huff, "TSOP" also became the theme song for the musical variety show Soul Train . Notable session musicians of the Philadelphia sound were bassist Ronald Baker , guitarist Norman Harris and drummer Earl Young (B-H-Y), who also worked as

108-594: The Billboard R&;B charts in 1952. The record contrasted Goodman's soprano with Leonard's baritone , in a way in which subsequent songwriters have suggested was influential on the development of ska and reggae . Matassa said of Goodman, "When Shirley sang a solo, you had to feel yourself because you thought you were cut and didn't know where the blood was." In their early songs , they pretended as if they were sweethearts and were dubbed "the Sweethearts of

126-692: The Blues ". However, they changed style in 1956 and recorded " Let the Good Times Roll ", which became their biggest hit single reaching #1 on the US R&;B chart and #20 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc . As Goodman's obituary in The Independent noted, "It is Shirley Goodman's voice, with its bizarre mixture of flat and sharp notes, that makes

144-463: The album The Blueprint by Jay-Z . Sigler died of a heart attack on October 6, 2017, aged 76, in Philidelphia. Songs performed by Sigler appear on 53 compilations Shirley and Lee Shirley Mae Goodman (June 19, 1936 – July 5, 2005) was an American R&B singer , best known as one half of Shirley & Lee , a 1950s duo. Later in her career, she had a resurgence as part of

162-551: The Good Times Roll & Feel So Good", rose on both the national pop and R&B charts , reaching #20 R&B and #22 pop in 1967. The follow-up, another medley, this time of two doo-wop songs, " Lovey Dovey "/" You're So Fine ", also reached the R&;B chart in the same year. After Cameo-Parkway folded, around 1970 Sigler began working as a songwriter with Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff at Philadelphia International Records . In partnership with writer Phil Hurtt , Sigler wrote songs for

180-668: The O'Jays including "Sunshine" and "When the World Is at Peace". He also wrote songs solo and with Gamble, and his compositions were recorded by many of the Philadelphia International artistes. He discovered a group, Instant Funk , and began again recording as a singer. He had his first chart success for six years in 1973 with a remake of the Bobby Lewis hit " Tossin' and Turnin' " (#38 R&B, #97 pop), and had several further minor R&B chart hits on Philadelphia International in

198-594: The Opals, in which he sang with his brother James Sigler, Ritchie Rome and Jack Faith. By the late 1950s, he had started performing in local venues as a singer and pianist, and he first recorded for the V-Tone Records label in 1959. Leon Huff then recommended him to record producers John Medora and Dave White at Cameo-Parkway Records . His second single for the Parkway label, a medley of two Shirley and Lee hits, " Let

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216-520: The early rock era, including Chuck Berry , Bo Diddley , and Bobby Rydell . Later in 1974, as Shirley Goodman Pixley, she was contacted by her friend Sylvia Robinson , previously of the duo Mickey and Sylvia and now co-owner of the All Platinum record label , and was persuaded to record the lead vocal on a dance track, " Shame, Shame, Shame ". Credited to Shirley & Company , the record became an international pop hit, reaching number 12 on

234-712: The group Shirley and Company with the disco hit " Shame, Shame, Shame " in the 1970s. Goodman was born in New Orleans , Louisiana , United States. After singing in church choirs , she recorded her first demo with a group of friends in 1950. Some months later, her solo voice caught the attention of Aladdin Records owner Eddie Messner, who tracked her down and paired her as a duo with another school friend, Leonard Lee (June 29, 1935 – October 23, 1976). As 'Shirley & Lee', they recorded their debut single "I’m Gone", produced by Cosimo Matassa , which reached #2 on

252-751: The mid-1970s, including his version of " Love Train ", and "Keep Smilin'". He also released several albums in the mid-1970s, on which he was backed by the MFSB musicians as well as Instant Funk. Sigler continued to work as a songwriter and producer for artistes including the Whispers , Ecstasy, Passion & Pain , Carl Carlton , Jackie Moore , Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes , The Roots , Billy Paul , Lou Rawls , Patti LaBelle , Stephanie Mills and Curtis Mayfield . He also appeared on "Soul Train" where he sang his song, "That's How Long I'll Be Loving You", and released

270-647: The national R&B chart and #87 on the pop chart. From the 1980s, Sigler continued to write and produce for musicians including Patti LaBelle , and Shirley Jones of the Jones Girls . He sang the 23rd Psalm at the ceremony awarding the Congressional Gold Medal to the Tuskegee Airmen on March 29, 2007, at the United States Capitol . He also co-wrote "The Ruler's Back", the opening song on

288-477: The record so distinctive." Although a follow-up single, "I Feel Good" (not to be confused with their 1955 single " Feel So Good "), also made the charts, the duo's later releases were less successful, and the pair moved to the Warwick label in 1959. Goodman and Leonard split up in 1963. Leonard made some subsequent solo records with little success. In the mid-1960s, Goodman moved to California , where she worked as

306-479: Was an American R&B singer, songwriter , multi-instrumentalist and record producer who did extensive work with the team of Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff , and was instrumental in creating the " Philly Sound " in the early 1970s. Sigler was born on March 17, 1941, in Philadelphia , and was nicknamed "Bunny" by his family as a young child. He sang in churches, and joined several local doo-wop groups, including

324-619: Was the first commercial 12-inch single . Philadelphia soul was popular throughout the 1970s, and it set the stage for the styles of disco and R&B that would emerge later in the decade. The style also influenced many other Philadelphia acts, such as Hall and Oates , the Roots , Vivian Green , Jill Scott , and Musiq Soulchild . David Bowie 's 1975 album Young Americans was partially recorded at Philadelphia's Sigma Sound Studios and influenced by Philadelphia soul. Bunny Sigler Walter "Bunny" Sigler (March 27, 1941 – October 6, 2017)

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