The Philly Sound: Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff & The Story Of Brotherly Love (1997) | Black Thought

Philadelphia International Records co-founders KENNY GAMBLE and LEON HUFF are joined in conversation by BLACK THOUGHT of The Roots and newsman ED GORDON in this classic live TV interview promoting the release of their first-ever CD boxset in 1997.
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Kenneth Gamble (born August 11, 1943, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)[1] and Leon A. Huff (born April 8, 1942, Camden, New Jersey) are an American songwriting and production team credited for developing the Philadelphia soul music genre (also known as Philly sound) of the 1970s. In addition to forming their own label, Philadelphia International Records, Gamble and Huff have written and produced 175 gold and platinum records, earning them an induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in the non-performer category[ in March 2008.
Shared for historical purposes. I do not own the rights.
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[@Dog-999i]

They are geniuses! Gamble and Huff had beautiful production that was also catchy. Lyrcially their songs were way ahead of their time as well with powerful messages.

[@11dsw]

Philadelphia Disco was some of the most beautiful, lush recordings ever produced...ever..so dramatic yet incredibly smooth......ear-gasmic.😀🪩💕

[@monilaninetynine3811]

These are two of the best to ever do it and they don't get the credit they so richly deserve.

[@cordeliakates6044]

I am Seventy and I have always thought they were the very best. Thanks for this interview! They are definitely my favorite! Still play my music and my Fifty year old daughter as well. They are so important to the history of SOUL and need to be remembered and honored!

[@sharonnewton1195]

The best ❤

[@frankied6440]

Gamble & Huff created some of the greatest songs of the 1970s. They eclipsed Motown, in my opinion, during their time in the sun. The songs were the soundtrack of my childhood and I continue to listen to their music to this day. Sadly, Thom Bell, the man who was a huge part of Philadelphia International Records recently passed away. Finally, there is NO music out there today like Gamble & Huff's music, and this will never happen again.

[@troyg2458]

Facts!! These cats took the innocence of Motown, the pure grit of Stax and rolled it all into that great Philly soul sound. Disco music came out of that Philly soul along with the beginnings of Hop-Hop. No question, Gamble & Huff are gods. It`s a DANM shame there is not a museum at Sigma Sound Studios in Philadelphia like the Motown Museum in Detroit or the Stax Museum in Memphis. A DANM SHAME.

[@rochiellebevans1783]

Damn. Write ten songs in ONE day. Wow. I was thinking he was gonna say one song in a few days. Just gifted brilliance.

[@GeoffreyPheasantFilm]

Humble, modest with bags of style. These gentlemen have given the world so much pleasure and beauty which will last for thousands of years to come, Gamble & Huff That's, Talent, passion and hardwork.

[@shirkophobe]

Gotta love the respect that Black Thought is giving them, listening and smiling at their stories!

[@rochiellebevans1783]

Love those gentlemen. The songs they worked on for Teddy were just amazing. Truly gifted brothers.

[@mrmartywaring]

Philly Philly!!

[@margaretmccall7726]

I watched the original broadcast of this interview. Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff are two of my all time favorite composers, lyristics, and musicians. Their music is timeless and belongs in the music writers hall of fame. I miss Ed Gordon doing interviews of substance on BET Tonight. Those Burger King commercials were original for their time, too. Thanks for another gem. 👏🙌🎹🎤🎶🎵🎧🎊🎉🎇🎆

[@cameron_fairchild]

Yes. Ed Gordon is so goood. Great questions~and competent.

[@TheHomeTeamNYCNewYork]

They're so good it brings tears to my eyes. There's so much lyrically strong in each song, but also the layers musically are absolutely beautiful and also complex orchestral arrangements.

[@jeremymanning2132]

These guys and Sigma Studios are legends. Every youngster today should listen to PIR recordings, they would be inspired! Keep posting.

[@shirkophobe]

The definition of class and musicianship! Iconic legends!

[@v.a.993]

I am crazy about Philly Soul...thank you for this!

[@farrahc7055]

As soon as I saw the title I had to give this a thumbs up. Just love Gamble and Huff. 19.5.2020

[@stevesullivan4435]

These gentlemen are true music legends. Their music will live forever.

[@darlenegoodwin6467]

THE SOUND OF PHILADELPHIA. RECOGNIZE!!!

[@arethabrown5]

“What they do?!” They wrote lyrics that were honest and true. “They smile in your face, all the time they wanna take your place!” For the ❤️ of money was not written for the drug epidemic of the ‘80’s-‘90’s but my goodness it was fitting. I’d love to have a MasterClass w/these guys🙏🏽❤️

[@kennethsession9761]

Well said sister Brown! The most high God bless you.

[@mpjproducer]

me too!!! I Love these writer-producers!

[@peaninaporter983]

Thank you for uploading this, rightfully paying homage to those who paved the way for us in multiple disciplines, careers, and facets helps us remember our history and who we are as a people.

[@str8spittin]

Nina Moore: I COULDN'T HAVE SAID THAT BETTER! 😁 BEAUTIFUL SMILE BY DA WAY😁

[@POTSOJ]

Amen and that smile of yours is not a smile it's the sun on your face it's very lovely.

[@sunshinesunflowerz1647]

Illadelphia !!! Besides listening to my beloved Southern music, I was enamored with The Sound of Philly (Gamble and Huff) back in the day. I remember watching this on BET; when BET was actually worth watching because BET came out when I was in middle school: channel 49 and I couldn't wait to see the programming. Its crazy to think that you had: TSOFP and BET in such close proximity, in DC. We really had it AWESOME back then! We are still in need of Community Development by some strong leaders that'll help push our Black brothers and sisters to their highest potential in all aspects. Thank ReelBlack for uploading. Gamble and Huff, are beauty personified! Scientifically, this is why Aries and Leo can work. They motivate each other; its nothing but pure love with each other.

[@kwameaboagye121]

My favourite Gamble & Huff hits 1. The Jacksons, Jump for Joy 2. The O''Jays You are my Sunshine. 3. The Three Degrees Year of Decision 4. Bill Paul, Let's make a Baby & 5. The Bluenotes Don't Leave this Way.

[@ENERGY-ng6no]

They created so many masterpieces! Their music healed us through many situations.

[@songserenade2210]

Two music greats who gave us some of the sweetest and classic soul music of our time.Their contribution to popular soul music is unequalled.🎤🎧🎼🎺🎷🌍🎹💐🌹👌🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

[@RochusMr]

Just listened to NPR Fresh Air about that 50th Anniversary for Philadelphia International Records! Wow true legends. Gamble+Huff 💯🔥🔥🔥👌🏿🙌🏿

[@melvina628]

Their music is always great. It was fully produced with an extremely high quality and audible richness that grabbed you and made you stop what you were doing to listen to it from beginning to end. And in the end, all you could say was, "Wow!"

[@benfreeman8965]

Two of the greatest writers producersthat I EVER heard ! Thank You!

[@augustaugust7667]

💖I'm white in Southern California and this is the music I grew up with.... and "soul music is me"..... It's my world it's what I love I feel most comfortable with r&b.... I like some rock.... But this is all so special... Lou Rawls was my favorite when I was 17 then came Earth wind & fire and George Benson favorite when I was 18 💕🌟🌹 and too many others to mention 💖

[@davidbivinsblinc5224]

Hello how are you

[@crystalsmith4928]

Awesome

[@inquiring8059]

Thank you to these gentlemen. They provided the music soundtrack of my youth in Glasgow, Scotland. PIR Forever 💕

[@ortizmusic7115]

That is so true, Gamble and Huff had the great writer's, instrumental players, and the recording studio, sigma sounds, at that time you couldn't get a better energy from that combination. The track to put in a time capsule should MFSB LOVE IS THE MESSAGE.

[@reenateekasingh9684]

Growing up in the seventies in another part of the world, it's amazing that I knew of the names Gamble and Huff. It was the only common name printed on the 45rpm records of all these hits coming out of U.S. R&B. Just about every song I like, when I looked at the record there are those two name: Gambe & Huff. They weren't singers nor in a band but their names were just a popular as the celebrities they wrote music for. I kept wondering how can two guys write so many hit songs. Hats off to them.

[@larry6795]

Thank you Gamble and Huff, your wonderful music and lyrics are part of our lives 🙏🏾

[@annakat03]

holy wow 10 songs COMPLETED, in one day

[@djjamad1416]

Great interview! Thankhs for sharing this!

[@Lionroar-m3t]

Rest In Peace thom bell. We will forever missed and love u🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲

[@msljohnson]

Just like them making a full Documentary Movie on Motown and Stax they should do a full Documentary Movie on Gamble and Huff Philadelphia International Records I would watch it, have them tell their stories EVERYONE that was involved(catch them while they here on earth basically like NOW) slowly for surely all our greats are leaving Us one by one.

[@charleswalker5140]

Mr Ed Gordon represent’ that CT thang!!!!! Fabulous interview, conducted like a true scholar!!!! 3:23

[@SS-ii6nz]

Thank you for sharing this interview. The music that these producers created was unbelievable. Motown and TSOP are my favorite record labels. There are many others but these two captured my soul in a huge way. I love Mr. Gamble, Mr Huff and Mr. Thom Bell. ♥

[@str8spittin]

🔥🔥🔥🔥GAMBLE & HUFF...NUFF SAID!!!🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@LiquidFlux66]

💯... Truly music for the people not the money...They really don't have no where to go,ask them where there going they don't know..

[@kwameaboagye121]

Gamble and Huff are a successful recording team of all-time. Am not surprise with the amount of hits that they wrote for such as the O'Jays, the Jacksons, the Bluenotes, Billy Paul and the Three Degrees. Ken Gamble and Leon Huff are so inspiring. Ase to both Gamble & Huff.

[@7lucky777777]

Im a gypsy from Finland iha think black people makes the most soulful and best music

[@MonSune9551]

Philly Finest, and Black Thought is the best and slept on artist to come from Philadelphia!

[@GusMalle]

Thank you for Sharing , Reelblack, Saturday October 22, 2022 6;42pm EST USA GO PHILLIES !

[@antoniodion4047]

The Philly GrOOve Thom Bell The Mighty Three 3* Greatest Writers Of ALL Times!

[@andreconey2345]

Two of the baddest that ever did it and got away wit it

[@REDD_BLITZ]

Imagine a PIONEERS Versuz battle between the greats GAMBLE & HUFF vs. HOLLAND-DOZIER-HOLLAND??? Wow, that'd be off da meat rack!!!😄👊

[@TheHomeTeamNYCNewYork]

Insert this in our veins most expeditiously 🎯💯❣️

[@sisyaffayahyisrael2112]

Classic 👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿💯

[@trucking604]

About 15 or 20 years ago a friend and I saw Harold Melvin's Blue Notes, The O'Jays, The Intruders, The Three Degrees, Billy Paul, The Stylistics, The Delfonics and Blue Magic at Westbury Music Fair on LI NY. Great all Philly Soul show! It was hosted by Jimmie Walker.

[@stevenholland165]

Don't forget about the great Thom Bell's contribution to the Philly sound.

[@kincamell2]

Heavy Gratitude

[@theskinnyaquarius]

Quality interview, quality guests

[@johnstampp5726]

When we look at what these writers which included Thom Bell and Linda Creed and others wrote and how it helped not only the US but the disapora in the UK etc. We must ask the intelligent question, how has the richness and love degenerated to what is being played now in rap and other forms of music which pales insignificant to that moment and its music?

[@brodocbetty4856]

Philly on the map....

[@ghanasoul]

Where were Gamble and Huff when Teddy Pendergrass wanted to sing again post accident?? They should’ve been the FIRST ones to snatch up Teddy and say “let’s see if we can make something”. Elecktra took a chance on Teddy and he had his first record with them.

[@NoBapp1]

Philly baby

[@BTFearr]

Someone needs to do a story on how much publishing they ripped and how many struggling writers who wrote hits and because they were struggling, they'd get a meager check and the tune would go platinum. Google how Billy Paul had to take them to court to get his Me & Mrs. Jones money.

[@carolynbratton7827]

The men are iconic and wrote beautiful lasting music. However, I have noticed that they seem to favor the O'Jays who are fabulous. Yet, Teddy Pendergrass was the voice of Philly and gets rarely mentioned.

[@errolhobson1653]

Folks must also be reminded that The Salsoul Orchestra was a spin off of MFSB, some real talented musicians.

[@seanmolloy9297]

Life is funny. I was listening to some of their stuff just last week, and my wife asked what M.F.S.B. stood for; I said 'Mother Fukn Soul Band....you know what, I don't think she believed me.

[@seanmolloy9297]

...and before someone lands on me....it's Mother Father Sister Brother.....

[@christinagraham2915]

I really miss the old bet

[@yohans.i9013]

Today is the Most Honorable Minster Malcolm X Birthday

[@celinataveira6460]

Bom dia mestre eu achei está matéria por um acaso mestre você sempre um mistério

[@mahogganyblu3949]

💙💙💙💪

[@markbrooker3729]

Architects of the Philly sound

[@errolhobson1653]

What about The Jackson's "Let Me Show You"!?

[@gailjackson8187]

💚 Mike Peace

[@cameron_fairchild]

The one they should put in the time capsule for eternity, as to who they are, what they meant, and what they were doing with music in their time? Love Is The Message - MFSB or If You Don't Know Me By Now - Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes

[@TheHomeTeamNYCNewYork]

Those lyrics and arrangements? That's the A side and B side right there! Extended versions and no need to include anything else in the capsule!

[@inakalimba9428]

I am so happy to see black men tell the public that they were song writers for some of American's famous singers bcz for year I thought only white ppl wrote and produced the songs for the African-American community. Thanks for this enlightment.

[@jamesparker1063]

lol! WHY did you think that??

[@brotherkareem181]

@@jamesparker1063 Exactly she or he is definitely not from America & definitely not a Black American.

[@ChagoWilson]

"We've got a message in our music"! Music that said something! There is no creativity in saying the 'b-word' or the 'n-word'! Anybody can cuss and use profanity. Get back to saying something that will empower a people!

[@TheHomeTeamNYCNewYork]

We hadn't done anything creative in two decades. This is who we're focusing on as we're writing and composing again. They're the pinnacle of properly channeling this musical blessing.

[@mistershu3002]

@@TheHomeTeamNYCNewYork are you looking for additional people for your team?

[@mistershu3002]

Agreed 💯

[@DudePositive]

👍

[@hawknation4443]

Philly sound was better than Motown...I am sorry Detriot...We had the style and hits that was so different

[@5243SWATS]

Why was Thom Bell often left out off those panels?

[@djcutz]

Might be off a lil with the date this might be 99-2000

[@terucks]

This has to be '01 or '02

[@reelblack]

You might be right.

[@thisisbemabu]

MENNNNNNN!!!!

[@whatthefunkisgoingon3820]

Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff inspired me for that song kzbin.info/www/bejne/mpy8pKprd9yUbs0

[@darrellalexander8907]

713

[@ezedikeohamadike9003]

Music simply has no soul. Critic of me listen to Donnie Hathaway.