We’ve all heard the saying. “tickling the ivories.” But when the name Leon Huff is mentioned, most of us visualize the piano keys actually laughing! Known for his unique and distinct style of keyboard playing, a sound heard around the world … one of the contributing factors which was later dubbed “THE SOUND OF PHILADELPHIA.”
Hence, the story begins … Leon Huff, the musician-songwriter half of dynamic team of (Kenny) GAMBLE and HUFF. Leon was born in Camden, New Jersey, and at the early age of five, developed an interest in playing the piano. This in turn left his playing for the choir at the 10th street Baptist Church in Camden, although he was part of numerous street corner “doo wop” groups, specializing in harmonic backgrounds. Growing up during a time when Black Music was bursting out all over, contributed to Leon’s devoted to his music. Leon, a member of the former Dynaflows, auditioned for the Ted Mack Amateur Hour. The Dynaflows eventually evolved into the Lavenders, who recorded “The SLIDE,” which became a hit in several metropolitan areas. Encouraged by this relatively minor success, and “blessed.” As Huff puts it, with the ability to play piano by ear, Huff began to get into songwriting. During the late 50s, Leon went to New York City to try to get work as a pianist at recording sessions. Blessed as well with luck, he soon hooked up with five of the most important songwriter-record producers of the late 50s to mid 60’s—Jeffy Barry, Jerry Lieber, Mike Stoller, Ellie Grenwich, and Phil Spector. Barry liked Huff’s style so much, that Huff became a regular musician on Phil all Phil Spector recording sessions. It was at this time, that Leon began to polish up on his songwriting abilities, and to learn about the complexities of the recording studio, by watching Phil Spector, Jerry Lieber and Mike Stoller (who were masters). One of Leon’s earlier #1 successes was “THE BOY FROM NEW YORK CITY” (recorded by the Ad Libs).
Huff stayed in New York as a respected musician with a reputation as a “funky piano player.” When the music scene slowed down in New York City, Philadelphia began to pick up. Leon then began commuting between the two cities. It was during that time that Leon came up with his first Major hit (as a writer), “MIXED UP, SHOOK UP GIRL” (recorded by the once loved Patty & The Emblems).
Eventually, Huff signed to work in Philadelphia as a combination session man (playing during recording sessions) and song writer for Johnny Madera & David White (a local producing team). For them, he helped to write a monster mega hit “1, 2, 3,” (sung by Len Barry, the former lead singer of the Dovells). Things were now beginning to come together in number of ways. One of them was that Gamble and Huff were working in the same building. “Kenny was on the sixth floor and I was on the second.” Says Huff, “and we used to pass each other in the elevator, but we didn’t know each other.”
It wasn’t until 1965 that Gamble and Huff Met. Both men describe their meeting and subsequent work together in the warmest possible terms. “It just clicked off right from the beginning, like we been working together all the time.” The two men immediately began writing together and formulating plans for putting out their own records. Eventually Gamble and Huff decided to form a production company. Around this time, Leon has been rehearsing a local group called The Intruders; he and Gamble decided to record them. This proved to be a great decision, as their first record together and sold pretty well in Philadelphia - Baltimore – Washington, D.C. area. The hit factory really began to take off in 1967, when the duo met two white men, who turned out to be Soul Survivors. Leon and Kenny wrote and produced their first million selling classic single, “EXPRESSWAY TO YOUR HEART.” By the Soul Survivors (a group that the duo were producing for another label, Atlantic Records). Then came “COWBOYS TO GIRLS,” the first million seller by The Intruders. A lot of doors started opening then. It was around this time that the partners began picking up a lot of work from other record companies, functioning a independent producers … writing and producing hits for such stars as Wilson Pickett, Dusty Springfield, Jerry Butler, Nancy Wilson, Joe Simon and Archie Bell and The Dells.
In most instances, Gamble and Huff wrote the song, and the two were widely credited with having a genius for matching the right artists with a particular song of theirs. The Pair not only wrote and produced songs, but actually molded and built careers for many artists, and helped revive a number of dormant careers. Leon Huff, together with Kenny Gamble, soon became the largest independent producers in the recording business.
Following a string of hit records that made the label a household word in the industry. Philadelphia International Records was formed in 1971. Huff and Gamble were fortunate enough to meet Clive Davis, who signed to two men to the CBS team. Gamble and Huff were on a creative rampage … writing and producing. Everything they touched … turned into gold! It was hit after continuous hit! The first gold record for the new PIR label came in 1972 with the O’Jays “BACK STABBERS,” Immediately following their gold records … the hits just kept coming … Billy Paul’s platinum hit “ME AND MRS. JONES,” “IF YOU DON’T KNOW ME BY NOW” by Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, “LOVE TRAIN”, “FOR THE LOVE OF MONEY,” both recorded by The O’Jays and “THE LOVE I LOST” (Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes).
In recent years, the formulation of Gamble and Huff Records Inc. (an independent label – Manufacturing and distributing continuous Gamble and Huff hit records) materialized. To date, the label has recorded and released the current “FAMILY REUNION by Lou Rawls.
Leon along with Kenny Gamble, has inspired the careers of many of today’s artists, including Teddy Pendergrass, Shirley Jones, The O’ Jays, Phyllis Hyman, Lou Rawls, Third World, Patti LaBelle, Archie Bell & The Drells, Jerry Butler and Michael Jackson … just to name a few.
Philadelphia International Records has been credited as being a true pioneer in the development of Black music in America. In addition, Leon Huff is partner in the Mighty Three Music Group, which was conceived in 1973, and was recognized by BILLBOARD MAGAZINE (one of the leading trade publications) as the number one soul/rhythm and blues music publisher, and 8th most popular music publisher in the United States.
More than 200 gold and platinum records have been presented to Leon since the founding of Philadelphia International Records, exclusive of gold records to production of artists not affiliated with the company. Additionally, Leon is the recipient of the numerous Philadelphia & Camden, New Jersey community awards, as well as awards from organizations and communities across the nation. Most impressive, has been Leon’s coveted Grammy for Best R&B Song “If You Don’t Know Me By Now,” as recorded by the group Simply Red. In 1973, Leon along with his partner, Kenneth Gamble, was inducted into Philadelphia’s Music Foundation’s Walk of Fame. It was only befitting to install their plagues in front of the famed Philadelphia International Records’ building on the Avenue of the Arts in Philadelphia. Distinguished honors keep rolling in … on May 31, 1995, Leon was inducted into the 1995 National Academy of Songwriters’ Hall of Fame. On September 19th Leon along side his partner, Kenneth Gamble will be inducted into The Dance Music Hall of Fame.
