Philadelphia International Records

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Philadelphia International Records is a record label founded by Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff in 1971. It was famous for showcasing the subgenre of Philadelphia soul, and had a distribution deal with CBS Records until 1984, when distribution of the catalog from 1976 to the present was taken over by EMI (Sony Entertainment continued to distribute the catalog from 1969 to 1976). In 2007, Legacy Recordings regained the rights to Philadelphia International's full catalog.

Much of the music released by the label was recorded and produced at Sigma Sound Studios in Philadelphia. More than thirty resident studio musicians, known together as MFSB "Mother Father Sister Brother", were based at this studio and backed up many of these recordings.

Contents 1 Subsidiary labels 2 List of Philadelphia International artists 3 See also 4 External links

[edit] Subsidiary labels

In 1966, prior to the creation of Philadelphia International, Gamble and Huff started an independent label, Excel Records. It was soon renamed Gamble Records and in 1972 it was folded into Philadelphia International as a subsidiary. In 1974, the subsidiary's name was changed to TSOP Records. The name comes from the 1974 hit single, TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia), by MFSB and The Three Degrees. Artists for Excel/Gamble/TSOP included Jerry Butler, Dusty Springfield, Laura Nyro, Wilson Pickett, Dee Dee Sharp, The Intruders and Archie Bell & the Drells.

In the 1990s, Philadelphia International launched a new subsidiary, Uncensored Records. Featuring Damon and No Question, this label releases hip hop music.

[edit] List of Philadelphia International artists

• Patti Labelle
• Archie Bell & The Drells
• Jerry Butler
• The Ebonys
• Jean Carn
• The Intruders
• Dick Jensen
• The Jones Girls
• McFadden & Whitehead
• Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes
• The O'Jays
• Billy Paul
• Teddy Pendergrass
• Lou Rawls
• Dee Dee Sharp
• Bunny Sigler
• Gideon Smith
• The Three Degrees
• Dexter Wansel
• Johnny Williams
• The Whitehead Brothers
• Talk Of the Town
• Phyllis Hyman
• Love Committee
• The Force
• Frantique

[edit] See also

• List of record labels
• Music of Philadelphia

[edit] External links

• Gamble & Huff Music, Official Website[1].