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 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 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", 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. == See also ==