R&B singer, composer, and producer
John Whitehead remains best known for the smash "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now," the disco-era classic he recorded with longtime collaborator
Gene McFadden. Born July 2, 1948,
Whitehead and
McFadden were raised in the same impoverished Philadelphia neighborhood. Still in high school, they formed
the Epsilons with
Whitehead's cousin
Ronald Lowry (later a member of
Frankie Beverley's
Maze) and
Allen Beatty in 1966,
Otis Redding saw the group perform and hired them as his backing vocalists.
The Epsilons also backed
Arthur Conley on his classic "Sweet Soul Music," but following
Redding's tragic death the group's fortunes waned, and after the 1968 Stax single "The Echo" they dissolved.
Whitehead and
McFadden returned to Philadelphia, forming Talk of the Town with
James Knight and
Lloyd Parks. Two singles, "Little Bit of Your Lovin'" and "Don't Be So Mean" appeared on North Bay in 1971; neither was a hit, and
Whitehead went to work in the mailroom of the fledgling Philadelphia International Records. He and
McFadden also began writing songs, eventually convincing Philadelphia International bosses
Kenny Gamble and
Leon Huff to listen to their composition "Back Stabbers." Recorded by
the O'Jays in 1972, "Back Stabbers" became the label's first gold record, and proved a landmark in the evolution of Philly soul.
As writers and producers
McFadden and
Whitehead would go on to score 22 gold records, two platinum albums, and two Grammy nominations over the next six years -- their hits included
Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes' "Wake Up Everybody" and "Where Are All My Friends," along with
Archie Bell & the Drells' "Don't Let Love Get You Down." The duo also revived their Talk of the Town project, releasing the singles "Super Groover (All Night Mover)," "Bumpin' Boogie," and "I Apologize" on the Philadelphia International spin-offs Gamble and TSOP. In 1978 they returned to the studio as simply
McFadden & Whitehead, recording "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now" in one take --
Whitehead even made up most of the lyrics on the spot. The single was a global blockbuster, topping the Billboard R&B charts and later becoming a Philadelphia sports anthem, but the duo proved unable to generate a successful follow-up, with "I Heard It in a Love Song" and "I've Been Pushed Aside" barely scraping the charts. After 1982's
Movin' On,
McFadden & Whitehead went their separate ways -- the latter subsequently went to prison for tax evasion, issuing the 1988 solo LP
I Need Money Bad following his release. He and
McFadden reunited in the '90s, performing at corporate events and disco nostalgia shows. On May 11, 2004,
Whitehead was shot to death while repairing his car on a Philadelphia street; he was 55-years-old.
–
Jason Ankeny, Rovi