Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff
Greatest success: Philadelphia International
In the early 1970s, while Motown was still successful, it’s “Hitsville”-era sound was no longer the definitive approach for popular R&B. Gamble & Huff crafted a smooth and sophisticated brand of soul music, and created the Philly Intl. label to get it to the masses. The brand would churn out hits for legendary acts like Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, Billy Paul, The Three Degrees, the O’Jays, Teddy Pendergrass and more; with a reign that continued well into the disco era.
