The Intruders - The Philly Foundation

The Philadelphia sound. No not an arena football team. The music released by PHILADELPHIA INTERNATIONAL RECORDS, the music produced by Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff, then by MacFadden and Whitehead. Where Jimmy Ellis and Earl Young played. Where Larry Washington beat on his Congas daily. Where the Three Degrees came from. Where the Trammps came from. Hell, where MFSB came from. If it wasn't for THE INTRUDERS, there never would have been a Philadelphia sound.

"The Intruders were the very foundation of THE SOUND OF PHILADELPHIA". Those are Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff saying that. You see, it was THE INTRUDERS who originated that unique sound. Sam "Little Sonny" Brown, Eugene "Bird" Daughtry. Phillip Terry and Robert "Big Sonny" Edwards had been recording on and off since 1961. The Intruders started blending that Doo-Wop sound from the fifties and sixties, that street corner tradition, with the rabid attitude and soul of the Black Gospel church. What happened was a music that was not as bluesy or funky as the music of STAX Records. This sound wasn't as Pop-oriented as the records coming from MOTOWN. What it had was a unique sound of their own,The Intruders developed and perfected this new, "Philly Sound". As Gamble and Huff found success with The Intruders, they needed money to start their own label. Thanks to Columbia Records, PHILADELPHIA INTERNATIONAL RECORDS was born.It was because of The Intruders that Gamble and Huff were given the initial monies needed. That is how The PHILLY Movement started. With the stable of talent like Harold Melvin, Teddy Pendergrass, The Three Degrees, MFSB, Earl Young and the TRAMMPS, and Larry Washington. That sound was spreading like an L.A. Brush fire.The Philly sound owes it all to THE INTRUDERS.

The Intruders will be remembered mostly for three songs.In the late sixties it was COWBOYS TO GIRLS, then in the early seventies, I WANNA KNOW YOUR NAME made millions. And finally after DISCO was born, I'LL ALWAYS LOVE MY MAMA was the PHILLY SOUND at it's best. This DISCO CLASSIC was extended, soulful, hypnotic, and extremely danceable. It laid the groundwork for all future PHILLY projects. It all started in Black Discos, then Black Radio, then ALL DISCOS, then all radio. All the New York City clubs played this nightly, usually after midnight, when the clubs were at their busiest. It really took off, soon you could hear it in House Parties, Block Parties, in High School Dances, at Weddings, even at BAR-Mitzvahs!! I WILL ALWAYS LOVE MY MAMA was one of the first DISCO CLASSICS. Thanks guys for opening the door and getting the party started!

Reprinted with permission from Bernard F. Lopez
http://www.discomusic.com

-- #67 Posted on Monday, March 9, 2009 --