News is only just filtering through of the death of singer/songwriter
Ken Williams (Kenneth Waymon Williams) on 17 Jun 2022 aged
83.
His name has been mentioned many times on this blog over the years as he
had a hand in the writing and arranging so many soul gems over the years.
He is best loved on the Northern Soul scene for his Okeh classic "Come Back" recorded in 1968 and just to clarify he is not the same singer who sang
"(You're Fabulous) Babe" which was used on the Faberge perfume commercial
in 1977.
Other songs he is associated with, some of which have become Northern
Soul anthems, include The Superiors (who he was a member of) "What Would I Do", Holly Maxwell "Only When You're Lonely"
(also recorded by
The Royalettes), The Spellbinder's 'Help Me (Get Myself Back Together Again)' (Columbia 1966). Toni Lamarr 'It's Too Late' (Buddah 1967), Peaches & Herb 'Me And You' (Date 1967), Sandra Phillips classic 'Hoping You'll Come Back' (OKeh 1968), Bobby Treetop 'Wait Till I Get To Know Ya' (Tuff 1967), The Fundamentals 'Let Me Show It To You' (OKeh 1967), Total Eclipes 'You Took Our Heart (That Was Torn To Pieces)' (Right On 1970).
Perhaps in the mainstream he is better known for writing The Main
Ingredient's biggest hit "Everybody Plays The Fool" from 1972 and also wrote "Let Me Prove My Love For You" for them in 1976 sampled by Alicia Keys in 2003 for her "You Don't Know My Name" for which she, and therefore he, won a Grammy.
He often worked with Van McCoy and partnered
J.R. Bailey
on many songwriting projects including "Love Love Love" recorded by Bailey in 1972 and later by Donny Hathaway in 1973.
His songs have been recorded by Teddy Pendergrass, Four Tops, BT Express,
Millie Jackson & Isaac Hayes, Ben E. King, Joe Simon, Peaches &
Herb, Carolyn Franklin, Ace Spectrum and many others including Tom Jones!
As a tribute here's a clip of him re-recording his Northern Soul monster
with Ian Levine followed by the original version along with a playlist of
some of the songs he was involved in writing (that I can find on
Spotify).
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1 comment:
What a pity. When you see all the records where he has invested.
What cream!!!
Yves
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