R.I.P. - Greg Perry (15 Mar 2023)

Only a few weeks ago we did a profile on Edna Wright (aka Sandy Wynns) for her posthumous birthday on 2 Feb (she died in Sep 2020). Wright was married to Greg Perry and at the time of her post we couldn't confirm whether Perry was living. Sadly, we have just learned that he died today. 

The sad news was broken by his close friend Sidney Barnes on his facebook page this evening. Barnes wrote: "I'm very sad today, Greg Perry a dear friend and song writing partner has passed away. Greg and I had some serious history together going back to our days in New York, Detroit, LA, & Chicago. He wrote several hit songs and was a really great guy a family man and an all around good guy. He will be missed. R.I.P. dear friend."

Perry was a singer/songwriter producer from a talented family of brothers Jeff (aka Jeffree), Dennis, Zachary and Leonard who were all in the music business. He was part of Holland, Dozier, Holland's Invictus/Hot Wax setup joining them when they left Motown after he turned down a publishing deal at Motown. He collaborated with Chairmen Of The Board's General Johnson and Angelo Bond writing and producing many hits including 100 Proof "Somebody’s Been Sleeping In My Bed", Freda Payne "Bring The Boys Home", Chairmen of the Board "Pay To The Piper" and Honey Cone "Want Ads". Whilst at Hot Wax he met his future wife Edna Wright who was in the group Honey Cone. 

However, he began his music career at the Chess in Chicago working with producer Billy Davis. That is where he released his first single, a very good Northern Soul double-sider "Love Control" / "Head Over Heels (In Love)", the flip side written with Sydney Barnes.

It wasn't until 1974, after signing with Casablanca, that he released his next single "Boogie Man" which would be a minor R&B hit reaching #81. His next single was another great double-sider with two modern soul tracks "Come On Down (Get Your Head Out Of The Clouds)" / "Variety Is The Spice Of Life", from his debut solo album "One For The Road" (reissued digitally in Jul 2021), which proved to be his biggest chart success peaking at #24 R&B. Two more singles were delivered for Casablanca, all sides from the album, the title track paired with "I Want To Live And Let Live (Love And Let Love All The Time)" and "I'll Be Comin Back" / "Love Is Magic (Instrumental)" with the latter charting at #48 R&B.

He then moved to RCA Victor releasing an album, "Smokin'", and two singles in 1977. His last single appeared on Alfa in1982, "It Takes Heart", released on 7" and 12" which was his final, and last charting, single reaching #53 R&B that also got spins on release on the Northern Soul scene and gained a reissue by Kent in 2016.

Perry and Wright both appeared in UK at 6Ts Cleethorpes soul weekender in June 2014. 

There's a very poor quality YouTube video below of his performance on Soul Train singing  "Come On Down (Get Your Head Out Of The Clouds)" but it's about the only footage available for him.

"Head Over Heels (In Love)"

"Come On Down" on Soul Train 1975

"Ain't No Mountain High Enough" with Edna Wright

Live @ Cleethorpes 2014

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