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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Greg Perry [2021] - One For The Road (Expanded Edition) [Republic Records]

An expanded edition of Greg Perry's 1975 debut album "One For The Road" has been remastered and reissued (digitally) on 2 Jul 2021. It says 'expanded' but there is only one additional track "The Boogie Man" which was his first single for Casablanca in 1974.

He released his first single in 1967 on Chess which has a Northern Soul following "Love Control" / "Head Over Heels (In Love)" both good sides. There's a pedigree behind the single as he co-wrote the A side with Harold Thomas of The Masqueraders and the B side with Detroit legend Sydney Barnes with both sides being arranged by Charles Stepney who worked with most of the top Chess acts such as Rotary Connection (which included Minnie Riperton), The Dells, Ramsey Lewis, Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf etc.

Greg Perry is one of five brothers all involved in the music industry with the best know, to rare soul followers at least, being Jeff Perry (aka Jeffree) who has released some superb music. You can read a bit more about the brothers on the post I did for Jeff Perry last year.

Greg was married to Edna Wright (aka Sandy Wynns) who was the lead singer of Holland Dozier Holland's Hot Wax act Honey Cone, and the sister of Darlene Love (The Blossoms but was also an uncredited singer with The Crystals and a highly sought after session singer). Edna died only last September. I guess they must have met at Invictus/Hot Wax as Perry was a keyboard player for the labels. I just noticed from the credits that Edna Wright was an executive producer for the album, and from reading the album sleeve she also provided background vocals with several of the Perry brothers..

Whilst listening to the album again, his voice reminds me of another artist, perhaps a bit like his brother on his album "Jeffree", but also similar to Leroy Hutson in places. The killer tracks are the title track "One For The Road", "Come On Down (Get Your Head Out Of The Clouds)", "Variety Is The Spice Of Life" (the two previous tracks were released together on a 45 in 1975 and was his biggest hit reaching #24 R&B) and "Will She Meet The Train In The Rain?", in fact the whole album is a good listen!

Click icons below for further information or to connect with the artist.

Details

Rating:	9
Genre/Style:	Modern Soul / Reissue
Format:	Album
Media:	Digital
Label:	Republic Records / Casablanca
Cat No:	None / NBLP 7009
Year:	2021 /1975
Value:	£9.90 / £15-£30