Linda Creed
Encyclopedia
Linda Creed also known by her married name Linda Epstein, was an American singer-songwriter
and lyricist who teamed up with songwriter-producer Thom Bell
to produce some of the most successful Philadelphia soul
groups of the 1970s.
recorded her song "Free Girl". That same year, Creed teamed with Bell, a staff writer, producer, and arranger at Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff's record label Philadelphia International Records
. Their first songwriting collaboration, "Stop, Look, Listen (To Your Heart)
", became a Top 40 pop hit for the Stylistics
, beginning an extended collaboration that also yielded the group's most successful recordings, including "You Are Everything
", "Betcha by Golly, Wow", "Break Up to Make Up
", and "You Make Me Feel Brand New
". Creed and Bell also paired on a number of hits for the Spinners, including "Ghetto Child", "I'm Coming Home
", "Living a Little, Laughing a Little", and "The Rubberband Man
". Linda Creed also worked with fellow Philadelphia native Phyllis Hyman
on many of her songs, most notably "Old Friend".
at 26, Creed kept on working, teaming with composer Michael Masser
and writing the lyrics to "Greatest Love of All
" for the 1977 Muhammad Ali
biopic The Greatest; in the spring of 1986, the song topped the charts for singer Whitney Houston
. Weeks before Houston reached number one, Creed died on April 10, 1986, at the age of 36. The following year, her family and friends established the Linda Creed Breast Cancer Foundation. In 1992, she was posthumously inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame
.
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
and lyricist who teamed up with songwriter-producer Thom Bell
Thom Bell
Thomas Randolph "Thom" Bell is an American songwriter and producer, best known as one of the creators of the Philadelphia style of soul music in the 1970s. He moved to Philadelphia as a child.-Biography:...
to produce some of the most successful Philadelphia soul
Philadelphia soul
Philadelphia soul, sometimes called the Philadelphia Sound or Sweet Philly, is a style of soul music characterized by funk influences and lush instrumental arrangements, often featuring sweeping strings and piercing horns. The subtle sound of a glockenspiel can often be heard in the background of...
groups of the 1970s.
Career
Born in Philadelphia in 1949, Creed was raised in the city's Mt. Airy section. Her career was launched in 1970 when singer Dusty SpringfieldDusty Springfield
Mary Isobel Catherine Bernadette O'BrienSources use both Isabel and Isobel as the spelling of her second name. OBE , known professionally as Dusty Springfield and dubbed The White Queen of Soul, was a British pop singer whose career extended from the late 1950s to the 1990s...
recorded her song "Free Girl". That same year, Creed teamed with Bell, a staff writer, producer, and arranger at Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff's record label Philadelphia International Records
Philadelphia International Records
Philadelphia International Records is a record label founded by writer-producers, Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff in 1971. It was famous for showcasing the sub-genre of Philadelphia soul music and released a string of worldwide hits during the decade.-History:...
. Their first songwriting collaboration, "Stop, Look, Listen (To Your Heart)
Stop, Look, Listen (To Your Heart)
"Stop, Look, Listen " is a soul song written by Thom Bell and Linda Creed that was originally recorded by the Philadelphia soul group The Stylistics.-The Stylistics version:...
", became a Top 40 pop hit for the Stylistics
The Stylistics
The Stylistics are a soul music vocal group, and were one of the best-known Philadelphia soul groups of the 1970s. They formed in 1968, and were composed of lead Russell Thompkins, Jr., Herbie Murrell, Airrion Love, James Smith, and James Dunn. All of their US hits were ballads, graced by the...
, beginning an extended collaboration that also yielded the group's most successful recordings, including "You Are Everything
You Are Everything
Another cover was by one-time Motown singing duo, Diana Ross & Marvin Gaye. Released as the second UK single from their Diana & Marvin album, the song reached #5 in the UK Singles Chart in April 1974. It also reached #13 on the Dutch charts and #20 on the Irish Singles Chart...
", "Betcha by Golly, Wow", "Break Up to Make Up
Break Up to Make Up
"Break Up to Make Up" was a 1973 hit by the Philadelphia soul group The Stylistics. The song was written by Thom Bell, Linda Creed, and Kenneth Gamble....
", and "You Make Me Feel Brand New
You Make Me Feel Brand New
"You Make Me Feel Brand New" was a 1974 hit by the Philadelphia soul group The Stylistics. The song was written by Thom Bell and Linda Creed.An R&B ballad, it was the fifth track from their 1974 album, Let's Put It All Together and was released as a single and reached #2 on the U.S. Billboard Hot...
". Creed and Bell also paired on a number of hits for the Spinners, including "Ghetto Child", "I'm Coming Home
I'm Coming Home
"I'm Coming Home" is the title track from a 1973 album by Johnny Mathis. The song was written by Thom Bell and Linda Creed and was Mathis' only release as a solo artist to make it to number one on the Billboard Easy Listening chart. "I'm Coming Home" went to number one for a single week in...
", "Living a Little, Laughing a Little", and "The Rubberband Man
The Rubberband Man
"The Rubberband Man" is a song recorded by the American vocal group The Spinners .The song, written by producer Thom Bell and Linda Creed, was about Bell's son, who was being teased by his classmates for being overweight...
". Linda Creed also worked with fellow Philadelphia native Phyllis Hyman
Phyllis Hyman
Phyllis Linda Hyman was an American soul singer and actress.-Early years:Phyllis Hyman was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and grew up in the St. Clair Village, the South Hills section of Pittsburgh...
on many of her songs, most notably "Old Friend".
Death
Though diagnosed with breast cancerBreast cancer
Breast cancer is cancer originating from breast tissue, most commonly from the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules that supply the ducts with milk. Cancers originating from ducts are known as ductal carcinomas; those originating from lobules are known as lobular carcinomas...
at 26, Creed kept on working, teaming with composer Michael Masser
Michael Masser
Michael Masser , a former stockbroker, is a composer and producer of popular music. He attended the University of Illinois College of Law, but left to pursue his interest in music...
and writing the lyrics to "Greatest Love of All
Greatest Love of All
"The Greatest Love of All" is a song written by Michael Masser and Linda Creed and originally recorded by George Benson for the 1977 Muhammad Ali biopic The Greatest. The song was later popularized by Whitney Houston. Creed wrote the lyrics in the midst of her struggle with breast cancer...
" for the 1977 Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali is an American former professional boxer, philanthropist and social activist...
biopic The Greatest; in the spring of 1986, the song topped the charts for singer Whitney Houston
Whitney Houston
Whitney Elizabeth Houston is an American singer, actress, producer and a former model. Houston is the most awarded female act of all time, according to Guinness World Records, and her list of awards include 1 Emmy Award, 6 Grammy Awards, 30 Billboard Music Awards, 22 American Music Awards, among...
. Weeks before Houston reached number one, Creed died on April 10, 1986, at the age of 36. The following year, her family and friends established the Linda Creed Breast Cancer Foundation. In 1992, she was posthumously inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame
Songwriters Hall of Fame
The Songwriters Hall of Fame is an arm of the National Academy of Popular Music. It was founded in 1969 by songwriter Johnny Mercer and music publishers Abe Olman and Howie Richmond. The goal is to create a museum but as of April, 2008, the means do not yet exist and so instead it is an online...
.
Songwriting highlights
- "Stop, Look, Listen (To Your Heart)Stop, Look, Listen (To Your Heart)"Stop, Look, Listen " is a soul song written by Thom Bell and Linda Creed that was originally recorded by the Philadelphia soul group The Stylistics.-The Stylistics version:...
" – originally recorded by The StylisticsThe StylisticsThe Stylistics are a soul music vocal group, and were one of the best-known Philadelphia soul groups of the 1970s. They formed in 1968, and were composed of lead Russell Thompkins, Jr., Herbie Murrell, Airrion Love, James Smith, and James Dunn. All of their US hits were ballads, graced by the... - "You Are EverythingYou Are EverythingAnother cover was by one-time Motown singing duo, Diana Ross & Marvin Gaye. Released as the second UK single from their Diana & Marvin album, the song reached #5 in the UK Singles Chart in April 1974. It also reached #13 on the Dutch charts and #20 on the Irish Singles Chart...
" – originally recorded by The Stylistics - "Betcha by Golly, Wow" – originally recorded by Connie StevensConnie StevensConnie Stevens is an American actress and singer, best known for her roles in the television series Hawaiian Eye and other TV and film work.-Early life:...
as "Keep Growing Strong", later made famous by The Stylistics, later covered by PrincePrince (musician)Prince Rogers Nelson , often known simply as Prince, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Prince has produced ten platinum albums and thirty Top 40 singles during his career. Prince founded his own recording studio and label; writing, self-producing and playing most, or all, of... - "People Make the World Go Round" – originally recorded by The Stylistics
- "I'm Stone in Love with YouI'm Stone in Love with You"I'm Stone in Love with You" was a 1972 hit by the Philadelphia soul group The Stylistics. The song was written by Thom Bell, Linda Creed, and Anthony Bell....
" – originally recorded by The Stylistics - "Break Up to Make UpBreak Up to Make Up"Break Up to Make Up" was a 1973 hit by the Philadelphia soul group The Stylistics. The song was written by Thom Bell, Linda Creed, and Kenneth Gamble....
" – originally recorded by The Stylistics - "Rockin' Roll Baby" – originally recorded by The Stylistics
- "You Make Me Feel Brand NewYou Make Me Feel Brand New"You Make Me Feel Brand New" was a 1974 hit by the Philadelphia soul group The Stylistics. The song was written by Thom Bell and Linda Creed.An R&B ballad, it was the fifth track from their 1974 album, Let's Put It All Together and was released as a single and reached #2 on the U.S. Billboard Hot...
" – originally recorded by The Stylistics - "Ghetto Child" – originally recorded by The SpinnersThe Spinners (U.S. band)The Spinners is a soul music vocal group, active for over 50 years, and with a long run of pop and R&B hits especially during the 1970s. The group, originating from Detroit, still tours regularly ....
- "I'm Coming HomeI'm Coming Home"I'm Coming Home" is the title track from a 1973 album by Johnny Mathis. The song was written by Thom Bell and Linda Creed and was Mathis' only release as a solo artist to make it to number one on the Billboard Easy Listening chart. "I'm Coming Home" went to number one for a single week in...
" – originally recorded by Johnny MathisJohnny MathisJohn Royce "Johnny" Mathis is an American singer of popular music. Starting his career with singles of standards, he became highly popular as an album artist, with several dozen of his albums achieving gold or platinum status, and 73 making the Billboard charts...
, later covered by The Spinners - "Living a Little, Laughing a Little" – originally recorded by The Spinners
- "The Rubberband ManThe Rubberband Man"The Rubberband Man" is a song recorded by the American vocal group The Spinners .The song, written by producer Thom Bell and Linda Creed, was about Bell's son, who was being teased by his classmates for being overweight...
" – originally recorded by The Spinners - "Half Crazy" – originally recorded by Johnny GillJohnny GillJohnny Gill is an American R&B singer-songwriter. He is the sixth and final member of the R&B supergroup New Edition, and was also a member of another supergroup called LSG; with Gerald Levert and Keith Sweat. His signature song "My, My, My" has been included on numerous romantic...
- "Greatest Love of AllGreatest Love of All"The Greatest Love of All" is a song written by Michael Masser and Linda Creed and originally recorded by George Benson for the 1977 Muhammad Ali biopic The Greatest. The song was later popularized by Whitney Houston. Creed wrote the lyrics in the midst of her struggle with breast cancer...
" – originally recorded by George BensonGeorge BensonGeorge Benson is a ten Grammy Award winning American musician, whose production career began at the age of twenty-one as a jazz guitarist....
; later made famous by Whitney HoustonWhitney HoustonWhitney Elizabeth Houston is an American singer, actress, producer and a former model. Houston is the most awarded female act of all time, according to Guinness World Records, and her list of awards include 1 Emmy Award, 6 Grammy Awards, 30 Billboard Music Awards, 22 American Music Awards, among... - "Hold Me" – Teddy PendergrassTeddy PendergrassTheodore DeReese "Teddy" Pendergrass was an American R&B/soul singer and songwriter. Pendergrass first rose to fame as lead singer of Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes in the 1970s before a successful solo career at the end of the decade...
(duet with Whitney HoustonWhitney HoustonWhitney Elizabeth Houston is an American singer, actress, producer and a former model. Houston is the most awarded female act of all time, according to Guinness World Records, and her list of awards include 1 Emmy Award, 6 Grammy Awards, 30 Billboard Music Awards, 22 American Music Awards, among...
)