Mac Gayden
Encyclopedia
McGavock Gayden better known as Mac Gayden born in Nashville, Tennessee
is an American
rock and country
singer, songwriter
, musician
and producer
. He is also president of Wild Child Records formed in 2004.
In the early 1970s, Mac Gayden helped establish two critically acclaimed bands, Area Code 615 (signed with Polydor) and Barefoot Jerry
(signed with Capital Records). He played guitars and keyboards and was on vocals. Gayden left Barefoot Jerry in 1972 to form his own band Skyboat.
Mac Gayden's biggest hit as a writer is considered to be the song "Everlasting Love
", which he co-authored with Buzz Cason
, recorded originally by Robert Knight
, a Top 20 hit in the Billboard Hot 100 in 1967. It became a #1 hit in the United Kingdom
when covered by the Love Affair
in January 1968. Carl Carlton
's popular disco version was a #6 hit in the U.S. in 1974 and has logged over 5 million plays, according to BMI. Gayden had reportedly written part of the song when he was just 5 years old.
Eventually tens of artists recorded the song, including German singer Sandra who had a hit with it in Germany and all across Europe in 1987 and also by Gloria Estefan
who reached the top of the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play
chart in 1995.
Gayden also wrote another hit entitled "She Shot a Hole in My Soul" recorded by Clifford Curry
, also covered by The Box Tops
.
Mac Gayden is also a well known session guitarist and is renowned for his innovative wah-wah
slide guitar technique, as showcased on the early 1970s J.J. Cale
hit "Crazy Mama". He also wrote a number of successful bubblegum pop
songs including "Hayride", which was a major Australian hit for Flying Circus. Their second single, another Buzz Cason-Mac Gayden song, "La La", was an even bigger hit but unfortunately this cemented their image as a bubblegum band.
He also co-wrote and co-produced Robert Knight's "Love On a Mountain Top
" with Buzz Cason.
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rock and country
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
singer, songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
, musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
and producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
. He is also president of Wild Child Records formed in 2004.
In the early 1970s, Mac Gayden helped establish two critically acclaimed bands, Area Code 615 (signed with Polydor) and Barefoot Jerry
Barefoot Jerry
Barefoot Jerry is an American Southern rock and country rock band, based in Nashville, Tennessee, most active from 1971 to 1977. It was composed of area studio musicians under the tutelage of Wayne Moss, lead guitarist of Area Code 615, and other 615 alumni. This name is also used to refer to Moss...
(signed with Capital Records). He played guitars and keyboards and was on vocals. Gayden left Barefoot Jerry in 1972 to form his own band Skyboat.
Mac Gayden's biggest hit as a writer is considered to be the song "Everlasting Love
Everlasting Love
"Everlasting Love" is a song written by Buzz Cason and Mac Gayden that has been a hit for various artists, including Robert Knight, Carl Carlton, Love Affair, and Gloria Estefan.- Overview :...
", which he co-authored with Buzz Cason
Buzz Cason
Buzz Cason is an American rock singer, songwriter, producer and author....
, recorded originally by Robert Knight
Robert Knight (musician)
Robert Knight is an American singer best known for the 1967 recording of the song "Everlasting Love".-Career:Born in Franklin, Tennessee, Knight made his professional vocal debut with the Paramounts, a harmony quintet consisting of schoolfriends...
, a Top 20 hit in the Billboard Hot 100 in 1967. It became a #1 hit in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
when covered by the Love Affair
Love Affair (band)
Love Affair were a London based pop, soul, R&B group formed in 1966. They had several UK Singles Chart Top 10 hits, including the number one success "Everlasting Love".-Personnel:The band primarily featured the following —...
in January 1968. Carl Carlton
Carl Carlton
Carl Carlton is an American R&B, soul, and funk singer and songwriter, best known for his hits "Everlasting Love" and "She's a Bad Mama Jama ".-Career:...
's popular disco version was a #6 hit in the U.S. in 1974 and has logged over 5 million plays, according to BMI. Gayden had reportedly written part of the song when he was just 5 years old.
Eventually tens of artists recorded the song, including German singer Sandra who had a hit with it in Germany and all across Europe in 1987 and also by Gloria Estefan
Gloria Estefan
Gloria María Milagrosa Fajardo García de Estefan; known professionally as Gloria Estefan is a Cuban-born American singer, songwriter, and actress. Known as the "Queen Of Latin Pop", she is in the top 100 best selling music artists with over 100 million albums sold worldwide, 31.5 million of those...
who reached the top of the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play
Hot Dance Club Play
The Hot Dance Club Songs chart is a weekly national survey of the songs that are most popular in U.S. dance clubs...
chart in 1995.
Gayden also wrote another hit entitled "She Shot a Hole in My Soul" recorded by Clifford Curry
Clifford Curry
Clifford Curry is an American beach music and R&B singer.His career began in high school. He was the member of several groups including: The Echoes, The Five Pennies , Hollyhocks , and the Bubba Suggs Band...
, also covered by The Box Tops
The Box Tops
The Box Tops were a Memphis rock group of the second half of the 1960s. They are best known for the hits "The Letter," "Neon Rainbow," "Soul Deep," "I Met Her in Church," and "Cry Like A Baby," and are considered a major blue-eyed soul group of the period...
.
Mac Gayden is also a well known session guitarist and is renowned for his innovative wah-wah
Wah-wah pedal
A wah-wah pedal is a type of guitar effects pedal that alters the tone of the signal to create a distinctive effect, mimicking the human voice...
slide guitar technique, as showcased on the early 1970s J.J. Cale
J.J. Cale
JJ Cale , born John Weldon Cale on December 5, 1938, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, is a Grammy Award-winning American singer-songwriter and musician. Cale is one of the originators of the Tulsa Sound, a loose genre drawing on blues, rockabilly, country, and jazz influences. Cale's personal style has...
hit "Crazy Mama". He also wrote a number of successful bubblegum pop
Bubblegum pop
Bubblegum pop is a genre of pop music with an upbeat sound contrived and marketed to appeal to pre-teens and teenagers, produced in an assembly-line process, driven by producers, often using unknown singers.Bubblegum's classic period ran from 1967 to 1972...
songs including "Hayride", which was a major Australian hit for Flying Circus. Their second single, another Buzz Cason-Mac Gayden song, "La La", was an even bigger hit but unfortunately this cemented their image as a bubblegum band.
He also co-wrote and co-produced Robert Knight's "Love On a Mountain Top
Love On a Mountain Top
"Love On a Mountain Top" is a 1973 pop song by singer Robert Knight and later covered by Sinitta. The song was written by Buzz Cason and Mac Gayden, and the latter version produced by Phil Harding and Ian Curnow. It was released as the third single from Sinitta's second album Wicked...
" with Buzz Cason.
Discography
- McGavock Gayden (produced by Bob Johnson)
- Skyboat
- Hymn to the Seeker
- Nirvana Blues (CD)