Freddie Gorman (born Frederick Cortez Gorman, April 11, 1939
– June 13, 2006) was an American musician and record producer, most famous as a
singer, songwriter for the Motown label in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
In time Gordy hired Holland as a staff writer and
producer, teaming him with fellow producer Robert Bateman to cut a single for
the Motown girl group the Marvelettes. When Marvelette Georgia Dobbins
suggested the title "Please Mr. Postman," Holland naturally
conscripted Gorman for help with the lyrics, although his contributions to the
song went un-noted for decades. "Please Mr. Postman" was nevertheless
a huge hit, topping the Billboard pop charts in the fall of 1961, and Gordy
returned the favour by releasing the Gorman solo single "The Day Will
Come" on Motown's Miracle Records subsidiary.
Holland and Gorman also
continued their song writing partnership, which expanded to a triumvirate with
the addition of Lamont Dozier. After a series of Motown productions including
Mary Wells' "Old Love" and the Supremes' "I Want a Guy,"
Gorman was edged out in favour of Holland's brother Eddie, and without any
contractual leverage in his favor, he returned to his post office position,
dropping from sight for several years.
When Gordy
acquired Golden World's holdings, Gorman was absorbed back into the Motown
ranks and in 1966 was added to the lineup of the Originals, a new vocal group
also comprising lead
tenor C.P. Spencer, second tenor Hank Dixon, baritone
Walter Gaines, and albeit briefly, Joe Stubbs, brother of the Four Tops'
renowned lead Levi Stubbs, who exited to pursue a solo career in the wake of
the Originals' debut release, a rendition of the Leadbelly perennial
"Goodnight Irene." The remaining quartet spent the next two years in
search of a hit before capturing the attention of Motown superstar Marvin Gaye,
who teamed with wife Anna to write the soulful ballad "Baby I'm for
Real."
After topping the R&B charts, the single crossed over
to pop radio, ascending to the number 14 spot. Gaye also delivered the
Originals' luminous follow-up, "The Bells," which reached the R&B
Top Five and fell just shy of the pop Top Ten in 1970. The group's commercial
fortunes nosedived in the years to follow, although in 1976 they topped the
disco charts with the dance floor classic "Down to Love Town," the
first-ever 12" single released via the Motown imprint. Their 1981 album
Yesterday and Today contained the Originals' version of "Please Mr.
Postman" but otherwise generated minimal interest, and the group's
recording career essentially ground to a halt by the mid-'80s, although they
continued touring for years to follow. In 1997, Gorman also issued a solo album;
It's All About My Love. He lost his battle with lung cancer on June 13, 2006. Palmdale,
California.
Following the death of Freddie Gorman, long-time member
Hank Dixon and Hank's daughter Terrie Dixon reformed the Originals as a live
touring act, with Freddie's son songwriter and producer Dillon F. Gorman, plus
the son of Gene Chandler, Defrantz Forrest, to complete the line-up. (Info mainly All Music)
2 comments:
Found a few of Freddie’s Motown recordings here;
http://www69.zippyshare.com/v/TYs8TmoM/file.html
Motown Unreleased 1962 – Guys Vol. 1
1. The Contours - Love I Need You (2:18)
2. The Contours - You Don't Love Nobody But You (2:42)
3. The Contours - Trust In Me (2:26)
4. The Contours - Why Don't You Stop (2:33)
5. The Contours - You've Got To Love Me (3:00)
6. The Contours - Come To Me (2:07)
7. The Contours - Mighty Good Lovin' (2:28)
8. The Creations - Going To a Party (2:41)
9. The Creations - Let's Mash Potatoes (2:52)
10. The Creations - Special Touch (2:34)
11. The Creations - I'm Not Alone (2:34)
12. The Creations - What's Your Reason (2:33)
13. The Creations - Remember Me (2:45)
14. Marvin Gaye - The Good Has To Suffer With the Bad (4:08)
15. Marvin Gaye - Just For You (A Growing Love) (2:31)
16. Marvin Gaye - Past Time Lover (2:21)
17. Marvin Gaye - A Lot of Living To Do (2:12)
18. Marvin Gaye - Out of This World (3:47)
19. Marvin Gaye - Just In Time (2:10)
20. Freddie Gorman - A Living Dream (Called a Girl) (2:59)
21. Freddie Gorman - Connie (2:27)
22. Freddie Gorman - Just Friends (2:44)
23. Freddie Gorman - Tell All Your Friends (2:44)
24. Freddie Gorman - Throw a Farewell Kiss (2:36)
25. Freddie Gorman - Genuine Love (2:51)
For The Originals – 1969 – Baby I’m For Real
Go here:
http://uploaded.net/file/j4b2u4mf
Freddie G! He only had one studio; Freddy G. – Freddy G. It's All About Love (1997)
not an easy find, thanks for these though.
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