Don Gardner born 9 May 1931

Donald Gardner (May 9, 1931 – September 4, 2018) was an American rhythm and blues singer, songwriter, and drummer. His records included the 1962 pop hit "I Need Your Lovin'", with Dee Dee Ford. 

Don Gardner was born in Philadelphia  and started out as a professional musician in 1947 whilst still at school. Mentored by Doc 'Dumplin's' Bagby, Gardner gained experience as a singer in the outfit Harry 'Fat Man' Crafton & The Craftones prior to forming his own band The Sonotones. On piano in this combo was Jimmy Smith , who later after switching to the organ achieved a major impact in the jazz field with such smashes as 'Walk On The Wild Side'. (When Smith left the Sonotones, he was replaced by Richard 'Groove' Holmes). 

Gardner first recorded (as Donald Gardner) for the Philadelphia based Gotham label in 1949 with a version of 'September Song'. Actually, Gotham issued this twice with different flips. The Sonotones had three singles (top sides were 'How Do You Speak To An Angel', 'I'll Walk Alone' and 'I Hear a Rhapsody') issued on Bruce Records (home of The Harptones) between 1954 and 1955. Whilst with this record company, the group cut quite a few instrumentals which eventually saw the light of day on budget label releases but credited to Jimmy Smith after he made the big time. 

Come 1957/1958, Gardner cut two singles ('This Nearly Was Mine' and 'There! I've Said It Again') for the King Records subsidiary company DeLuxe Records which was followed by the instrumentals 'Up the Street' c/w 'Dark Alley' for the small Junior label. The last mentioned company was the original home of The Silhouettes and their rock 'n' roll classic 'Get A Job'. Either late 1959 or early 1960, Richard 'Groove' Holmes left the Sonotones and was replaced in March 1960 on organ by Dee Dee Ford. 

                             

When the Sonotones played at the Smalls Paradise club in Harlem, New York, they were heard by blues performer Arthur Crudup, who recommended them to the Fire record label owner Bobby Robinson. He produced a song written by Gardner, I Need Your Loving (also known as Need Your Lovin'), a "gospel-drenched" call-and-response number in the mold of Ike & Tina Turner, and the song became their biggest hit, rising to number 4 on the Billboard R&B chart in 1962 and number 20 on the pop chart. The song was later recorded by Otis Redding, Alexis Korner, Tom Jones, Jackie Wilson, and many others. 

Gardner and Ford's previous record company, KC Records, then released an old recording, "Glory of Love", which made number 75 on the pop chart, before Fire released the official follow-up, "Don't You Worry", which reached number 7 on the R&B chart and number 66 pop. After recording an LP for Fire, Need Your Lovin', Gardner and Ford left the label, and – following the death of Gardner's wife in an accident – toured Sweden for a change of scene. They recorded a live album, Quintet in Sweden, released by Sonet Records in 1965 and described as having "a solid R&B base with jazzy overtones that is veering towards early soul", and also recorded several tracks with Freda Payne for her album Freda Payne in Stockholm.

When they returned to the US, Gardner and Ford went their separate ways. Whilst Dee Dee faded from sight and presumably gave up the music business, Gardner carried on as a solo artist and released the single 'I'm A Practical Guy' c/w 'You Babe' for Verve in 1968, followed by 'My Baby Loves To Boogaloo' for the Englewood, New Jersey based Tru-Glo-Town records. 

Gardner had one more brush with the charts when he teamed up with Jeanette 'Baby' Washington who had scored big as a solo artist in the early to mid sixties with ditties such as 'That's How Heartaches Are Made', 'The Bells' and 'Only Those In Love'. The duo laid down some sides for the Philadelphia based Master 5 label that were produced by Bobby Martin (who had secured chart placings with his productions on songs by The Manhattans). Of these, 'Forever' went to # 30 on the R&B chart in the spring of 1973. Despite follow-ups, the pair had no more national breakouts although Baby Washington did score further hits as a solo artist. 

Gardner continued to work as a jazz musician, and had been part of the management of the Philadelphia Clef Club of Jazz & Performing Arts in Philadelphia since 1985, serving as executive director. The PCC was Don’s passion since its mission is to preserve the legacy of jazz and help young jazz musicians hone their skills and continue the legacy of musical excellence. Lovett Hines, the current Artistic Director of the Philadelphia Clef Club of Jazz & Performing Arts, was at the hospital when Gardner died, playing the artist's music. "And I just held the telephone to his ear on YouTube," Hines said. "And you could see his reaction with his eyes moving and moving his hand. So he responded to the music, and I'm glad that was the last thing he heard." Gardner died on September 4, 2018 at age 87. 

(Edited from Wikupedia & tims.blackcat.nl)