Harvey Scales born 27 September 1942

Harvey Scales (September 27, 1940 – February 11, 2019) was an American R&B and soul singer, songwriter, and producer. Once called Milwaukee's "Godfather of Soul" by a local reporter, and described as being a “Master of the Live-Stage Performance,” Scales credited James Brown and the sound of "funk" for influencing his music career. He has performed with some of the biggest stars in the industry such as Wilson Pickett, Otis Redding, Natalie Cole, the Temptations and Ike and Tina Turner, the Esquires, Jackie Wilson and James Brown. 

Scales was born in Osceola, Arkansas. His family moved briefly to South Bend, Indiana, then relocated to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he grew up attending Roosevelt Middle School and North Division High School. Scales performed in  groups called the Playboys and also the Esquires circa 1959-60. He was well known in Milwaukee, before his big break as a national songwriter. He was also known as "Twistin' Harvey". He and his longtime friend Albert James Vance (1943–2003) formed the group, Harvey Scales & The 7 Sounds, which released several singles. They initially recorded for Cuca Records, and later for Magic Touch Records, a Wisconsin-based label owned by Lenny LaCour. The band's one hit was "Get Down", backed with "Love-Itis", which reached No. 32 on the R&B charts in 1967. 

                                    

The band signed with Chess Records in 1969, recording for the Cadet Concept Records division, with LaCour continuing as producer. In 1970, the group had a regional hit with the LaCour-produced "The Funky Yolk". Through his familiarity with producer Don Davis at Chess, Scales met singer Johnnie Taylor, who was at the time recording for Stax Records. Scales then moved from Cadet Concept to Stax, releasing several singles. Scales followed the career of Johnnie Taylor when Taylor moved to Columbia Records. As described by Ed Hogan: 

"When Stax became inactive, Taylor signed with Columbia, retaining Davis' services. Recording at Davis' favorite studio (United Sound Studios in Detroit), the producer used the Impressions' "Gypsy Woman" and an African dancer he had seen on a vacation to Spain as a template for a partially finished song ("Disco Baby") that Scales had brought to him. Davis took it to (Bootsy) Collins and (Bernie) Worrell, who honed and tightened up the groove, while veteran arranger David Van De Pitte did the horn arrangements." 

Scales received national recognition for co-writing with Don Davis and Albert Vance on the Billboard Hot 100 chart-topping single for Johnnie Taylor, "Disco Lady". "Disco Lady" was the very first platinum single in the history of the Recording Industry Association of America, selling over two million copies. It was certified platinum on April 22, 1976. As a result, Scales became -- and will always be -- one of the co-writers of the first platinum single record in America. 

Scales is also notable as being the co-writer of "Love-Itis", a 1967 release by Harvey Scales & The 7 Sounds, which later was covered and was a hit for the Canadian band Mandala in 1968, and the J. Geils Band in 1975. The song was also covered by The Sonics, originally recorded in 1967. Scales also co-wrote, with Bunny Sigler, "Once Is Not Enough", recorded by The O'Jays and, as sole composer, "Be For Real With Me", which was recorded by The Dells. 

The success of "Disco Lady" enabled Scales to obtain a recording contract with Casablanca Records. At Casablanca, Scales recorded the first two albums of his career, Confidential Affair (1978) and Hot Foot: A Funque Dizco Opera (1979). On the U.K. soul scene he is best remembered for his, mid eighties, independent single 'Spend The Night Forever / Single Girls' on Earthtone Records. Scales did not release another album for eighteen years, when he released Somebody Else's Somebody on Four Sight Records in 1987. He performed at venues throughout the United States, including his hometown of Milwaukee at popular events such as Summerfest, the Wisconsin State Fair Park, and the African World Festival. 

Harvey Scales died in a Milwaukee hospital, on February 11, 2019, after first becoming ill in December with kidney failure and pneumonia. He was 78 years old. Exactly one year after his passing, iconic Milwaukee soul artist Harvey Scales was recognized for his musical achievements. The Milwaukee Mayor's office officially declared Feb. 13, 2020 as "Harvey Scales Day." Scales' son, Harvey Scales Jr., accepted the award on behalf of his late father at the Radio Milwaukee studios. 

(Edited from Wikipedia, Milwaukee Courier, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Soulwalking & Flea Market Funk)