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Music with a "Backbeat So Strong Even White Folks Couldn't Lose It": The Philadelphia Sound.

Rock historian Ed Ward profiles Leon Huff and Kenny Gamble, creators of the Philadelphia International label -- one of the great black pop record labels of the early '70's.

06:56
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Other segments from the episode on November 7, 1989

Fresh Air with Terry Gross, November 7, 1989: Interview with George Clinton; Commentary on Leon Huff and Kenny Gamble; Interview with Shlomo Mintz; Review of Frederic Morton's book: "Thunder at…
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23:24

George Clinton On His Musical Inspirations, Barbershops, and Being Sampled by Rap Artists.

The master of funk, George Clinton. He began his musical career as a teenager when he formed The Parliaments. But in the early 70s, Clinton put together a second group, "Funkadelic," that became enormously influential on the pop music scene. Their 1970 album, "Osmium," set the tone for Clinton's wickedly ecclectic style; songs ranged from metaphysical gospel to country and acid rock. But their big hit came with the album "Mothership Connection." In songs like "Tear the Roof Off the Sucker," "Get Up on the Downstroke" and "Think!

Interview
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11:26

Violinist Shlomo Mintz.

Violinist Shlomo Mintz. Mintz was born in Moscow and emigrated with his family two years later to Israel. He made his concerto debut at age 11 with Zubin Mehta, and has continued to appear with Mehta each season since. Mintz is considered one of the foremost violinists of this generation.

Interview

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42:41

Thom Bell, Building the Sound of Philadelphia

Producer, composer and arranger Thom Bell was one of the prime originators of the Sound of Philadelphia, creating hits with the Delfonics such as "La La La Means I Love You" and "Didn't I Blow Your Mind." Bell was born in Jamaica and moved to Philadelphia at age 5. He planned to become a classical conductor, but in his early 20s, he was signed by Cameo Records to create a Philadelphia version of Motown.

Interview

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