Rhythm and Blues Singer, Songwriter, Musician, Record Producer. He was lead vocalist for the soulful rhythm and blues singing group The Impressions. "Gypsy Woman", "Its All Right" and "Amen" are just a few of their hits. He left The Impressions in 1970 to pursue a solo career. Many of their songs were politically conscious African-American music addressing crime, poverty and drugs. At the peak of his solo career, he composed the soundtrack to the 1972 film "Superfly", this soundtrack produced two million-selling singes: "Freddie's Dead", which was #2 on R&B and #4 on Pop, and "Superfly", which was #5 on R&B and #8 on Pop. The "Superfly" soundtrack was ranked #72 on "Rolling Stone's Magazine" top 500 Greatest Albums of All Times list and his song "People Get Ready" ranked #24 of their 500 Greatest Song of All Times list. On August 13, 1990, he was performing at an outdoor concert in New York when a piece of the lighting equipment fell on him leaving him paralyzed from the neck down; he was unable to play the guitar after the accident but continued to sing and compose songs. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice: In 1991 with The Impressions and in 1999 as a solo artist; he was unable to attend the 1999 ceremony due to declining health issues. In 1995, he was a recipient of the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award; in 2003 he was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame. Besides being a quadriplegic, he was a Type 2 Diabetic causing many health complications.
Rhythm and Blues Singer, Songwriter, Musician, Record Producer. He was lead vocalist for the soulful rhythm and blues singing group The Impressions. "Gypsy Woman", "Its All Right" and "Amen" are just a few of their hits. He left The Impressions in 1970 to pursue a solo career. Many of their songs were politically conscious African-American music addressing crime, poverty and drugs. At the peak of his solo career, he composed the soundtrack to the 1972 film "Superfly", this soundtrack produced two million-selling singes: "Freddie's Dead", which was #2 on R&B and #4 on Pop, and "Superfly", which was #5 on R&B and #8 on Pop. The "Superfly" soundtrack was ranked #72 on "Rolling Stone's Magazine" top 500 Greatest Albums of All Times list and his song "People Get Ready" ranked #24 of their 500 Greatest Song of All Times list. On August 13, 1990, he was performing at an outdoor concert in New York when a piece of the lighting equipment fell on him leaving him paralyzed from the neck down; he was unable to play the guitar after the accident but continued to sing and compose songs. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice: In 1991 with The Impressions and in 1999 as a solo artist; he was unable to attend the 1999 ceremony due to declining health issues. In 1995, he was a recipient of the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award; in 2003 he was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame. Besides being a quadriplegic, he was a Type 2 Diabetic causing many health complications.
Read More
Bio by: Babe
