Greg Perry

Songwriter/producer/singer Greg Perry was a key player in <a href="spotify:artist:3ig4Yf8S2Bjq2yVsiayKM0">Holland-Dozier-Holland</a>'s Invictus/Hot Wax Records whose roster included <a href="spotify:artist:0CXNdUUhv5Cw42dr0wWrjd">the Honey Cone</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:0701Axu6yvUIoctaKMbDIZ">Freda Payne</a>, Chairman of the Board, <a href="spotify:artist:15i1niWKFEj0zqnhtYAv7D">8th Day</a>, and 100 Proof Aged in Soul. His brother Jeffree Perry recorded "Love's Gonna Last" which became known as "the steppers national anthem," worked at Motown and with <a href="spotify:artist:1MJpO71ShS9nmFAbT6KM2n">Jackie Wilson</a> on his wonderful Beautiful Day album. While in his teens, <a href="spotify:artist:4N6ZeJMZv6aDwFKvrEX8Cl">Perry</a> began his musical career at Chicago-based Chess Records working with legendary producer Billy Davis (<a href="spotify:artist:0wbrRIw2po5DV4LeaHw55S">the Dells</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:6k3YMXJ1MJLgUEAlSPC6hA">Fontella Bass</a>). He turned down a publishing deal with Motown, opting instead to sign with <a href="spotify:artist:3ig4Yf8S2Bjq2yVsiayKM0">Holland-Dozier-Holland</a>'s just-opened Invictus/Hot Wax Records. Meeting singer/songwriter <a href="spotify:artist:2bekN6GIaFFd0BBZ0aod0w">General Johnson</a> and lyricist <a href="spotify:artist:2m6Fdu2FpGXsVg9wjD1IYK">Angelo Bond</a>, the trio began to collaborate on songs, many of which became huge hits. They patterned themselves after the label's owners who were the songwriting/producing force behind much of Motown's classic sides. Most of the recording was done in Detroit at a converted movie theater on Grand River Avenue.

Several of the label's musicians and arrangers went on to have successful careers. Tony Camillo produced <a href="spotify:artist:2aXiJJHJei5BmCykxI37y0">Gladys Knight and the Pips</a>' number one R&B/pop gold single, "Midnight Train to Georgia." Guitarist <a href="spotify:artist:0NyzfcGDZZ6GM25EBG9BYK">Ray Parker, Jr.</a> had a gold- and platinum-laced career as <a href="spotify:artist:1VQ7baxc9Okx2YuRnpKMMR">Raydio</a> and in his own name (the million-selling "Ghostbusters"). <a href="spotify:artist:57GVLfjMebK2uiZn3wHUN8">Dennis Coffey</a> played guitar on many Motown and Westbound sides and had a million-seller with "Scorpio." McKinley Jackson co-wrote and produced mid-'70s hits ("Fish Aint Bitin'") for label co-owner <a href="spotify:artist:6Dpx8fRtNa9CEORHIiBQTG">Lamont Dozier</a> on ABC. Bassist Bob Babbitt, keyboardist Sylvester Rivers, percussionists <a href="spotify:artist:6IgZmJgD2ejVa4xjpSyXh7">Jack Ashford</a>, and Eddie "Bongo" Brown became A-list L.A. session players. <a href="spotify:artist:4N6ZeJMZv6aDwFKvrEX8Cl">Perry</a> gained notoriety as a recording artist for his 1979 RCA LP, Smokin'. ~ Ed Hogan, Rovi