b. Eugene Booker McDaniels, 12th February 1935, Kansas City, Kansas, Missouri, U.S.A.
d. 29th July 2011, Maine, U.S.A.
Gene McDaniels hailed from Kansas City in Kansas, Missouri, U.S.A.
Gene is a former gospel singer and bandleader.
When he was 11 years old, Gene sang with a Gospel quartet he formed called The Echoes Of Joy, later singing with the groups the Sultans and the Admirals.
He attended Omaha's Conservatory of Music before setting out on a recording career.
Gene signed to the Liberty imprint in the late 50's in California where he worked with the producer Tommy 'Snuff' Garrett, who provided Gene with several songs written by the Brill Building set-up of songwriters.
in times like these - 1959 / green door - 1960
There he enjoyed had a few local hits, including 'In Times Like These' and 'The Green Door'.
in times like these - 1960 / ...sometimes i'm happy...sometimes i'm blue - 1960
Following on from those recordings, Gene received two U.S. Top 5 entries in 1961 with 'A Hundred Pounds Of Clay' and 'Tower Of Strength'.
Both singles fared less well in Britain, where cover versions by Craig Douglas and Frankie Vaughan took the limelight.
Gene McDaniels' influence on British music was acknowledged by his appearance in the, Richard Lester directed, movie 'It's Trad, Dad' that contained his song 'Another Tear Falls'.
The movie featured Chubby Checker, Gene Vincent, Gary 'U.S.' Bonds, Acker Bilk, Del Shannon along with many other artists.
100 lbs of clay - 1961 / gene mcdaniels sings movie memories - 1962 / tower of strength - 1962 / spanish lace - 1963
Gene scored six top forty hits released during 1961 and 1962, backed by The Johnny Mann Singers on each release.
His final U.S. chart entry came the following year with 'Point Of No Return', a jazz-based performance and arguably the singer's finest single release along with the song 'Spanish Lace'.
He sadly fell from favour when the publics tastes made a bee-line towards the Beatles and their like.
the wonderful world of gene mcdaniels - 1963 / the facts of life - 1968
In 1965 he released 'Walk With A Winner' for his Liberty label.
His following efforts at soul with a social consciousness leaning, paled beside these early recordings.
Gene McDaniels continued to record for Liberty until 1965, then switched to Atlantic in the early '70s.
outlaw - 1970 / headless heroes of the apocalypse - 1971
In the early '70's he released two albums for Atlantic, which were 'Outlaw' and 'Headless Heroes Of The Apocalypse'.
natural juices - 1975 / screams and whispers - 2004
Gene turned to songwriting and his final album release 'Natural Juices' (on Ode Records in 1975) contained his version of the tune he originally wrote for Roberta Flack, 'Feel Like Making Love'.
He also gained a reputation as a producer, working alongside artists including Merry Clayton.
His Atlantic albums saw re-issues during 2002.
Gene passed away in his sleep on the 29th of July 2011.
Albums:
In Times Like These (Liberty Records 1960)
...Sometimes I'm Happy (Sometimes I'm Blue) (Liberty Records 1960)
100 Ibs Of Clay (Liberty Records 1961)
Gene McDaniels Sings Movie Memories (Liberty Records 1962)
Tower Of Strength (Liberty Records 1962)
Spanish Lace (Liberty Records 1963)
The Wonderful World Of Gene MeDaniels (Liberty Records 1963)
Facts Of Life (Liberty Records 1968)
Outlaw (Atlantic Records 1970)
Headless Heroes Of The Apocalypse (Atlantic Records 1971)
Natural Juices (Ode Records 1975)
Screams and Whispers (Sky Forest Records 2004)
