b. Norman Ray Harris, 14th October 1947, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.
d. 20th March 1987, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.
Norman Harris was the founding member of MFSB.
He was the cousin of Major Harris and his niece is the singer Liz Hogue.
MFSB were the house band for Gamble & Huff's Philadelphia International label.
Norman was one third of the production trio of Baker-Harris-Young, who were the backing group for the early Sixties band The Larks.
He produced hits on First Choice, Eddie Holman, the Salsoul Orchestra, and Love Committee for Salsoul Records, as well as Atlantic Records acts the Trammps.
Norman also had hits with Gloria Gaynor ('Honey Bee'), the Delfonics ('La La Means I Love You,' 'Didn't I Blow Your Mind'), Jerry Butler ('Hey Western Union Man,' 'Only the Strong Survive'), The Trammps (Disco Inferno'), Blue Magic ('Sideshow'), Wilson Pickett ('Engine Number 9,' 'Don't Let the Green Grass Fool You'), Loleatta Holloway ('Hit and Run'), Joe Simon ( 'Drowning in the Sea of Love,' 'Power of Love'), and the Spinners ('I'll Be Around,' 'Could It Be I'm Falling in Love').
He also worked alongside Allan Felder and Bunny Sigler ('Keep Smilin').
Norman began his own Salsoul-distributed Gold Mind label in 1979.
Here he signed First Choice.
Norman also became a recording artist, recording as 'The Harris Machine' in 1980.
In 1985, he could be heard on the tune 'Che Che Kule' by Eugene Wilde.
He passed away in March 1987.
Albums:
The Harris Machine (Philadelphia International Records 1980)
