John Whitehead (singer)
- For other people named John Whitehead, see John Whitehead (disambiguation).
| John Whitehead | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | John Whitehead |
| Born |
July 10, 1948 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Origin | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Died |
May 11, 2004 (aged 55) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Genres |
Disco R&B Philly Soul |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter, record producer |
| Years active | 1968–2004 |
| Labels | Philadelphia International |
| Associated acts |
McFadden & Whitehead Otis Redding Gamble & Huff The O'Jays |
John Whitehead (July 10, 1948 – May 11, 2004) was an American singer and songwriter. He was best known as one of the key members of the Philadelphia International record label, and was one-half of the successful team of McFadden & Whitehead with Gene McFadden.
McFadden and Whitehead wrote many hits for Philadelphia International artists such as The O'Jays and Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, and had their own hit with "Ain't No Stopping Us Now" in 1979. Whitehead converted to Islam in 1996 and received an LL.D. from Bates College.
On May 11, 2004, John Whitehead was murdered. In an apparent case of mistaken identity, he was shot while fixing a car outside his home in Philadelphia. The case remains unsolved. Whitehead was 55 years old. He is buried in Mount Moriah Cemetery in Philadelphia.
He was the father of both members of early 1990s duo the Whitehead Brothers.