G. C. Cameron
Encyclopedia
George Curtis "G.C." Cameron (born September 21, 1945 in Jackson, Mississippi
) is an American
soul
and R&B singer. G.C. is credited with having "six different voices."
with the Marines, Cameron joined Motown act The Spinners as lead singer. He sang both lead parts on their first big hit, 1970's It's a Shame
, co-written and produced by Stevie Wonder
, and remained with Motown as a solo artist when The Spinners left Motown in 1971. He was known for his ability to sound like other artists, such as Smokey Robinson
on his song "(Don't Wanna) Play Pajama Games", Curtis Mayfield
on "No Matter Where" and The Isley Brothers
on his duet with Willie Hutch
"Come Get This Thang'. Although Cameron was not a major-seller for the label, he did have a hit with "It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday
", the theme song of the 1975 film
Cooley High
, which was later covered by Boyz II Men
.
in 1983 and his career was revived in 1989 by recordings for British record companies Ardent
(owned at the time by Paul Mooney) and Motorcity
(owned by Ian Levine
). He returned to The Spinners from 2000 to 2002, and also recorded another solo album.
. He was one of the voices on their album, "Reflections". Cameron sang lead on the album track "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)
" which was nominated for a Grammy in 2007. Cameron left the Temptations in June 2007 to focus on his group, The G.C. Cameron Review.
A Cappella vocal group Men of Note and Ms. Marilyn Marshall paid tribute to Cameron in honor of his contribution to American Popular Music and his dedication to youth education. In late 2008, he appeared on the PBS special, "Love Train: The Sound of Philadelphia," singing The Spinners' hit: The Rubberband Man.
Jackson, Mississippi
Jackson is the capital and the most populous city of the US state of Mississippi. It is one of two county seats of Hinds County ,. The population of the city declined from 184,256 at the 2000 census to 173,514 at the 2010 census...
) is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
and R&B singer. G.C. is credited with having "six different voices."
The Spinners
After serving in the Vietnam WarVietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
with the Marines, Cameron joined Motown act The Spinners as lead singer. He sang both lead parts on their first big hit, 1970's It's a Shame
It's a Shame (The Spinners song)
"It's a Shame" is a song co-written by Stevie Wonder, Syreeta Wright and Lee Garrett and produced by Wonder as a single for The Spinners on Motown's V.I.P. Records label. The single became the Detroit-reared group's biggest single on the Motown Records company since they had signed with the company...
, co-written and produced by Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
, and remained with Motown as a solo artist when The Spinners left Motown in 1971. He was known for his ability to sound like other artists, such as Smokey Robinson
Smokey Robinson
William "Smokey" Robinson, Jr. is an American R&B singer-songwriter, record producer, and former record executive. Robinson is one of the primary figures associated with Motown, second only to the company's founder, Berry Gordy...
on his song "(Don't Wanna) Play Pajama Games", Curtis Mayfield
Curtis Mayfield
Curtis Lee Mayfield was an American soul, R&B, and funk singer, songwriter, and record producer.He is best known for his anthemic music with The Impressions during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960's and for composing the soundtrack to the blaxploitation film Super Fly, Mayfield is highly...
on "No Matter Where" and The Isley Brothers
The Isley Brothers
The Isley Brothers are a highly influential, successful and long-running American music group consisting of different line-ups of six brothers, and a brother-in-law, Chris Jasper...
on his duet with Willie Hutch
Willie Hutch
Willie McKinley Hutchison, known professionally as Willie Hutch was an American singer, songwriter as well as a record producer and recording artist for the Motown record label during the 1970s and 1980s....
"Come Get This Thang'. Although Cameron was not a major-seller for the label, he did have a hit with "It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday
It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday
"It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday" is an R&B song written by Motown husband-and-wife songwriting team Freddie Perren and Christine Yarian for the 1975 film Cooley High. In the film, the song is performed by Motown artist G.C. Cameron, whose rendition peaked at number 38 on the Billboard R&B...
", the theme song of the 1975 film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
Cooley High
Cooley High
Cooley High is a 1975 American film based upon the real high school located on the near north side of Chicago produced and released by American International Pictures and written by Eric Monte...
, which was later covered by Boyz II Men
Boyz II Men
Boyz II Men is an American R&B vocal group best known for emotional ballads and a cappella harmonies. They are the most successful R&B group of all time, having sold more than albums worldwide. In the 1990s, Boyz II Men found fame on Motown Records as a quartet, but original member Michael McCary...
.
Solo Artist
Cameron left Motown after the 1970s, and toured as an independent artist. He recorded a critically acclaimed album for Malaco RecordsMalaco Records
Malaco Records is an independent record label based in Jackson, Mississippi. Malaco is and has been the home of various major soul, blues and gospel acts, such as Johnnie Taylor, Bobby Bland, ZZ Hill, Denise LaSalle, Benny Latimore, Dorothy Moore, Little Milton, Shirley Brown, Marvin Sease, and the...
in 1983 and his career was revived in 1989 by recordings for British record companies Ardent
Ardent Records
Ardent Records, often shortened to "Ardent," is a Memphis record label founded by John Fry in 1959. Ardent of the 1960s and 1970s featured pop music acts and was distributed by Stax Records from 1972 until 1975. It is best remembered today for Big Star, whose first two albums, released in 1972...
(owned at the time by Paul Mooney) and Motorcity
Motorcity Records
Motorcity Records is a British record label formed by producer Ian Levine in 1989. The label aimed to record new material with former Motown artists.-History:...
(owned by Ian Levine
Ian Levine
Ian Levine is an English songwriter, producer, and DJ. He is also a well-known fan of the long-running television show Doctor Who.Levine attended Arnold School in Blackpool from 1963 to 1970...
). He returned to The Spinners from 2000 to 2002, and also recorded another solo album.
The Temptations, 2003-2007
He replaced Barrington "Bo" Henderson in 2003 as one of the lead singers of The TemptationsThe Temptations
The Temptations is an American vocal group having achieved fame as one of the most successful acts to record for Motown Records. The group's repertoire has included, at various times during its five-decade career, R&B, doo-wop, funk, disco, soul, and adult contemporary music.Formed in Detroit,...
. He was one of the voices on their album, "Reflections". Cameron sang lead on the album track "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)
How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)
"How Sweet It Is " is a 1964 hit song written and produced by the Motown songwriting team of Holland–Dozier–Holland. It was originally recorded by American soul singer Marvin Gaye and became one of his most popular songs...
" which was nominated for a Grammy in 2007. Cameron left the Temptations in June 2007 to focus on his group, The G.C. Cameron Review.
Today
On Saturday, May 17, 2008, Cameron made a special guest appearance at a benefit concert for Hold on to Education Foundation Inc. in South Jersey. He received proclamations from New Jersey State Senator Diane Allen; and Mayor Jacqueline Jennings, with Councilman Eddie Campbell, Jr. of Willingboro NJ. Cherry Hill High School WestCherry Hill High School West
Cherry Hill High School West is a four-year comprehensive public high school, one of two traditional high schools located in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, United States, operating as part of the Cherry Hill Public Schools. The other high school in the district is Cherry Hill High School East...
A Cappella vocal group Men of Note and Ms. Marilyn Marshall paid tribute to Cameron in honor of his contribution to American Popular Music and his dedication to youth education. In late 2008, he appeared on the PBS special, "Love Train: The Sound of Philadelphia," singing The Spinners' hit: The Rubberband Man.
Discography
- 1971: "Act Like a Shotgun"
- 1972: "Don't Wanna Play Pajama Games"
- 1973: "No Matter Where"
- 1974: "Let Me Down Easy"
- 1974: Love Songs & Other Tragedies
- 1974: "Topics"
- 1975: "It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday"
- 1976: G.C. Cameron
- 1977: You're What's Missing in My Life
- 1977: Rich Love Poor LoveRich Love Poor LoveRich Love, Poor Love is a collaboration album between Syreeta and G.C. Cameron.-Track listing:-Personnel:*Syreeta, G.C. Cameron - vocals*David T. Walker, Greg Poree, Jay Graydon - guitar*David Shields, Henry Davis - bass*Michael L...
with Syreeta - 1983: Give Me Your LoveGive Me Your Love"Give Me Your Love" was the Swedish entry at the Eurovision Song Contest 2003. The song was performed by Jessica Andersson and Magnus Bäcklund as 'Fame' and was composed by Carl Lösnitz and Calle Kindbom....
- 1991: Right or Wrong
- 2001: Shadows