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Phil Hurtt

Writer, producer, performer, arranger (b. April 12, 1942

Award-winning songwriter, producer and arranger Phil Hurtt is President and CEO of the newly formed Soul Renaissance Records. He is also the Executive Producer of the company’s first project, “A Soulful Tale of Two Cities”, which brings together artists and musicians from two of America’s most prolific music meccas – Detroit, Michigan and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. According to Hurtt, the new project is an unprecedented showcase for the R&B sound, rhythm and talent made famous in the 1960s and 1970s by these two cities. [www.soulfultale.com]

Born in Wilmington, Delaware, Hurtt’s family moved to Philadelphia, PA, when he was three years old. He began his musical career in the 1950’s when, as a pre-teen, he began singing at clubs and cabarets in the Philadelphia area. Hurtt’s fondest memories revolve around his frequent trips to Harlem to perform in the Gold Room at the Teresa Hotel. Many of the stars of the day were in attendance, including such renowned artists as Sam Cook, Little Willie John, the Cadillacs, the Chantels, Frankie Lymon and The Platters. Hurtt also performed at Sugar Ray Robinson’s club as well as other popular night spots in the city.

In 1957, he recorded his first single “Frankenstein’s Party/L.O.V.E.”, for Deluxe Records, as a member of The Swinging Phillies, a doo-wop group fronted by Hurtt’s elder brother.

Hurtt continued his career as a performer into the mid-1960s while developing his skill as a songwriter/producer. A talented singer, his vocal abilities made him one of the most sought after background vocalists in the industry. During this time, Hurtt also became an integral part of a group of highly regarded writers, producers, musicians and singers whose work is currently acknowledged by many in the music industry as ’The Sound of Philadelphia’.

Some of the artists included in ’The Sound of Philadelphia’ phenomenon were: Thom Bell, Linda Creed, Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff, Bunny Sigler, Bobby Eli, Vinnie Barrett, Carey (Hippie) Gilbert, Norman Harris, Bobby Martin, Earl Young, Ronnie Baker, Bruce Hawes, Charles Simmons, Joe Jefferson, Dexter Wansel, Richie Rome, Roland & Karl Chambers, Allan Felder, Ron Tyson, Sherman Marshall, Philip Pugh & Don Reynaldo.

In the 1970s, Hurtt worked as an independent writer/producer with Philadelphia International Records, as well as a staff producer with Atlantic Records in New York City, New York. He wrote and/or produced songs for some of the top artists of the time including: The O'Jays, Sister Sledge, Joe Simon, the Chi-Lites, Eddie Kendricks, Jazz greats Stanley Turrentine, Willis Jackson and many more.

A highlight of his career was penning The Spinners classic “I’ll Be Around”, co-written with Grammy award winning producer Thom Bell. The two have been close friends since growing up together in the same west Philly neighborhood. They also attended Dobbins Tech High School along with future writer/producer Bobby Eli (“Love Won’t Let Me Wait”).

By 1976, Hurtt found himself in the middle of the” Disco” movement. He worked with Jacques Morali, who conceived the group known as the Village People. Hurtt wrote lyrics, arranged vocals and sang background for the original members. A major contributor to the blueprint for subsequent albums by the popular unit, Hurtt was involved in several Gold albums by them including “Village People”, “Live & Sleazy”, and the 1980 motion picture, “Can’t Stop the Music”.

Hurtt worked with many other disco artists, including Grace Jones and The Ritchie Family. In 1978, he signed a recording contract with Berkeley, California’s Fantasy Records. Under that agreement, two albums were released: “Giving It Back” and “PH Factor”. These LPs reached the European charts, with the single “Giving it Back” breaking into the top 40. Today both albums are being bought and sold as collectors’ items by classic R&B and Dance enthusiasts around the globe.

Over the span of his career, Hurtt has been awarded 11 gold and platinum records. His name appears on tens of millions of 45s, 8-tracks, LPs, cassettes, CDs, VHS tapes and DVDs - on movie soundtracks and in television themes, commercials - as well as all over the Internet. In recent years, Hurtt’s music, as well as his voice, has been sampled by today’s top Rap and Hip-hop artists, including: Jay-Z, 50 Cent, Cam’ron & the Diplomats, LL Cool J, Noyd and DMX. He is a recent recipient of the BMI Pop Award for “I’ll Be Around” – one of the most performed songs in 2005. It was the second such award for the song.

Phil Hurtt resides in New Jersey with his wife. He is the father of five, and he has three grandchildren.

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Other Career Achievements:
In 1977, Billboard magazine awarded Hurtt with five nominations for Disco Composer of the Year. Two of his albums were also nominated as Best Disco Album of the Year – “African Queens” by the Ritchie Family and The Village People’s self-titled debut LP, which contained the classics “San Francisco” and “Hollywood”. Hurtt wrote and did the vocal arrangements for all songs on both albums.

Additional artists who have either recorded Hurtt’s material, or have been produced by him, include:
Jeffrey Osborne and the Rippingtons
Eva
Little Anthony and the Imperials
The Persuaders
Jean Carn
The Impressions
Jackie Moore
The Chi-Lites
Garland Green
Fareed Haque
The Checkmates
L.T.D.
Regina Bell
Jay Z
Betty Swan
Percy Sledge
Vivian Reed
Rappin’ 4-Tay
The Impressions
Hall & Oates

He also provided background vocals for the Salsoul Orchestra, Eddie Kendricks and many others.

Awarded Industry Cornerstone Award by the Heroes and Legends Organization in September of 2006

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