G. C. Cameron

George Curtis "G.C." Cameron (born September 21, 1945, in Jackson, Mississippi) is an American soul and R&B singer. Perhaps best known as the lead singer of supergroup "The Spinners" on their 1970 hit "It's a Shame" and for his 1975 hit "It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday". G.C. is credited with having "six different voices."

The Spinners

After serving in the Vietnam War with the Marines, Cameron joined Motown act The Spinners as lead singer.(though original lead singer Bobby Smith also retained his lead position). 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. Cameron re-joined the Spinners again in the early 2000s, during which time he appeared with them on a PBS music special, singing his 1970 hit "It's A Shame", then left to join The Temptations in 2003.[1]

Solo artist

Cameron left Motown after the 1970s, and toured as an independent artist. He recorded a critically acclaimed album for Malaco Records 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.

The Temptations, 2003-2007

He replaced Barrington "Bo" Henderson in 2003 as one of the lead singers of The Temptations. 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.

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.[2] 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 West Acappella 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". [3][4]

In 2008, G.C. Cameron began working with reggae band Dub Nation on their album Rising Force For Change. Released in early 2012, the album features reggae renditions of G.C.'s hits "It's A Shame" and "It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday" as well as a collection of new songs.[5]

In 2009, G.C. Cameron released the album Enticed Ecstasy.

Discography

References

  1. ↑ Video on YouTube
  2. ↑ Burlington County Times Newspaper Article Archive
  3. ↑ GC Cameron's WHCR 90.3FM June 8, 2007, Interview with Maurice Watts
  4. ↑ Hold On To Education Foundation Inc.
  5. ↑ Dub Nation Homepage
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