G.C. Cameron
Birth nameGeorge Curtis Cameron
Born (1945-09-21) September 21, 1945
McCall Creek, Mississippi, U.S.
Occupation(s)Singer

George Curtis Cameron is an American soul and R&B singer perhaps best known as the lead singer of The Spinners on their 1970 hit "It's a Shame" and for his 1975 hit "It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday". Cameron 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[1] (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.[1] However, when The Spinners left Motown the following year, Cameron remained with Motown as a solo artist.[1]

Cameron rejoined The Spinners in 2000, after then-current frontman John Edwards suffered a stroke. He remained with The Spinners well into the early 2000s, during which time he appeared with them on a PBS music special, singing his 1970 hit "It's A Shame", before leaving again to join The Temptations in 2003.[2]

Solo artist

Releasing several solo singles in the early 1970s, he became 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 left Motown after the 1970s, and toured as an independent artist.[1] 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).[1] He also recorded another solo album titled Shadows. Shadows was co-produced by Ben Obi of Savannah Street Music.

The Temptations, 2003–2007, 2019

G.C. Cameron left the group in June 2007 to focus on his solo career. He was replaced by Bruce Williamson, who first affiliated with the group a year earlier. The new lineup recorded another album of soul covers, Back to Front, released in October 2007. Former member Ali-Ollie Woodson died on May 30, 2010, after a long battle with leukemia.

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.[3] He received proclamations from New Jersey State Senator Diane Allen; and Mayor Jacqueline Jennings, with Councilman Eddie Campbell Jr. of Willingboro, New Jersey. 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".[4][5]

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 Cameron's hits "It's A Shame" and "It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday" as well as a collection of new songs.[6]

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

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 Love with Syreeta
  • 1983: Give Me Your Love
  • 1991: Right or Wrong
  • 2001: Shadows
  • 2009: Enticed Ecstasy
  • 2012: Rising Force for Change with Dub Nation

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Colin Larkin, ed. (1992). The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 398. ISBN 0-85112-939-0.
  2. ↑ Video on YouTube
  3. ↑ "Club scene, May 16 (phillyBurbs.com) | Music". February 28, 2009. Archived from the original on February 28, 2009. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
  4. ↑ "GC Cameron's WHCR 90.3FM June 8, 2007, Interview with Maurice Watts". Archived from the original on November 10, 2008. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
  5. ↑ "Hold On To Education Foundation Inc". Archived from the original on February 28, 2009. Retrieved January 2, 2009.
  6. ↑ "Nationrizn Entertainment – Music, Entertainment and More". Nationrizn.com. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
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