Bunny Sigler

During the golden age of Philadelphia soul, Bunny Sigler demonstrated consistent skill at crafting memorable soul and R&B recordings as both performer and writer. He first appeared in the 1950s fronting his own ensemble and working solo, then placed multiple times on the upper reaches of the R&B charts: in 1967 with “Let the Good Times Roll and Feel So Good,” in 1973 with “Tossin’ and Turnin’,” in 1978 with “Let Me Party with You (Party, Party, Party),” and later that same year on the Loleatta Holloway duet “Only You.” Far greater recognition came from his behind-the-scenes role as staff writer and producer. Serving as one of the central figures behind Philadelphia International’s command of 1970s soul, he supplied material and studio direction for Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, Lou Rawls, Patti LaBelle, the Whispers, Stephanie Mills, Billy Paul, Curtis Mayfield, and Carl Carlton.

Born in Philadelphia to Henry and Susie May Sigler, young Walter Sigler roamed the house inventing lyrics and melodies to songs he heard. His mother gave him the lifelong nickname Bunny Sigler after noticing, when he was still an infant, that he had already grown a full front tooth and therefore resembled a rabbit. Early on he performed spiritual pieces such as “O Lord My God” and “The Lord’s Prayer” at Helping Hand Rescue Mission and assorted churches; in his teens he sang at Roman Emanuel Baptist Church and joined doo-wop groups including the Opals. His original ambition, however, was a career in professional basketball, an aspiration ended by a leg injury. With that path closed, he devoted himself wholly to music, cutting sides for local labels and playing guitar and piano nightly in neighborhood clubs.

One summer, after a show at Atlantic City’s Ambassador Hotel, Sigler remained at the piano searching for new ideas. Leon Huff steered independent producers John Medara and Dave White—creators of Len Barry’s “123”—to hear him at the Red Hill Inn. Impressed, they offered a contract that yielded his debut album, Let the Good Times Roll and Feel So Good, on Cameo Parkway. The first single, “Girl Don’t Make Me Wait,” received airplay on both R&B and pop stations. Its follow-up, the title track previously popularized by Shirley & Lee, reached number 20 R&B and number 22 pop before Cameo Parkway suddenly folded.

While his Cameo Parkway deal ran out, Sigler spent time at Gamble & Huff Productions, singing, strumming guitar, and practicing martial-arts kicks against the walls—an activity that unsettled visitors and led Kenny Gamble to suggest he join Ugene Dozier in a writing session. Up to that moment Sigler had never considered songwriting, an unexpected start for an artist who would eventually publish hundreds of compositions.

Around 1970 Gamble & Huff Productions became Philadelphia International Records. After Ugene Dozier departed, Sigler took over the vacated office. His first notable break arrived when “Sunshine,” co-written with Phil Hurtt, was chosen as the follow-up single to the O’Jays’ million-selling “Back Stabbers.” Additional Sigler/Hurtt songs on that album included “When the World Is at Peace” and “Who Am I.” The next O’Jays set, Ship Ahoy, contained Sigler’s first solely written track, “You Got Your Hooks in Me,” plus the Sigler/Gamble collaboration “Don’t You Call Me Brother.” His songs, productions, piano performances, and background vocals appear throughout the Philadelphia International catalog.

Seeking a vocal group to shape, Sigler was introduced by Jackie Ellis to the TNJs (T for Trenton, N.J. for New Jersey), a unit already popular throughout the tri-state region. Their backing band, Instant Funk, featured bassist Raymond Earl and brothers Kim Miller on guitar and Scotty Miller on drums. A Sigler-produced single, “I Think I’m Falling in Love,” appeared on a Newark independent label. In 1972 Philadelphia International authorized Sigler to record himself again and brought Instant Funk and the TNJs into the studio. The first release was the ballad “Regina.” A remake of Bobby Lewis’s “Tossin’ and Turnin’” then returned him to the charts at number 38 R&B, his first hit since “Let the Good Times Roll.”

Philadelphia International issued two Sigler albums in 1974: That’s How Long I’ll Be Loving You, which included a church-inflected reading of the O’Jays’ “Love Train,” and Keep Smilin’. The 1976 album My Music featured the heartfelt ballad “Somebody Loves You” and the Opals tribute “Just Let Me Love You Tonight.” Although most Sigler sessions used MFSB, several tracks—including the entirety of My Music—were driven by the Instant Funk rhythm section, which also powered hits by the O’Jays, Archie Bell & the Drells, Evelyn “Champagne” King, Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, and others.

With Philadelphia soul in demand, Sigler wrote and produced for the Whispers, Ecstasy, Passion and Pain, and Carl Carlton; he also cut sides for Curtis Mayfield’s Curtom label, including Mayfield’s own “Trippin’ Out,” and recorded a duet album with Barbara Mason. In 1976 he secured Instant Funk an album deal on Gamble & Huff’s TSOP imprint; Get Down on the Philly Jump yielded two disco-club favorites, the title track and “It Ain’t Reggae (But It Sho Is Funky).”

In 1978 Sigler and Instant Funk moved to Goldmind, the label founded by MFSB guitarist Norman Harris and distributed by Salsoul Records. Their first Goldmind single, “Let Me Party with You (Party, Party, Party),” became Sigler’s first Top Ten R&B hit, while the accompanying album thrived in disco venues. When Goldmind closed, its roster transferred to Salsoul. Roughly a year later, thanks to a Larry Levan remix, Instant Funk’s “I Got My Mind Made Up (You Can Get It Girl)” reached number one R&B; both the single and the album Instant Funk were certified gold. As at Philadelphia International, Sigler and Instant Funk worked with Salsoul acts such as Loleatta Holloway, Double Exposure, and First Choice, plus artists on other labels.

When Salsoul ceased operations in the early 1980s, Sigler continued writing and producing. He co-wrote with Eugene “Lambchops” Curry the million-selling “Somebody Loves You Baby” for Patti LaBelle and took Shirley Jones, formerly of the Jones Girls, to number one R&B in August 1986 with “Do You Get Enough Love.” He also issued occasional singles. Instant Funk toured briefly before disbanding.

Sigler later collaborated again with Raymond Earl on Patti LaBelle’s Gems LP and the off-Broadway production 20th Century R&B, and together they contributed to final recordings by Phyllis Hyman, PIR veterans Lou Rawls and Billy Paul, Philadelphia International signee Stephanie Mills, and the band PLEX. He died in October 2017 at the age of 76.