Biography
Ed Townsend, recognized as a singer and songwriter, composed and oversaw production for the Impressions' 1974 number one R&B single "Finally Got Myself Together (I'm a Changed Man)." During the mid-1970s he partnered with Marvin Gaye to create the performer's landmark number one R&B and pop success "Let's Get It On." Townsend himself scored an R&B and pop hit single with "For Your Love" in 1958.
Born April 16, 1929, in Fayetteville, TN, he participated extensively in the church led by his minister father. He majored in education at Wilberforce University and earned a degree from Arkansas State College, then taught for a short period before enlisting in the Marine Corps and completing a two-year tour in Korea. Upon returning stateside he took a role hosting a television program in Los Angeles. Through his own music-publishing company he placed material with Nat "King" Cole, Etta James, and additional artists while also operating his personal record label.
During a demo playback for Capitol Records executive Joe Zerga, the label suggested Townsend record the track himself. "For Your Love" backed with "Over and Over Again" reached number seven R&B in summer 1958. Its successor, a version of Glenn Gray's 1935 number one hit "When I Grow Too Old to Dream" backed with "You Are My Everything," climbed to number 59 Pop in fall 1958. Additional Capitol singles followed: "Be My Love" backed with "With No One to Love," "Hold On" backed with "This Little Love of Mine," "Lover Come Back to Me" backed with "Don't Ever Leave," "Richer Than I" backed with "Getting By Without You," and "What Shall I Do?" backed with "Please Never Change." He issued two 1959 Capitol albums recorded with Nelson Riddle, titled "Glad to Be Here" and "New in Town." Only "For Your Love" and "When I Grow Too Old to Dream" appeared on the charts.
Townsend's further releases encompass the 1957 Dot single "Tall Grows the Sycamore Trees" backed with "My Need for You," the MGM pairing "Who Would Deny Me" backed with "Mommy's Never Comin' Back," the Liberty sides "Don't Get Around Much Anymore" backed with "When My Dreamboat Comes Home" and "On the Street," plus "Tell Her" backed with "Down Home" and "There's No End" backed with "That's What I Get for Love," the 1966 Tru-Glo single "I Want to Be With You" backed with "Don't Lead Me On," the Warner Bros. tracks "Stay With Me" and "Dreamland," and the NOW! album on Curtom.
Throughout the 1960s he wrote and produced Theola Kilgore's "The Love of My Man," which attained number three R&B in spring 1963, along with Dee Dee Warwick's "Foolish Fool" in early 1969.
In the early 1970s a friend in Los Angeles informed Townsend that Marvin Gaye sought a collaboration. After Townsend performed vocals and piano at the Motown artist's apartment, Gaye expressed interest in cutting his compositions. Townsend then arranged with Motown to retain 50 percent of the publishing rights through its Jobete firm and commenced work at the company's Hollywood studios, enlisting frequent Sam Cooke associate Rene Hall as arranger.
Issued in July 1973, "Let's Get It On" sparked debate over its explicit sexual content. Townsend maintained the piece addressed continuing forward in life, drawing from his own struggles with alcoholism and subsequent recovery. The recording ranks among Gaye's strongest achievements, with the artist's core captured in the ecstatic delivery and layered, climactic vocal textures. It held the number one R&B position for six weeks and the number one pop spot for two weeks during summer 1973. The Let's Get It On album reached number two pop in fall 1973. The next year Townsend secured another number one R&B hit.
After Curtis Mayfield departed the Impressions, the group's commercial momentum declined. Original members Fred and Sam Gooden added Reggie Toran and Ralph Johnson, the latter later of Mystique, to replace LeRoy Hutson. Mayfield's manager Marv Stuart encountered Townsend at New York's Queens Booking Agency and inquired about his availability to work with the Impressions. Townsend accepted, recalling prior shared bills when his "For Your Love" was charting alongside their "For Your Precious Love."
At a testimonial dinner for WVON radio personality E. Rodney Jones, Townsend delivered remarks on self-improvement that inspired the foundation for "Finally Got Myself Together." Drawing from his alcoholism experience, he shaped lyrics that reflected personal truth: "(I had) a little smoke and a little drink/kept my head bad so I couldn't think."
He tracked portions of the song in Chicago and at RCA Studios in Los Angeles alongside Rene Hall. The session included bassist Wilton Felder and keyboardist Joe Sample of the Crusaders, guitarists David T. Walker and Melvin "Wah Wah" Watson, and Motown veteran Eddie "Bongo" Brown on drums. Captured live with orchestra to preserve immediacy, "Finally Got Myself Together (I'm a Changed Man)" remained at number one R&B for two weeks in June 1974. His composition "I Wish I'd Stayed in Bed" appeared on the Impressions' 1976 RSO/Curtom album Loving Power.
Additional Townsend songs encompass Jimmy Holiday's "How Can I Forget," which reached number eight R&B; "You Don't Want to Believe It (My Man)" from Joe Simon's 1975 Spring/Polydor album Get Down; "I Might Like It" and "I Am a Witness" for Tommy Hunt; and material for the Main Ingredient, Chuck Jackson, and the Shirelles, among others.
"For Your Love," "The Love of My Man," and "Let's Get It On" earned BMI awards. Townsend's son David Townsend performed as a member of Surface. He passed away from a heart attack on August 13, 2003, at age 74.
Born April 16, 1929, in Fayetteville, TN, he participated extensively in the church led by his minister father. He majored in education at Wilberforce University and earned a degree from Arkansas State College, then taught for a short period before enlisting in the Marine Corps and completing a two-year tour in Korea. Upon returning stateside he took a role hosting a television program in Los Angeles. Through his own music-publishing company he placed material with Nat "King" Cole, Etta James, and additional artists while also operating his personal record label.
During a demo playback for Capitol Records executive Joe Zerga, the label suggested Townsend record the track himself. "For Your Love" backed with "Over and Over Again" reached number seven R&B in summer 1958. Its successor, a version of Glenn Gray's 1935 number one hit "When I Grow Too Old to Dream" backed with "You Are My Everything," climbed to number 59 Pop in fall 1958. Additional Capitol singles followed: "Be My Love" backed with "With No One to Love," "Hold On" backed with "This Little Love of Mine," "Lover Come Back to Me" backed with "Don't Ever Leave," "Richer Than I" backed with "Getting By Without You," and "What Shall I Do?" backed with "Please Never Change." He issued two 1959 Capitol albums recorded with Nelson Riddle, titled "Glad to Be Here" and "New in Town." Only "For Your Love" and "When I Grow Too Old to Dream" appeared on the charts.
Townsend's further releases encompass the 1957 Dot single "Tall Grows the Sycamore Trees" backed with "My Need for You," the MGM pairing "Who Would Deny Me" backed with "Mommy's Never Comin' Back," the Liberty sides "Don't Get Around Much Anymore" backed with "When My Dreamboat Comes Home" and "On the Street," plus "Tell Her" backed with "Down Home" and "There's No End" backed with "That's What I Get for Love," the 1966 Tru-Glo single "I Want to Be With You" backed with "Don't Lead Me On," the Warner Bros. tracks "Stay With Me" and "Dreamland," and the NOW! album on Curtom.
Throughout the 1960s he wrote and produced Theola Kilgore's "The Love of My Man," which attained number three R&B in spring 1963, along with Dee Dee Warwick's "Foolish Fool" in early 1969.
In the early 1970s a friend in Los Angeles informed Townsend that Marvin Gaye sought a collaboration. After Townsend performed vocals and piano at the Motown artist's apartment, Gaye expressed interest in cutting his compositions. Townsend then arranged with Motown to retain 50 percent of the publishing rights through its Jobete firm and commenced work at the company's Hollywood studios, enlisting frequent Sam Cooke associate Rene Hall as arranger.
Issued in July 1973, "Let's Get It On" sparked debate over its explicit sexual content. Townsend maintained the piece addressed continuing forward in life, drawing from his own struggles with alcoholism and subsequent recovery. The recording ranks among Gaye's strongest achievements, with the artist's core captured in the ecstatic delivery and layered, climactic vocal textures. It held the number one R&B position for six weeks and the number one pop spot for two weeks during summer 1973. The Let's Get It On album reached number two pop in fall 1973. The next year Townsend secured another number one R&B hit.
After Curtis Mayfield departed the Impressions, the group's commercial momentum declined. Original members Fred and Sam Gooden added Reggie Toran and Ralph Johnson, the latter later of Mystique, to replace LeRoy Hutson. Mayfield's manager Marv Stuart encountered Townsend at New York's Queens Booking Agency and inquired about his availability to work with the Impressions. Townsend accepted, recalling prior shared bills when his "For Your Love" was charting alongside their "For Your Precious Love."
At a testimonial dinner for WVON radio personality E. Rodney Jones, Townsend delivered remarks on self-improvement that inspired the foundation for "Finally Got Myself Together." Drawing from his alcoholism experience, he shaped lyrics that reflected personal truth: "(I had) a little smoke and a little drink/kept my head bad so I couldn't think."
He tracked portions of the song in Chicago and at RCA Studios in Los Angeles alongside Rene Hall. The session included bassist Wilton Felder and keyboardist Joe Sample of the Crusaders, guitarists David T. Walker and Melvin "Wah Wah" Watson, and Motown veteran Eddie "Bongo" Brown on drums. Captured live with orchestra to preserve immediacy, "Finally Got Myself Together (I'm a Changed Man)" remained at number one R&B for two weeks in June 1974. His composition "I Wish I'd Stayed in Bed" appeared on the Impressions' 1976 RSO/Curtom album Loving Power.
Additional Townsend songs encompass Jimmy Holiday's "How Can I Forget," which reached number eight R&B; "You Don't Want to Believe It (My Man)" from Joe Simon's 1975 Spring/Polydor album Get Down; "I Might Like It" and "I Am a Witness" for Tommy Hunt; and material for the Main Ingredient, Chuck Jackson, and the Shirelles, among others.
"For Your Love," "The Love of My Man," and "Let's Get It On" earned BMI awards. Townsend's son David Townsend performed as a member of Surface. He passed away from a heart attack on August 13, 2003, at age 74.
Albums
Singles
