Biography
Gene Page earned recognition for his engaging orchestrations, which distinguished countless million-selling recordings by Barry White, assorted Motown performers, Johnny Mathis & Deniece Williams, Whitney Houston, Peaches & Herb, Kenny Rogers, the Righteous Brothers, Aretha Franklin, Elton John, the Whispers, Gladys Knight, and numerous others. He supplied arrangements for the majority of Mathis' albums issued during the 1970s and 1980s, among which "Feelings" counted as one of the strongest selections. Page further composed scores for multiple television programs and motion pictures.
A native of Los Angeles, Page pursued classical studies while young. After securing a scholarship to the Brooklyn Conservatory, he relocated to New York. His initial major opportunity in recording came when he created the string arrangements for the Righteous Brothers' "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'," a track that held the top pop position for two weeks and reached number three on the R&B chart in Billboard during late 1964 and early 1965. He likewise arranged Dobie Gray's "The In Crowd," which peaked at number 11 R&B, and Solomon Burke's "Got to Get You off My Mind," which occupied the number-one R&B slot for three weeks, both in early 1965.
Page first encountered Barry White while the two collaborated on string arrangements for Bob and Earl's "Harlem Shuffle," released on Marc Records and peaking at number 44 R&B in late 1963. During the mid-1960s, after White secured employment with Bob Keane at the Bronco/Mustang labels, he brought Page aboard to handle arrangements. When Bronco/Mustang ceased operations in 1968, White shifted to independent freelance production. Although he cut sides for Larry Marks on BMC, Malcolm Hayes on OKeh, and Brendetta Davis on Liberty, and supplied songs for NBC-TV's Saturday-morning program The Banana Splits, the period proved difficult. Page assisted by offering arranging work and non-repayable loans.
White's prospects improved once he met the vocal trio Glodean & Linda James and Diane Taylor during a session where they supplied background vocals. After renaming the group Love Unlimited, he spent more than a year refining their performances, composing material, and laying down tracks. At the same time, Page's recording schedule expanded to include film and television assignments. He composed the score for Sid & Marty Krofft's H.R. Pufnstuf, which debuted on NBC-TV's Saturday-morning schedule in September 1969. His brother Billy Page wrote "Some Beautiful," the debut single from Pufnstuf star Jack Wild's Capitol album The Jack Wild Album. Page also created the soundtrack for the 1970 Robert Altman film Brewster McCloud, issued on MGM Records.
Billy Page produced Gene's Music From the Original Soundtrack Blacula. Originally released by RCA Records in summer 1972, the score for the horror film featuring Shakespearean actor William Marshall and Ketty Lester marked one of Gene's earliest projects as a recording artist; the Hues Corporation appeared in the movie and on the album. Razor & Tie reissued the recording in summer 1998.
Larry Nunes, a White associate, presented one of the recordings to Russ Regan, head of MCA's Uni label. "Walkin' in the Rain (With the One I Love)," featuring White's telephone contribution, earned gold certification and reached number six R&B and number 14 pop on Billboard in spring 1972. Love Unlimited's From a Girl's Point of View also attained million-seller status. Regan soon departed Uni for 20th Century Records, after which White's ties with Uni deteriorated. With his Uni relationship troubled and Love Unlimited still contractually bound to the label, White sought a new act and prepared three song demos of himself singing and playing piano. Nunes listened, urged him to re-record and release the material, and after extended discussion convinced White to proceed. White signed with 20th Century Records, where Regan served as president and Page supplied arrangements for the early-1970s hits. The move launched White's gold- and platinum-certified recording career; he obtained a contractual release for Love Unlimited from Uni, and the trio followed him to 20th Century.
On Love Unlimited's second 20th Century album In Heat, released in fall 1974, Gene Page arranged the ballad "I Belong to You," which topped the R&B chart late that year. The album, regarded as the trio's most compelling effort, showcased the same elite studio musicians heard on White's recordings, featured Page's and White's vigorous arrangements, included the follow-up single "Share a Little Love in Your Heart" (number 21 R&B, spring 1975), highlighted tracks such as "Move Me No Mountain" and "I Needed Love-You Were There," presented an extended version of "I Belong to You," and offered a lyrical treatment of "Love's Theme." White continued to employ Page's skills on productions for himself, Love Unlimited, and the Love Unlimited Orchestra.
Gene Page released several albums, the most commercially successful being the 1978 Arista LP Close Encounters. Its title track, a disco interpretation of the John Williams theme from the 1977 Steven Spielberg/Richard Dreyfuss film, reached number 30 R&B in early 1978. In fall 1999, two Barry White compilations containing Page-arranged tracks, All Time Greatest Hits and Greatest Hits Volume 1, appeared on Billboard's Top Pop Catalog Albums charts, aided by White's appearances on Fox-TV's Ally McBeal.
Gene Page passed away in his hometown of Los Angeles in 1998.
A native of Los Angeles, Page pursued classical studies while young. After securing a scholarship to the Brooklyn Conservatory, he relocated to New York. His initial major opportunity in recording came when he created the string arrangements for the Righteous Brothers' "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'," a track that held the top pop position for two weeks and reached number three on the R&B chart in Billboard during late 1964 and early 1965. He likewise arranged Dobie Gray's "The In Crowd," which peaked at number 11 R&B, and Solomon Burke's "Got to Get You off My Mind," which occupied the number-one R&B slot for three weeks, both in early 1965.
Page first encountered Barry White while the two collaborated on string arrangements for Bob and Earl's "Harlem Shuffle," released on Marc Records and peaking at number 44 R&B in late 1963. During the mid-1960s, after White secured employment with Bob Keane at the Bronco/Mustang labels, he brought Page aboard to handle arrangements. When Bronco/Mustang ceased operations in 1968, White shifted to independent freelance production. Although he cut sides for Larry Marks on BMC, Malcolm Hayes on OKeh, and Brendetta Davis on Liberty, and supplied songs for NBC-TV's Saturday-morning program The Banana Splits, the period proved difficult. Page assisted by offering arranging work and non-repayable loans.
White's prospects improved once he met the vocal trio Glodean & Linda James and Diane Taylor during a session where they supplied background vocals. After renaming the group Love Unlimited, he spent more than a year refining their performances, composing material, and laying down tracks. At the same time, Page's recording schedule expanded to include film and television assignments. He composed the score for Sid & Marty Krofft's H.R. Pufnstuf, which debuted on NBC-TV's Saturday-morning schedule in September 1969. His brother Billy Page wrote "Some Beautiful," the debut single from Pufnstuf star Jack Wild's Capitol album The Jack Wild Album. Page also created the soundtrack for the 1970 Robert Altman film Brewster McCloud, issued on MGM Records.
Billy Page produced Gene's Music From the Original Soundtrack Blacula. Originally released by RCA Records in summer 1972, the score for the horror film featuring Shakespearean actor William Marshall and Ketty Lester marked one of Gene's earliest projects as a recording artist; the Hues Corporation appeared in the movie and on the album. Razor & Tie reissued the recording in summer 1998.
Larry Nunes, a White associate, presented one of the recordings to Russ Regan, head of MCA's Uni label. "Walkin' in the Rain (With the One I Love)," featuring White's telephone contribution, earned gold certification and reached number six R&B and number 14 pop on Billboard in spring 1972. Love Unlimited's From a Girl's Point of View also attained million-seller status. Regan soon departed Uni for 20th Century Records, after which White's ties with Uni deteriorated. With his Uni relationship troubled and Love Unlimited still contractually bound to the label, White sought a new act and prepared three song demos of himself singing and playing piano. Nunes listened, urged him to re-record and release the material, and after extended discussion convinced White to proceed. White signed with 20th Century Records, where Regan served as president and Page supplied arrangements for the early-1970s hits. The move launched White's gold- and platinum-certified recording career; he obtained a contractual release for Love Unlimited from Uni, and the trio followed him to 20th Century.
On Love Unlimited's second 20th Century album In Heat, released in fall 1974, Gene Page arranged the ballad "I Belong to You," which topped the R&B chart late that year. The album, regarded as the trio's most compelling effort, showcased the same elite studio musicians heard on White's recordings, featured Page's and White's vigorous arrangements, included the follow-up single "Share a Little Love in Your Heart" (number 21 R&B, spring 1975), highlighted tracks such as "Move Me No Mountain" and "I Needed Love-You Were There," presented an extended version of "I Belong to You," and offered a lyrical treatment of "Love's Theme." White continued to employ Page's skills on productions for himself, Love Unlimited, and the Love Unlimited Orchestra.
Gene Page released several albums, the most commercially successful being the 1978 Arista LP Close Encounters. Its title track, a disco interpretation of the John Williams theme from the 1977 Steven Spielberg/Richard Dreyfuss film, reached number 30 R&B in early 1978. In fall 1999, two Barry White compilations containing Page-arranged tracks, All Time Greatest Hits and Greatest Hits Volume 1, appeared on Billboard's Top Pop Catalog Albums charts, aided by White's appearances on Fox-TV's Ally McBeal.
Gene Page passed away in his hometown of Los Angeles in 1998.
Albums
