Greg Perry

Songwriter, producer, and vocalist Greg Perry played a central role at Holland-Dozier-Holland’s Invictus and Hot Wax imprints, whose roster featured the Honey Cone, Freda Payne, Chairman of the Board, 8th Day, and 100 Proof Aged in Soul. His sibling Jeffree Perry cut the enduring stepper favorite “Love’s Gonna Last,” logged time at Motown, and contributed to Jackie Wilson’s Beautiful Day album. Still a teenager, Perry launched his career at Chicago’s Chess Records alongside producer Billy Davis, whose credits already included the Dells and Fontella Bass. Rejecting a publishing offer from Motown, he instead joined the newly established Invictus/Hot Wax operation. There he formed a songwriting team with singer General Johnson and lyricist Angelo Bond; together they created numerous chart successes modeled on the hit-making approach Holland-Dozier-Holland had perfected at Motown. Most sessions took place in Detroit inside a former movie theater on Grand River Avenue.

Several of the label’s supporting players later achieved prominence elsewhere. Tony Camillo helmed Gladys Knight and the Pips’ chart-topping R&B and pop gold single “Midnight Train to Georgia.” Guitarist Ray Parker, Jr. enjoyed gold and platinum success both with Raydio and under his own name, highlighted by the million-selling “Ghostbusters.” Dennis Coffey supplied guitar on numerous Motown and Westbound recordings and scored his own million-seller with “Scorpio.” McKinley Jackson co-wrote and produced mid-1970s hits such as “Fish Ain’t Bitin’” for label co-owner Lamont Dozier on ABC. Bassist Bob Babbitt, keyboardist Sylvester Rivers, and percussionists Jack Ashford and Eddie “Bongo” Brown all became sought-after session musicians in Los Angeles. Perry himself drew notice as a solo artist with his 1979 RCA album Smokin’.