Biography
Sam Dees ranks among the most productive figures in songwriting, production, and performance, having composed or co-composed successful material for Atlantic Starr that included the radio-played LP cut “Am I Dreaming” and the track “Send for Me,” Larry Graham’s million-selling R&B chart-topper “One in a Million You,” Gladys Knight and the Pips’ number-one R&B single “Save the Overtime (For Me),” and Whitney Houston’s “Lover for Life,” among additional titles. Once the classic soul period ended, Gerald Alston of the Manhattans recorded “Send for Me” for his 1992 Motown album Always in the Mood, while Ol Skool featuring Keith Sweat and Xscape later revived “Am I Dreaming.”
A native of Birmingham, Alabama, Dees entered the world in 1945 and is routinely placed alongside leading soul and pop songwriters such as Lamont Dozier, George Jackson, Bunny Sigler, and Jo Armstead. He captured singing-contest victories during childhood and, in his early twenties, began committing material to tape for Nashville producer Shelby Singleton’s SSS International Records. The following year, 1969, found him cutting sides for Natte McCalla’s Birmingham imprint Lola Records, among them a composition originally slated for Percy Sledge titled “It’s All Wrong.” In the early 1970s he supplied Chess Records of Chicago with the singles “Love Starvation” b/w “Maryanna” and “Can You Be a One Woman Man” b/w “Put You Back in Your Place.” Atlantic Records issued his 1975 LP The Show Must Go On. Late in the decade, producer Jack Gold—who oversaw Gladys Knight’s solo debut Gladys Knight—introduced Dees to the singer; the two subsequently co-wrote and co-produced half the selections on Gladys Knight and the Pips’ Visions album.
Additional performers who have cut Dees-penned or Dees-produced songs include Whitney Houston, whose jazz-tinged “Lover for Life” from the album I’m Your Baby Tonight was later interpreted by Doc Powell on Laid Back and by Kirk Whalum on For You; Loleatta Holloway, whose “Cry to Me” reached number ten R&B in early 1975; Gladys Knight and the Pips, whose “My Time” appeared in early 1985; Barbara Hall with “Drop My Heart Off at the Door”; Carl Carlton, whose 1986 Casablanca set Private Property contained “I Never Got Over You,” “Mama’s Boy,” and “Free Fine and 21”; Rozetta Johnson’s “Who Are You Gonna Love”; Larry Graham’s gold-certified “One in a Million You,” which topped the R&B chart and reached number nine pop in spring 1980; Rockie Robbins’ danceable, uplifting “Hang Tough”; Tyrone Davis’ “Homewreckers” from spring 1975; Margie Joseph’s “Just As Soon As the Feeling’s Over”; the George Benson/Aretha Franklin duet “Love All the Hurt Away,” a number-six R&B entry in summer 1981; Dorothy Moore’s “Special Occasion”; Denise LaSalle’s “Keep Your Pants On” from the album Right Place, Right Time; and TK/Juana artist Anita Ward’s “Spoiled By Your Love.” Anti-drug messages appear in Dees’ own compositions “Signed Miss Heroin” and “Ain’t No Use for Drug Abuse.” Alongside Jeffrey Osborne, he co-wrote “Where Did We Go Wrong,” a number-seven hit for LTD in summer 1980, and “Greatest Love Affair,” featured on Osborne’s 1983 A&M album Stay With Me Tonight.
Dees launched his own Pen Pad label and released the album Secret Admirer in 1988, which generated the singles “After All” (subsequently licensed to RCA) and “Just Wait Until I Get You Home.” Further Sam Dees-related projects comprise his own Second to None CD, issued July 18, 1995, and Heritage of a Black Man—whose title track had been recorded for but omitted from The Show Must Go On—issued September 29, 1998.
A native of Birmingham, Alabama, Dees entered the world in 1945 and is routinely placed alongside leading soul and pop songwriters such as Lamont Dozier, George Jackson, Bunny Sigler, and Jo Armstead. He captured singing-contest victories during childhood and, in his early twenties, began committing material to tape for Nashville producer Shelby Singleton’s SSS International Records. The following year, 1969, found him cutting sides for Natte McCalla’s Birmingham imprint Lola Records, among them a composition originally slated for Percy Sledge titled “It’s All Wrong.” In the early 1970s he supplied Chess Records of Chicago with the singles “Love Starvation” b/w “Maryanna” and “Can You Be a One Woman Man” b/w “Put You Back in Your Place.” Atlantic Records issued his 1975 LP The Show Must Go On. Late in the decade, producer Jack Gold—who oversaw Gladys Knight’s solo debut Gladys Knight—introduced Dees to the singer; the two subsequently co-wrote and co-produced half the selections on Gladys Knight and the Pips’ Visions album.
Additional performers who have cut Dees-penned or Dees-produced songs include Whitney Houston, whose jazz-tinged “Lover for Life” from the album I’m Your Baby Tonight was later interpreted by Doc Powell on Laid Back and by Kirk Whalum on For You; Loleatta Holloway, whose “Cry to Me” reached number ten R&B in early 1975; Gladys Knight and the Pips, whose “My Time” appeared in early 1985; Barbara Hall with “Drop My Heart Off at the Door”; Carl Carlton, whose 1986 Casablanca set Private Property contained “I Never Got Over You,” “Mama’s Boy,” and “Free Fine and 21”; Rozetta Johnson’s “Who Are You Gonna Love”; Larry Graham’s gold-certified “One in a Million You,” which topped the R&B chart and reached number nine pop in spring 1980; Rockie Robbins’ danceable, uplifting “Hang Tough”; Tyrone Davis’ “Homewreckers” from spring 1975; Margie Joseph’s “Just As Soon As the Feeling’s Over”; the George Benson/Aretha Franklin duet “Love All the Hurt Away,” a number-six R&B entry in summer 1981; Dorothy Moore’s “Special Occasion”; Denise LaSalle’s “Keep Your Pants On” from the album Right Place, Right Time; and TK/Juana artist Anita Ward’s “Spoiled By Your Love.” Anti-drug messages appear in Dees’ own compositions “Signed Miss Heroin” and “Ain’t No Use for Drug Abuse.” Alongside Jeffrey Osborne, he co-wrote “Where Did We Go Wrong,” a number-seven hit for LTD in summer 1980, and “Greatest Love Affair,” featured on Osborne’s 1983 A&M album Stay With Me Tonight.
Dees launched his own Pen Pad label and released the album Secret Admirer in 1988, which generated the singles “After All” (subsequently licensed to RCA) and “Just Wait Until I Get You Home.” Further Sam Dees-related projects comprise his own Second to None CD, issued July 18, 1995, and Heritage of a Black Man—whose title track had been recorded for but omitted from The Show Must Go On—issued September 29, 1998.
Albums
