John Whitehead

Who was John Whitehead?

John Whitehead was an American singer, songwriter, and record producer. He was best known as one of the key members of the Philadelphia International record label, and was one-half of the successful team of McFadden & Whitehead with Gene McFadden.

McFadden and Whitehead wrote many hits for Philadelphia International artists such as The O'Jays and Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, and had their own hit with "Ain't No Stopping Us Now" in 1979. Whitehead converted to Islam in 1996 and received an LL.D. from Bates College. On May 11, 2004, John Whitehead was murdered while fixing his car on the street outside his Philadelphia home with his nephew. In an apparent case of mistaken identity, he was shot by two unknown gunmen, who then fled. The case remains unsolved. Whitehead was 55 years old. He is buried in Mount Moriah Cemetery in Philadelphia.

He was the father of both members of early 1990s duo the Whitehead Brothers.