Gene McFadden Dies

Gene McFadden, best known for singing and co-writing the 1979 R&B hit, “Ain’t No Stopping Us Now,” died of cancer January 27th at his Philadelphia home.

McFadden, 56, and John Whitehead met as teenagers and formed the Epsilons, which toured with and was managed by Otis Redding until his death in 1967.

After a short stint with Stax Records, McFadden and Whitehead joined Philadelphia International Records. The duo wrote several hits in the 1970s, including “Backstabbers” for the O’Jays and “Wake Up Everybody” for Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes.

Whitehead was fatally shot in 2004 while he and his nephew worked on a vehicle at his Philadelphia home.