Grammy-winning producer-songwriter Freddie Perren succumbs

Jet, Jan 17, 2005

Freddie Perren, 61, who produced records for Gloria Gaynor, the Jackson 5 and the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack, recently died after a long illness in Los Angeles. He suffered a major stroke 11 years ago.

Born Frederick James Perren, the hit making songwriter-producer was a member of Motown's production group, The Corporation, and wrote and produced many Motown tunes.

In 1978, Perren won a Grammy for his work on a couple of songs he did on the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack: Yvonne Elliman's If I Can't Have You and Tavares' More Than A Woman

Perren co-produced and co-wrote the classic Gloria Gaynor hit I Will Survive, which won a Grammy for Best Disco Recording in 1979.

He also produced the tear-jerking ballad It's So Hard To Say Goodbye To Yesterday, a song featured in the classic film Cooley High and later made famous by the group Boyz II Men.

Perren produced the Jackson 5 songs I Want You Back, ABC and The Love You Save, as well as Love Machine and Do It Baby by the Miracles.

His work also included Peaches and Herb's hits Reunited and Shake Your Groove Thing; the Sylvers' Boogie Fever, Hotline and High School Dance; and Tavares' Heaven Must Be Missing An Angel.

He is survived by his wife, songwriter Christine Yarian Perren.