Preston Glass

Washed ashore on a lonely island in the sea is my latest guest castaway, the celebrated songwriter and producer Preston Glass.

Preston's list of achievements is breathtaking. Five time BMI award winner, he has written thirty Top10 R&B Hits and ten Top10 Pop Hits. These include: 'Miss You Like Crazy' by Natalie Cole, 'We Don't Have To Take Our Clothes Off' by Jermaine Stewart and 'Who's Zoomin' Who?' by Aretha Franklin.

Among his many production credits are a #1 hit single for Earth, Wind & Fire with 'System Of Survival', a UK #1 hit single for Michelle Gayle with 'Sweetness' and Kenny G's worldwide hit single 'Don't Make Me Wait For Love'.

There are many, many other artists he has written and produced for... and here are just some of them: 

Whitney Houston, Mase, Stanley Jordan, Lionel Richie, Jennifer Holiday, Johnny Mathis, Michael Bolton, Dionne Warwick, Johnny Gill, Patti Austin, Kathy Sledge, The Delfonics, The Temptations, Diana Ross, George Benson, Phyllis Hyman, SoulDecision, Deniece Williams, Starpoint, Philip Bailey, Anita Pointer, Valeria, Lenny Williams, Stacy Lattisaw, Angela Bofill, June Pointer, Larry Graham, Carl Carlton, Margie Joseph, Evelyn "Champagne" King, Tag Team, Ronnie Spector, Narada Michael Walden, George Howard, Pieces of a Dream, The Stylistics, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Ben E. King, Brian Culbertson, J. Friends, The Dells, Norman Connors, Jermaine Jackson, Cyndi Lauper, Kirk Whalum, Jellybean Benitez, Brenda Holloway, Ali Woodson, Imagination, The Dramatics, Alfonzo Blackwell, Freda Payne, The Natural Four, Cindy Herron, Rebbie Jackson, Jaki Graham and Shades of Lace.

Preston has released four solo albums : 'Street Corner Prophesy' in 2006, 'Music As Medicine' in 2008, 'Colors Of Life' in 2010 and 'Elevator Speech' in 2013.

A new solo album is scheduled for release on May 14, 2014.

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James Brown – I Got You (I Feel Good)

'I Got You (I Feel Good)' recorded and released as a single in 1965, was James Brown's highest charting song peaking at number three. 

The song remained at the top of the Billboard R&B Singles chart for six non-consecutive weeks and is arguably his most widely known recording.

“At an early age it impressed upon me the importance of a groove and an attitude in the recordings”.

The Beatles – Yesterday

A song originally recorded by the Beatles in 1965. Although credited to Lennon and McCartney, the song was written solely by Paul McCartney. It remains popular today and is one of the most covered songs in the history of recorded music. 

Yesterday' was voted the No. 1 Pop song of all time by MTV and by Rolling Stone magazine. In 1997, the song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. BMI asserts that it was performed over seven million times in the 20th century alone.

“I was struck by the sheer profound, yet simple beauty of this song/recording”.

Sly & The Family Stone – Everyday People

'Everyday People' was the first single by the band to go to number one on the Soul singles chart and the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart. As with most of Sly & the Family Stone's songs, Sly Stone was credited as the sole songwriter.

Bassist Larry Graham contends that the track featured the first instance of the 'slap bass' technique, which would become a staple of funk and other genres.

“How a message song can be so melodically happy, accessible, soulful and wide-reaching.”

The Stylistics – Betcha By Golly, Wow

'Betcha By Golly, Wow' is a song written by Thom Bell and Linda Creed that was originally recorded by Connie Stevens as "Keep Growing Strong" on the Bell Records label in 1970, but the composition scored a hit when it was released by Philadelphia soul group The Stylistics in 1972.

It was the third track from their 1971 debut self-titled album and was released as a single in 1972, reaching #3 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart. It sold over one million copies globally, earning the band a gold disc.

“The Stylistics' 'Betcha By Golly, Wow' was the start of my appreciation for Thom Bell as a writer/producer/arranger, and for the whole Philly sound thing”.

The Four Tops – Reach Out I'll Be There

Written and produced by Motown's main production team Holland–Dozier–Holland, the song is one of the most well-known Motown tunes of the 1960s and is today considered The Tops' signature song. It was #1 on the R&B charts and on the Billboard Hot 100.

Rolling Stone included this on their list of 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

“The Four Tops just reached out and grabbed me POW!!!”

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