Home / Arts and Entertainment / Sound of Philadelphia Architect Dexter Wansel Passes
Sound of Philadelphia Architect Dexter Wansel Passes
3 Jun
Summary
- Dexter Wansel, pioneer of alternative R&B, died Sunday at 75.
- He was a key songwriter and producer for Philadelphia International Records.
- Wansel's work influenced hip-hop artists and his son Andrew Wansel is also a producer.
Dexter Wansel, an influential architect of the "Sound of Philadelphia" and a trailblazer in alternative R&B, passed away on Sunday at the age of 75. A native of Philadelphia, Wansel's musical journey began early, working at the Uptown Theater and later at the renowned Sigma Sound Studios.
His distinctive synthesizer and symphonic keyboard sounds captivated Gamble & Huff, leading to his tenure at Philadelphia International Records. As an artist and in-house talent, Wansel released seminal albums like "Life on Mars" (1976) and contributed to the signature sound of artists such as The Jacksons and The Jones Girls.
Beyond his own recordings, Wansel's songwriting partnership with Cynthia Biggs yielded massive hits, including Patti LaBelle's "If Only You Knew." His innovative work was later sampled by prominent hip-hop artists. He is survived by his son, Andrew "Pop" Wansel, a Grammy-nominated producer.
