Cary Gilbert

Lyricist Cary Grant Gilbert, aka Hippy, grew up in Camden, NJ, and was friends with Leon Huff before Huff blew up with Philadelphia International records. He would help Huff get his electric piano in his car after gigs. This occurred when Huff played keyboards with Kenny Gamble & the Romeos -- the two grew up together in Camden. The glib, full-framed songwriter gave up married life for music. Before music, he worked two jobs, and his wife worked nine to five at city hall. A prolific lyricist, Hippy not only collaborated with Gamble and Huff, but other Philly stalwarts benefited from his witty, streetwise lyrics. R&B and pop giants recorded Hippy's songs; some notables are: the O'Jays, Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, Billy Paul, Lou Rawls, People's Choice, the Intruders, and Archie Bell & the Drells. The songs are legendary: "Your Body's Here With Me (But Your Mind Is on the Other Side of Town)," "Living for the Weekend," "Be for Real," and "Let's Clean Up the Ghetto," for starters. Plus two megahits: "Don't Leave Me This Way" and the R&B classic "Me and Mrs. Jones." Both surpassed the million mark in performances by Broadcast Music Incorporated. Discussing how he writes songs, Hippy once said, "you just exchange ideas."