Vinnie Barrett
Vinnie Barrett (born Gwendolyn H. Woolfolk) is an American songwriter and musician, from Washington, DC.
Career
Gwen graduated from "Armstrong High School" in Washington, DC. She studied music at Howard University and The University of the District of Columbia. She started the singing group: Vinnie Barrett and the Unlimits in local clubs (Washington D.C.) and with the Flowerettes, Back up Group for Phil Flowers. Syreeta Wright, Valerie Simpson, Diane Warren and Carly Simon were her inspiration for becoming a songwriter. She started writing music at the age of 19 years.
Vinnie went to Philadelphia in 1969 where she was privileged to work with Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff and Thom Bell (Philadelphia International Records). She wrote her first solo written song: Just Can't Get you Out Of My Mind with Thom Bell, in the album called The Spinners.
She wrote popular songs such as, Just Don't Want to Be Lonely (Ronnie Dyson), Sideshow and Three Ring Circus performed both by Blue Magic, Love Won't Let Me Wait performed by Luther Vandross, Major Harris, and other artists (Number 1 record on the Billboard R&B Music Charts), Just as Long As We Have Love performed by Dionne Warwick, and several other artists. Vinnie was listed in "Who's Who for Songwriting."
Awards
Vinnie won 5 Gold and 4 Platinum records; 4 Gold Albums and a Diamond album (10,000,000) by Super Artist,"Shaggy". Vinnie received an AFTRA award in 1975; Best Rhythm and Blues award for "LOVE WON'T LET ME WAIT"; 7 Broadcast Music Inc, awards for airplay; The BMI Millionaires award for "Love won't let me wait" (1,000,000 airplays for songwriter). The BMI Millionaires award for "SIDESHOW" (1,000,000 airplays for songwriter). The BMI Millionaires award for "SIDESHOW" (1,000,000 airplays for PUBLISHER)
RIAA Certified Platinum Video Award "Luther Vandross, "Live at Wembley" Platinum Album, CD, Cassette for "Luther Vandross, " The best of Love" Platinum Album, CD, Cassette for "Luther Vandross", "Any Love" RIAA Certified Gold Album for "SPINNERS", "Pick of the Litter"
She also was nominated for 2 Grammy awards by "Love Won't let Me Wait" and "Sideshow".
Her last hit song of the late 90's was a song called "Tranquility" performed by Al Johnson.
Singles
Columbia records
- One Man Band (LP) Just Don't Want To Be (1973)
Atlantic records
- The Detroit Spinners (LP, Album) Just Can't Get You Out (1973)
- After Loving You / Love Won't Let Me Wait (7", Single) Love Won't Let Me Wait (1974)
- Love Won't Let Me Wait / After Loving You (7", Single) Love Won't Let Me Wait (1974)
- My Way (LP) Love Won't Let Me Wait (1974)
- Then Came You (7", Single) Just As Long As We Have Love (1974)
- RIAA Certified Platinum Video Award "Luther Vandross, "Live at Wembley"
- Platinum Album, CD, Cassette for "Luther Vandross, " The best of Love"
- Platinum Album, CD, Cassette for "Luther Vandross", "Any Love"
- RIAA Certified Gold Album for "SPINNERS", "Pick of the Litter"
Cheri records
- Brooklyn Express / Just Don't Want To Be Lonely (7") Just Don't Want To Be (1974)
ATCO records
- The Magic of the Blue (LP, Album) Three Ring Circus, You (1974)
- Grateful / I Like You (7", Single) Grateful (1976)
WEA Musik GmbH
- The Magic of the Blue (LP, Album, Promo) Three Ring Circus, You (1974)
RCA Victor
- The Choice 4 (LP) Hook It Up, Is It Love (1975)
- Just Don't Want To Be Lonely (12") (1987)
MGM records
- The Ultimate Musical Experience (LP, Album) Telling It Like It Is (1975)
CBS
- With All My Love (LP, Album, Gat) Just As Long As We Have (1980)
- Love Attack (CD, Album) Love Won't Let Me Wait CBS Schallplatten GmbH (1988)
On-U Sound
- Aiming at Your Heart (12") Just As Long As We Hav (1983)
Casablanca records
- Casablanca Dance Classics (Street Edition) (12") Let's Go All The Way (1986)
Germain records
- Just Don't Want To Be Lonely (12") (1987)
Rhino records
- Soul Hits of The '70s – Didn't It Blow Your Mind Vol. 15 Love Won't Let Me Wait (1991).
- Can You Dig It? The '70s Soul Experience (Box + 6xCD, Comp, RM) Sideshow, Love Won't L (2001).
Frituna
Reggae 92 (Cass, Dol) Side Show, Just Don't (1992)
Jimco records
- Love Songs (CD, Album) Love Won't Let Me Wait (1993).
Disky
- Reggae Fieber (2xCD, Comp) Sideshow (1997).
Jive records
- Chris Brown (CD, Album) Young Love (2005).
Edsel records
- Life on Mars / What The World Is Coming To (CD) Together Once Again (2005)
Collectables
- The Magic of the Blue (CD) Three Ring Circus, You (2006)
Song Titles
- Meantime Barrett, Vinnie (Ca), Bobby Eli, Keith Thomas, Benjamin "Bebe" Winans.
- Sideshow Eli, Bobby (Ca)/ Barrett, Vinnie (Ca)
- Bulls Eye Barrett, Vinnie (Ca)/ Eli, Bobby (Ca)/ West, Kanye Omari (Ca)/ Johnson, Syleena (Ca)
- U Turn Me Barrett, Vinnie (Ca), Wayne Alexander, Byron Stingily, Andrew Livingstone, Peter Chalcraft
- Young Love Barrett, Vinnie (Ca)/ Eli, Bobby (Ca)/ Hilson, Keri (Ca)/ Thomas, Damon (Ca)/ Mason, Harvey (Ca)/ Que, J. (Ca)/ Dixon, Antonio (Ca)
- Lady in Red Barrett, Vinnie (Ca)/ Harris, Norman Ray (Ca)
- Lonely Lover Orville Burrell, James Harris Iii, And Terry Lewis, Barrett, Vinnie (Ca), Bobby Eli, John Freeman.
- Playing Game Eli, Bobby (Ca)/ Barrett, Vinnie (Ca)/ Holmes, Cecilia (Ca)/ Kent, Clark (Ca)
- Man And Woman Barrett, Vinnie (Ca), Bobby Eli
- Leave Me Alone Barrett, Vinnie (Ca), Bobby Eli
- Sweet Tomorrow Eli, Bobby (Ca)/ Barrett, Vinnie (Ca)
- Not Like It Was Barrett, Vinnie (Ca)/ Eli, Bobby (Ca)
- Paradise (Life) Barrett, Vinnie (Ca), Bruce Hawes (Ca), Robert Miller (Ca), Anthony Cruz (Ca)
- Just A Little Bit Barrett, Vinnie (Ca)/ Freeman, John (Ca)/ Eli, Bobby (Ca)/ Lyon, Andre (Ca)/ Valenzano, Marcello (Ca)/ Milian, Christina (Ca)
- Talking To Myself Eli, Bobby (Ca)/ Barrett, Vinnie (Ca)
- Three Ring Circus Barrett, Vinnie (Ca)/ Eli, Bobby (Ca)
- Got To Get You Back Barrett, Vinnie (Ca)/ Eli, Bobby (Ca)
- Don't Cross The Line Barrett, Vinnie (Ca)/ Eli, Bobby (Ca)
- Let's Go All The Way Barrett, Vinnie (Ca), Bobby Eli
- The Cold, Cold Walls Barrett, Vinnie (Ca), Cary Gilbert, Von Gray
- Save Your Love For Me Barrett, Vinnie (Ca), Bobby Eli
- Telling It Like It Is Barrett, Vinnie (Ca), Bobby Eli
- Love Won't Let Me Wait Barrett, Vinnie (Ca)/ Eli, Bobby (Ca)
- A Plain Simple Love Song Barrett, Vinnie (Ca)/ Hooker, Frank Ruppert (Ca) *
- Walkin' In The Footsteps Barrett, Vinnie (Ca), Bobby Eli
- Just Don't Want To Be Lonely Barrett, Vinnie (Ca), Bobby Eli, John Freeman
- Who Knew My Luck Would Change Barrett, Vinnie (Ca)/ Eli, Bobby (Ca)
- Love Is Just Around The Corner Bobby Eli, Barrett, Vinnie (Ca)
- To Get Love You Must Give Love Barrett, Vinnie (Ca), Bobby Eli
- Just Can't Get You Out of My Mind Barrett, Vinnie (Ca)
- You Won't Have To Tell Me Gooodbye Harris, Norman Ray (Ca)/ Barrett, Vinnie (Ca)/ Hendricks, James Edward (Ca)
External links
References
- Barrett Branches by Ruby Simonson McNeill
- A House on Fire: The Rise and Fall of Philadelphia Soul by John A. Jackson, 2004, 338 pages, in Page 176.
- Hit Records, 1950–1975: 1950–1975 by David F. Lonergan, 2005, 327 pages, in page 227.
- The Great Song Thesaurus by Roger Lax, Frederick Smith, 1989, 774 pages, in page 310.
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