13 Facts About Gene McDaniels

Eugene Booker McDaniels was an American singer, producer and songwriter.

Gene McDaniels had his greatest recording success in the early 1960s, reaching number three on the US Billboard Hot 100 singles chart with "A Hundred Pounds of Clay" and number five with "Tower Of Strength", both hits in 1961.

Gene McDaniels had continued success as a songwriter with "Compared to What".

In California Gene McDaniels began singing in jazz clubs, achieving recognition with the Les McCann Trio, and came to the attention of Sy Waronker of Liberty Records.

Also in 1965, Gene McDaniels moved to Columbia Records, with little success, and in 1968, after the assassination of Dr Martin Luther King, he left the US to live in Denmark and Sweden where he concentrated on songwriting.

Gene McDaniels returned to the US in 1971 and recorded thereafter as Eugene McDaniels.

Gene McDaniels attained the top spot on the chart as a songwriter.

Gene McDaniels received a BMI award for outstanding radio airplay; at the time he was given the award, the song already had over five million plays.

In 2009, it was announced that Gene McDaniels was to release a new album, Evolution's Child, which featured his lyrics, and a number of songs composed or arranged with pianist Ted Brancato.

Gene McDaniels is briefly seen singing in the choir in the 1974 film Uptown Saturday Night.

Gene McDaniels was the original voice actor for "Nasus", a champion in the computer game League of Legends.

Gene McDaniels lived as a self-described "hermit" in the state of Maine.

Gene McDaniels died peacefully on July 29,2011, at his home, survived by his third wife and six children.