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Harvey Fuqua

 


Harvey Fuqua | Soul Sides | Public Domain | Michael Ochs Archives/Getty | tc017

Harvey Fuqua was born in Louisville, Kentucky, on July 27, 1929.  He founded the seminal Moonglows, helped build up the Chess label then helped build the Motown label, helped Marvin Gaye get established; he was the nephew of Charlie Fuqua of The Ink Spots and was the uncle of film director Antoine Fuqua.

While at Chess he recorded duets with Etta James, having hits with “If I Can’t Have You” and “Spoonful”.


Harvey Fuqua, centre, with the Moonglows, including Marvin Gaye, second left, in 1959 | Guardian | tc021

Mr Fuqua also became a trustee of the Rhythm and Blues Foundation, set up to provide some of the music’s pioneering figures with the financial rewards they were due.

Harvey Fuqua died in Detroit, Michigan, on July 6, 2010 of a heart attack.

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