# Linda Creed

Linda Diane Creed (December 6, 1948 – April 10, 1986), also known by her married name Linda Epstein, was an American songwriter, lyricist, background singer and record producer who teamed up with Thom Bell to produce some of the most successful Philadelphia soul groups of the 1970s.

## Career

Linda Diane Creed was born on December 6, 1948, in the Mount Airy section of Philadelphia to a Jewish family. Creed was active in music at Germantown High School. During her high school years, she was fronting her own band, Raw Soul, which made frequent appearances at the Philadelphia Athletic Club and at Sid Booker's Highline Lounge.
After graduation, Creed left Philadelphia for New York, where she became a secretary at Mills Music, Inc. She also utilized the time to develop her skills as a lyricist, but after eight months of little success, and feeling defeated, she returned to her hometown, which later became the inspiration for the song "I'm Coming Home". Her career was launched in 1970 when singer Dusty Springfield recorded her song "Free Girl". That same year, Creed teamed with Bell, a staff writer, producer, and arranger at Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff's record label Philadelphia International Records.
Their first songwriting collaboration, "Stop, Look, Listen (To Your Heart)", became a Top 40 pop hit for the Stylistics, beginning an extended collaboration that also yielded the group's most successful recordings, including "You Are Everything", "Betcha by Golly, Wow", "Break Up to Make Up", "People Make the World Go Round", "You Make Me Feel Brand New", and "I'm Stone in Love with You" (the latter with Thom's brother Tony). Creed and Bell also paired on a number of hits for the Spinners, including "Ghetto Child" and "The Rubberband Man".
Linda Creed also provided background vocals, including on "I'll Be Around", "Could It Be I'm Falling in Love", "Mighty Love" and "One of a Kind (Love Affair)" by the Spinners and on the first three Stylistics' albums.

## Death

Though diagnosed with breast cancer at 26, Creed continued working, teaming with composer Michael Masser and writing the lyrics to the song "The Greatest Love of All", the main theme of the film The Greatest, a biopic of the great boxer Muhammad Ali, launched in 1977. The song was originally recorded by George Benson and released as a single in 1977, becoming a big hit, peaked at #2 on the R&B chart. The lyrics of the song were written in the midst of her struggle with breast cancer. The words describe her feelings about coping with great challenges that one must face in life, being strong during those challenges whether you succeed or fail, and passing that strength on to children to carry with them into their adult lives. In December 1984, the song was recorded by Whitney Houston for her 1985 self-titled debut album and it would top the charts in May 1986. Weeks before Houston reached number one, Creed died of breast cancer on April 10, 1986, at age 37.
The following year, her family and friends established the Linda Creed Breast Cancer Organization in her honor, and it serves women in Pennsylvania and the surrounding counties.
In 1992, she was posthumously inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

## Selected songwriting credits

This is a partial list of songs written by Linda Creed.
* "The Greatest Love of All" – originally recorded in 1977 by George Benson; later covered by Whitney Houston.
* "Stop, Look, Listen (To Your Heart)" – originally recorded by The Stylistics; also covered by Diana Ross and Marvin Gaye.
* "You Are Everything" – originally recorded by The Stylistics; later covered by Diana Ross and Marvin Gaye.
* "Betcha by Golly, Wow" – originally recorded by Connie Stevens as "Keep Growing Strong", later made famous by The Stylistics, later covered by Phyllis Hyman and Prince.
* "People Make the World Go Round" – originally recorded by The Stylistics; later covered by Angela Bofill and Michael Jackson.
* "I'm Stone in Love with You" – The Stylistics.
* "Break Up to Make Up" – The Stylistics.
* "Rockin' Roll Baby" – The Stylistics.
* "You Make Me Feel Brand New" – originally recorded by The Stylistics, later recorded by Roberta Flack.
* "Ghetto Child" – The Spinners.
* "I'm Coming Home" – originally recorded by Johnny Mathis, later covered by The Spinners.
* "Life Is a Song Worth Singing" – originally recorded by Johnny Mathis, later covered by Teddy Pendergrass.
* "I Don't Want to Lose You" – The Spinners.
* "The Rubberband Man" – The Spinners.
* "Old Friend" – Phyllis Hyman.
* "Half Crazy" – Johnny Gill.
* "Hold Me" – Teddy Pendergrass (duet with Whitney Houston).
* "You Are the Love of My Life" – George Benson (duet with Roberta Flack).
* "Help Me Find a Way (To Say I Love You) – Little Anthony & The Imperials.
* "If I Love You"- originally recorded by Little Anthony & The Imperials, later covered by The Stylistics.