Carl Gamble | Brother music producer Kenny Gamble, 65

By Robert Moran, Inquirer Staff Writer

Posted: September 08, 2012

Carl Gamble, 65, of East Mount Airy, brother of famed Philadelphia music producer Kenny Gamble, died Sunday, Aug. 26, at his home after a long battle with cancer.

Mr. Gamble worked as head of security for his brother's label, Philadelphia International Records, and wrote several songs, including "We All Got a Mission" and "False Faces" for the singer Billy Paul.

Known as "Beans," Mr. Gamble was described by his family as a great teller of jokes and stories.

"He was my brother, my friend, and he will really be missed," said Kenny Gamble, founder of Universal Cos., a community activist organization. "That was my main man there."

Mr. Gamble was born in Philadelphia and grew up in South Philadelphia with his brothers Kenneth and Charles.

He attended West Philadelphia High School, where he was a star runner and competed in the Penn Relays.

After leaving high school, he served in the Army as a paratrooper in Vietnam.

Mr. Gamble later worked at Kenny Gamble's record shop at Broad and South Streets. While employed by the record company, he traveled the country with him.

He also wrote the song "(You're the One) Someone Special" for the Futures, a Philadelphia group.

In addition to his brothers, Mr. Gamble is survived by sons Tony, Karl, and Desmond; daughters Lisa, Tanya, Crystal, and Mattie; 30 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Services will be private.

Contact Robert Moran at 215-854-5983 or bmoran@phillynews.com, or follow @RobertMoran215 on Twitter.