John Whitehead (singer)

John Cavadus Whitehead (July 10, 1948 – May 11, 2004) was an American singer and songwriter. He was best known as one of the key members of the Philadelphia International record label, and was one-half of the successful team of McFadden & Whitehead with Gene McFadden.^[1]

McFadden and Whitehead wrote many hits for Philadelphia International artists, including The O'Jays and Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, and had their own hit with "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now" in 1979.^[2]

He was the father of both members of the Whitehead Brothers, a mid-1990s duo.

On May 11, 2004, Whitehead was fatally shot, possibly in a case of mistaken identity, while fixing a car outside his home in Philadelphia. Another man with him at the time suffered light injuries from the multiple shots fired by two gunmen, who fled the scene.^[3] As of 2022, the murder remains unsolved.^[4] Whitehead was 55 years old and had converted to Islam in 1996. He is buried in Mount Moriah Cemetery in Philadelphia.^[5]

• List of unsolved murders

• Whitehead gravesite at Mount Moriah Cemetery in Philadelphia
• Obituary at The Independent