One of the great unknown songwriters/producers/arrangers in pop music history was Paul Leka. From his Connecticut studios, Leka appeared on literally 100s of recordings – maybe more. They ranged over the decades from the Lemon Piper’s classic “Green Tambourine” to working with Harry Chapin... as well as many, many more artists who made a single recording and disappeared.
Leka even tried his hand at pop gospel music during a time when soul music and the civil rights movement were big. He recorded a single song with the otherwise unknown Freedom Soul Singers for EPIC Records in 1971, “His Love Flows Through Me Like a River.” It’s a pleasant enough little upbeat number, fueled by a catchy kid’s chorus.
But if it sounds vaguely like another one-hit wonder from the era, Paul Leka was also the genius – or something – who created Steam’s immortal “Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye” ... and baseball fans at least will be forever grateful.
MUSIC: “His Love Flows Through Me Like a River” by the Freedom Soul Singers, 45
I’m Robert Darden … “Shout! Black Gospel Music Moments” is produced by KWBU, the Black Gospel Music Preservation Program at Baylor University Libraries and is funded by generous support from the Prichard Foundation.