(March 28, 2026) We’re sad to report that Philadephia soul legend Dexter Wansel is experiencing health problems, but his friends are rallying around him both on record and onstage.
First, on April 12, the show “Dexter Wansel & Friends celebrate MFSB and the Sound of Philadelphia” will hit the stage in London (read more here), featuring Philly greats Jean Carn and Shirley Jones of The Jones Girls and a 33 piece orchestra. Because of Dexter’s illness, McKinley Jackson has been brought in to help conduct the show.
And then Expansion Records is issuing the first ever 7” vinyl release of one of Dexter’s signature songs, 1979’s “The Sweetest Pain,” featuring Terri Wells on vocals, backed with “Theme From The Planets.” You can order the single here.
Dexter Wansel is known to some for his pioneering jazz and R&B influenced albums in the 70s including most notably Life on Mars and Voyager. His love of advanced technology and the fusion of rock, soul, dance and jazz led to a number of interesting pieces that drew for him a loyal following.
Wansel may been even more notable for the great contribution he quietly made to the “second act” of Gamble & Huff’s Philadelphia International Records label in the early 80s. His creative, luscious arrangements and strong production led to increasingly important projects within the organization, including albums by the Jacksons, Lou Rawls, Phyllis Hyman, Teddy Pendergrass and MFSB (the house band at PIR, for which Wansel served as conductor). And his songwriting may have been even better. Along with regular songwriting partner Cynthia Biggs, he penned numerous classic Soul songs ranging from “Nights Over Egypt” for the Jones Girls to the haunting “Hurry Up This Way Again” for the Stylistics.
By the early 80s, the consistency of Wansel’s compositions had arguably surpassed Gamble and Huff, and much of the best output of PIR during that decade was quietly anchored by gorgeous Wansel ballads like “I Really Need You Now” (sung by the O’Jays), “You’re Leaving” (the Stylistics) and perhaps his most revered composition, “If Only You Knew” (Patti LaBelle).
We last heard from Dexter in 2021, when he released the excellent, thematic album, The Story of the Flight Crew To Mars. Now we will be praying for his full recovery as well as the success of both projects.
by Chris Rizik
