Who Was Gene Griffin? Gene Griffin was a famous Music Industry Executive who was behind many hit songs.
Griffin died May 25th, 2009 from early-onset Alzheimers but one of the commenters states he thinks Griffin died of Karma (see comments). We knew a few people who actually knew Gene and his reputation certainly proceeded him. But was he as bad as they say he was? The comments on this story prompted me to update this story. While there are only a few comments, the people making them appear to have industry connections. Have the things that people have said about him been fair considering his major contributions to the music industry?
Timmy Gatling was said to not trust Gene early on which ended his membership in the group and he was replaced by Aaron’s brother Damion Hall. There was an industry story that Teddy was so pissed at Gene that he allegedly physically attacked him at a dinner at a Jack the Rapper industry conference. Gene came and went and while he worked with several groups after Guy he wasn’t in the forefront as much.
Gene’s company was G.R. Productions (Gene-Riley Productions) which included music by Guy, Wrecks N Effect, Keith Sweat, Bobby Brown, Boy George, Heavy D and more throughout the late 1980s
His first major success in music was long before Guy and on his Sounds of New York label was the late-era disco track, “Last Night A DJ Saved My Life,” by InDeep. After that success, Gene then turned his attention to Kids At Work, the group that featured Teddy Riley which would later morph into Guy (it featured future one-time Guy member Timmy Gatlin and Clurel Henderson).
It has been said that Griffin played a major role in Teddy Riley’s early success, instilling the discipline and financial support needed to cultivate Teddy’s undeniable musical genius. Gene suffered a horrendous reputation for the latter part of his career and literally disappeared for almost 2 decades. Gene was 65 when he died. Teddy Riley talked about being so broke after working with Griffin he had to move back to the projects AFTER his success. See this telling Breakfast Club video. Whether Gene was directly responsible for Teddy’s financial demise is up in the air. In addition, check out the comments where Gene obviously had some friends and some hardcore enemies. We’re pretty sure the some of the people in the comments have worked with Griffin.
HEY MAN, YOUR STORY SUCKS!!! YOU DON’T EVEN MENTION THE FACT THAT GENE GRIFFIN TOOK COPYRIGHT CREDIT FOR WRITING ‘MY PREROGATIVE’, “JUST GOT PAID” ,AND “GROOVE ME”…AND DIDN’T WRITE SHIT….THEN THE YOUNG BOYS HAD TO SUE THEIR OWN PARTNER GRIFFIN TO GET THEIR MONEY AND THEY GOT RIPPED OFF FROM THAT. HE WAS A HORRIBLE DUDE WHO MADE MONEY RIPPING PEOPLE OFF…….HE DIED OF BAD KARMA, NOT ALZHEIMERS…
later for all the bad shit ya’ll say about Gene. I did some work with him and some of his artist. None of those artists would of made it the way they did with out him. Gene used his resources and finances to make Guy the number one group in America at the time. After that they could do whatever they wanted, like they did. Not such a bad deal…….
If your in the music business you know how hard that is. Think about it.
And for the record Gene was a hell of a writer, don’t get it twisted.
Zeno’s album was off the hook. All lyrics written by Gene Griffin.
Everybody mad at him because he was a business man…please.
God Bless him and his family………
damn, man. RIP, my man gene… and dont forget that he discovered e produced a bif band, BASIC BLACKS (1990).. I LOVE HIS PRODUCTION,,,… we (NJS lovers) will love gene FOR EVER, BECAUSE WE KNOW WHAT HE DID FOR THE MUSIC… bad new this,
Just because he made many acts doesn’t give him the right to rip them off. thats the reason TR dissed & dismissed him. They say never speak ill of the dead. I say speak the truth whether good or bad. I agree with garfield. There’s a reason why he didn’t do a whole lot after guy. Word gets around.
RIP IN PEACE GENE we had good times together on DC has been Neighbors since you had that red Mustang that you making all that noise come up my street you will be missed I wish we had a little more time video that you made for me was called player we didn’t get the chance to do that video and also to my main man Teddy Riley kind of disappointed in you that you didn’t give me credit when you first came out when you was in DC when me and you first meet in my alley behind Gene’s and Donna house and in that convertible white little rabbit car of yours LOL making all that damn noise from your car LOL cuz and you didn’t give me a a shout-out at your Awards but but you gave my neighbor Donna a shout-out but you forgot all about me Carlos Gene Griffin main man and his neighbor me man help you promote your first album in DC Ridin different clubs to help you promote your first album but I ain’t mad at you you just forgot about me at that moment but it was good experience plus real fun we had together your family Carlos the fast talker LOL PS I talk better than Earl whole though LOL miss you always got place in my heart for you cuz