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Top soul songwriter dead at 74

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Published: Aug. 17, 2003 at 6:57 PM

SAN BERNADINO, Calif., Aug. 17 (UPI) -- Singer, songwriter and producer Ed Townsend, best known for the 1958 hit "For Your Love," has died at age 74.

Townsend died at a San Bernardino, Calif., hospital of heart failure on Wednesday, The Los Angeles Times reported Sunday.

Townsend penned more than 200 songs, including "Let's Get It On," with Marvin Gaye.

Townsend sang "For Your Love" on American Bandstand in 1958.

"He had a very rich baritone voice and (the record) struck a responsive chord with anybody who was in love," Bandstand host Dick Clark told the Times.

Townsend was born April 16, 1929, in Fayetteville, Tenn.. He often performed in his minister-father's African Methodist Episcopal Church.

After graduating from Arkansas State College and teaching for a brief period, Townsend joined the Marine Corps and served two years in Korea.

He moved to Los Angeles in the mid-1950s and began his recording career.

Topics: Dick Clark, Marvin Gaye
© 2003 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Any reproduction, republication, redistribution and/or modification of any UPI content is expressly prohibited without UPI's prior written consent.

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