Herbert McCracken, 75, soul singer

Services have been scheduled for Herbert Eugene McCracken, 75, a retired Philadelphia Streets Department worker who, as a soul singer under the name Herb Ward, recorded several singles in the 1960s.

A Requiem Mass will be said at 11 a.m. Friday, Feb. 15, at the African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas, 6361 Lancaster Ave.

Mr. McCracken died Monday, Dec. 24, of complications of emergency surgery at Chestnut Hill Hospital.

After a stint in the Marines, Mr. McCracken started his career as a rhythm and blues singer in 1963 recording for Buddy Records, a Philadelphia label. His first and most notable record was "Hands Off, She's Mine."

He recorded several other singles, including "Strange Change" in 1965, written by Kenny Gamble. He toured the East Coast during the late 1960s.

Mr. McCracken was born April 26, 1937, the only child of Eugene and Anna L. Reeder McCracken.

He was raised in North Philadelphia and Germantown and attended Germantown High School. Mr. McCracken served in the Marine Corps from 1954 through 1962.

He was married three times and had four children. He lived in the city's Mount Airy section.

In the 1970s, after his recording career, he began working for the Streets Department as a tractor-trailer driver. He retired in 1999.

Mr. McCracken gained an interest in music as a youth when he was recruited for a citywide boys choir, said his wife, Elizabeth.

About 2003, Mr. McCracken was pleased to learn that his recordings were again being played in England.

"They tried to get him to come over and tour Europe," his wife said. "He was very proud of that. After all those years, he was shocked."

In addition to his wife, Mr. McCracken is survived by sons Michael and Jeffrey, and daughters Charlene and Ellesia Black.