Michael Smerconish: Kenny Gamble's patriotic tune

MENTION the "Philadelphia sound" to any music fan, and they'll think "Love Train" by the O'Jays, "Me and Mrs. Jones" by Billy Paul or countless classics by Teddy Pendergrass.

Now, legendary producer Kenny Gamble, one half of the Philly team Gamble & Huff, which supplied us with so much of the soundtrack of our lives, is about to add another to his long list of credits:

"I Am An American."

That's the title of a song Gamble produced that's set to debut tomorrow night before an anticipated enormous crowd on hand for the conclusion of holiday fireworks over the Philadelphia skyline.

Gamble's been feted with plenty of honors, including a Grammy and induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. This time, he's looking to bestow an honor - namely on America - by releasing a patriotic song 20 years in the making.

This week, he told me about his motivation.

The Philly legend said that, like with many other of his works, the inspiration came when he was least expecting it. He found the sound when he heard it sung at a peace mission in South Philly back in the '80s.

Gamble had gone in search of a photo of Father Divine, the spiritual leader who founded the International Peace Mission movement.

He intended it to be one of many he would hang in his office. He was told to return a few days later so a framed one could be presented to him. On his return, he heard followers of Father Divine singing a patriotic song around the dinner table.

The music impresario who has worked with the best in his business loved the song he heard.

"I said, 'Wow, this is a great concept, because so many people - especially today - they are so down on America . . . I would really like to do that song one day." An effort to record the song fell through in the mid-'80s, but Gamble always had it in the back of his mind

and hoped one day to give it his own treatment.

While being honored at the Kimmel Center in 2004 for his service to the community, Gamble was stirred to revisit the project. The sounds of the Temple University Orchestra and Choir, which performed at the event, were the sources of his inspiration.

Finally, in 2006, Gamble brought the Temple students and the folks from the peace mission together, and they recorded a live version of the song at the Kimmel Center.

The song had all the makings of a truly Philly product: the Philly production team, the Philly musicians, the Philly recording location, but the Philly voice was still missing.

For Gamble, Patti LaBelle came immediately to mind, but the Philadelphia diva was reluctant at first: "It's not the usual for her, but I finally convinced her to do it, and today she's really happy she did it, because I believe this is a classic."

Indeed, 20 years of contemplation in the head of this musical mastermind and the combination of Philly talent has produced one for the ages.

But it's not typical Gamble & Huff. No, it's more John Philip Sousa, infused with excerpts from some of our nation's most famous speeches and documents, often in Gamble's deep reflective tone, as well as using the uplifting sounds of the Temple University Orchestra and Choir. United with LaBelle's soulful voice, the song is bound to become a patriotic favorite.

GAMBLE IS hoping that tomorrow, on July Fourth, patriots will visit iTunes and download "I Am An American" in time to celebrate the nation's birth.

"I am calling it a new song for America. It's a salute to America that we should be proud to be Americans and that America really needs us today. This is when the people of America . . . have to uphold America right now."

He's right. With the heat of the summer election cycle bearing down on us, tempting us to polarize on every issue under the sun, we sometimes lose sight of the fact that, despite our differences and disagreements, we're all Americans at the end of the day. The lyrics of Gamble's song highlight this theme of diversity:

I'm every race, creed and color.

I'm every nationality.

I live in every city of every state, in every community.

And if you're proud to be an American, let the world know.

Come and sing along with me. *

Listen to Michael Smerconish weekdays 5-9 a.m. on the Big Talker, 1210/AM. Read him Sundays in the

Inquirer. Contact him via the Web at www.mastalk.com.