T. Life -

T. Life is an American soul singer from Philadelphia, best known for his 1981 dance single “Somethin’ That You Do to Me (Keeps Turning Me On)” and his production of the 1978 Evelyn “Champagne” King hit “Shame.” He made the 1978 RCA album That’s Life, followed by the 1981 Arista release Somethin’ That You Do to Me.

Background

Theodore Life Jr., known professionally as T. Life, played guitar with the Butlers, the Philadelphia group led by Frankie Beverly, by the late 1960s. Beverly recast the group as Raw Soul around 1970. Life entered the Gamble-Huff songwriting operation by 1972, when the Intruders released the Life–Talmadge Conway–Phil Terry composition “Memories Are Here to Stay” on Gamble.

Life played guitar and sang with Spiritual Concept, which released a self-titled album on Philadelphia International in 1973. Life and keyboardist T.G. Conway produced the album, and Gamble and Huff listed Life among their writers, producers, and arrangers by the end of the year. Life also wrote for The Ebonys and played guitar on Philadelphia sessions with Bunny Sigler and Instant Funk.

Life became president of Philly Spectrum Records in 1976 alongside chairman Ernie Pep and secretary-treasurer Jonathan Black. Life and his partners secured a production agreement with Buddah for the new label. In 1977, Life and A. Gravatt formed Life’s Galaxy Productions in Philadelphia and secured an RCA contract for Evelyn “Champagne” King. Life produced Smooth Talk, the debut album by King, with the 1978 hit “Shame.” By July 1978, RCA advertised Life as a solo recording artist and prepared his debut album, That’s Life.

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