Songwriter and singer Ed Townsend was born in Fayetteville, Tennessee in 1929. Growing up he was very active in his minister father’s church. He graduated from Arkansas State University before enlisting in the Marines.

He served in Korea and earned a purple heart, rising to the rank of Cpl. 

Most famous for writing the legendary song “Let’s Get It On” performed by Marvin Gaye, he also heavily contributing to the first half of the album of the same name. Rolling Stone Magazine ranks the album in the top 10 of all soul albums. 

In contrast it’s sexual theme, Townsend said the inspiration for the song came from his drive to “live life” and overcome his alcohol addiction. 
"It was about the business of life - life is life and let's get on with it," he said.
The song’s second verse is:
“We're all sensitive people
With so much to give
Understand me, sugar
Since we've got to be here
Let's live
I love you.”

Townsend had his own hit with “For Your Love” which reached #13 in 1958 (He performed it on the Ed Sullivan Show). 
In all, he wrote over 200 songs. Some were performed by Nat King Cole and Etta James.

In 1990 he started his recovery at the Los Angeles Salvation Army Center and spent the rest of his life helping others recover. In 2001 he set up a charity, EBT New Life Inc. and founded 12 Step Records. 

He died August 13, 2003 at the age of 74. He left a wife and four children. 

Edward B Townsend with Me at our first big show at Hollywood Park Casino. Dick Clark was MC. 

Townsend's columbarium niche. It says "Let's get it on" along with his birth/death year, rank

A picture of Townsend early in his career. It's black and white and he's wearing a suit

Townsend's first album. He's in a white shirt, tie, black vest and a grey fedora hat

The cover to Townsend's album "new in town" it's a painting with him in front, art deco club behind

Townsend album cover "Now" he's coming out of a limo and a man holds the door.

Riverside National Cemetery

NCA Notable Person -- Edward Benjamin Townsend.pdf

edward benjamin townsend's Profile Picture

Edward B. Townsend aka Big Papa was one of the most important people I have ever been blessed to collaborate with in his created for big time, "Rehabilitation: Been There! Done That" for five years. He featured me in the orchestra and later as a lead character. We helped many people change their lives. He had such a powerful message. 

Working with him and the EBT New Life Foundation, he clearly was a genius in so many ways, and had the kindest heart. His character was so very gracious and he treated me and my two children like family. He and my son, as well as Abdul Jabaar share the same birthday. 

He really cared about helping families with an inspirational show about getting up off the ground and doing something better for yourself after he had been through his own problems.  

His ability to write simple songs that sound and mean so much, is truly remarkable. He loved my English horn playing and added me on,  "I Had Love Once" on the Album of the musical at the last minute. 

The show rehearsed regularly at John Raitt Theater, and recorded at his studio suite on Hollywood Blvd. at Cahuenga. He had been on the 8th floor at Hollywood and Vine when I first went to meet him. He produced so many phenomenal artists, his admiration for my playing was what I needed and so for five years, I volunteered in the show to inspire, and empower others while keeping ourselves from poor choices and a clear focus, trusting in God and holding us all together. 

He loved his country and took true interest in our lives. He was the greatest leader and was well loved by many! His voice, his gentleness, his true interest in us. He loved having food and made sure everyone was fed and quenched with children served first after the prayer. 

We loved visiting his lovely condo in North Hollywood, CA. He worked tirelessly for years to make his greatest comeback and to leave an even greater legacy than he already had. 

The show was so clever, he was truly brilliant. It was refreshing to be able to be a part of such an inspirational show and his relationship with God that helped bring him back to a clean and purposeful mission to help others through his final masterpiece.  

I performed at the repass with his sons. His funeral was so beautiful with gun salute at Riverside Memorial Cemetery.  
His appreciation was exceptional and he introduced me to so many top artists and promoted me with fidelity and genuine pride. 

His transition to join the ancestors shocked us all. He loved what he was doing and seemed unstoppable. He was a true life saver to so many people along the was. Everyone was family, he truly was Big Papa to us all! 

We helped bring out the recording industry and we honored his lifetime achievement with his closest people to celebrate the man and his music It was legendary and everything was documented. His sister has the recordings, last I heard. Sadly, his son David died only a few years after his dad. His memorial was in Inglewood, CA. David was absolutely the BEST son to his dad. Such talented performers. 

He proved how important Outreach is. He told of his Chaplain from Salvation Army had enticed him out of the cardboard box he slept in on Skid Row. 
He had resisted so many ti.es but finally found God, again. The play was slightly different each show depending on the venue, purpose and special featured artists. 

It was a real commitment and he wanted us to take it seriously and come prepared  for his revisions and meetings. He took a group to Washington, DC to perform! I love the video of him singing for your love at a Tribute to Doo Wop. 

In addition to saving his fellow comrades with a purple heart, he continued his salvation after his recovery. My last album is titled, "Tribute for Salvation" and includes a solo he had me perform in the show but is not on the cast album at the top of my cover of Bob Marley's "Coming In From the Cold". He was such a huge fan of my albums and would call his friends to tell them about me and put me on speakerphone. 

    Ed was humble, he commanded respect and knew how to resolve conflicts and keep us motivated and inspired every encounter. His songs are each masterpieces, he wrote for others and never wanted to sing them himself.  Dick Clark, Ed Sullivan, and some others featured him. 

      HB Barnum (Aretha Franklin's Band Leader) cleared his schedule and conducted the Jazz Orchestra to accompany the greatest on his show at Hollywood Park Casino. What a comeback he MADE! A model for all on self-love and service. 

One of my favorites he recorded, "Don't Ever Leave Me", also "For Your Love", and his masterful musical. I made videos for each song from the cast album of his .musical, "Rehabilitation: Been There! Done That!" .... 'it's not he who falls that fails, but he who falls and fails to RISE again, and again." 

Upon his last wishes, he encouraged us to support Salvation Army and the power of rehabilitation of anyone and how he could turn his life around from those deepest dark places where all faith was abandoned. Winners never quit and Quitters never win! He also e amplified the power of his songs, "Let's Get It On" that he and .Marvin Gaye wrote together, his son Michael sang in the review. 

Ed shared that hardest was returning to normalcy after addictions and that the song enabled former users to enjoy private encounters usually enhanced with drugs or liquor of a bad partnership and that the song could help them get over that disabling effect of recovery on the libiddo and added a scene with a dancer doing a lapdance number to the song of the century! 

The message was clear and is worthy for all walks of life and his dream was to help others to a clean and productive life, regaining titles of father, brother, mother, Sister, lost in addiction. He used every style and incorporated us all with our true life testimonies. "It takes 12 Steps to get it together ... 12 steps!!! 
For Your Love, I would do anything! 
Love alone, Maestro Purple Heart 


EDWARD BENJAMIN TOWNSEND

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