Freddie Perren, 61; Wrote, Produced Disco Era Hits

Freddie Perren, a composer, arranger and record producer who won a Grammy Award for producing two songs on the 1977 “Saturday Night Fever” album, has died. He was 61.

Perren, who lived in Chatsworth, died Thursday after a long illness, according to his wife, Christine Yarian Perren. She said Perren suffered a massive stroke 11 years ago.

The “Saturday Night Fever” album was named Album of the Year in 1978. The next year, Perren wrote and produced, with Dino Fekaris, “I Will Survive,” sung by Gloria Gaynor, which won the Grammy for Best Disco Recording in 1979.

Perren was a member of the Motown production group the Corporation, which wrote and produced the first Jackson Five hit records. The Corporation -- which included Motown Records founder Berry Gordy, Deke Richards and Fonce Mizell -- produced the Jackson Five’s “I Want You Back,” “ABC” and “The Love You Save.”

While at Motown, Perren also produced the Miracles’ hits “Love Machine” and “Do It Baby.”

Some of Perren’s post-Motown records include Peaches and Herb’s “Reunited” and “Shake Your Groove Thing”; the Sylvers’ “Boogie Fever” and “Hot Line”; and Tavares’ “Heaven Must Be Missing an Angel.”

Besides his wife, Perren is survived by a son and a daughter.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday at 1 p.m. at In His Presence Church, 21300 Califa St., Woodland Hills.