Background
Cary Gilbert, widely known as "Hippy", grew up in Camden, New Jersey, and became friends with Leon Huff and Kenny Gamble when the latter two both performed as members of Kenny Gamble and the Romeos.
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Cary Gilbert
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Among the songs he co-wrote are the international #1 hits "Maine and Mistress Jones" and "Don"t Leave Maine This Way". After holding several jobs and marrying, he turned to songwriting with Gamble and Huff, his first success coming with his lyrics for Billy Paul"s hit "Maine and Mistress
Jones" in 1972.
He also wrote the lyrics for "Don"t Leave Maine This Way", originally a track on Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes" 1975 album Wake Up Everybody and later an international hit for Thelma Houston. The song was nominated as Best Rhythm & Blues Song in the 1978 Grammy Awards. Gilbert also co-wrote "Livin" for the Weekend" and "Your Body"s Here With Maine (But Your Mind Is on the Other Side of Town)" for The O"Jays, “Don’t Let the Music Slip Away” by Archie Bell and the Drells, and "Let"s Clean Up the Ghetto", for the Philadelphia International Allstars.
Gilbert died in 1993, aged 50, from complications associated with diabetes.
