One of the lesser-known songwriting/producing teams of their time, Rodney G. Massey (b. Jan. 5, 1953) and Lawrence Hanks (b. 1955) met up as teenagers; they gradually formed a friendship that ultimately resulted in a creative union. In the late '60s, the duo was tutored by the likes of Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff and Jerry "Iceman" Butler. To establish their own niche in the industry, the pair set out to write songs for various artists. By the early seventies, the Chicago natives had produced and written songs for well-known R&B acts.