Baby Lloyd Stallworth facts for kids

Lloyd Eugene Stallworth (born April 15, 1941 – died October 27, 2002) was an American singer, songwriter, and dancer. He was also known as Baby Lloyd. He was a key member of the famous R&B group, The Famous Flames, from 1958 to 1967. This group was known for working with the legendary singer James Brown. Years after his death, in 2012, Lloyd Stallworth was honored. He was added to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of The Famous Flames.

Early Life and Joining The Famous Flames

Lloyd Stallworth was born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida in 1941. When he was 16, in 1957, he started working for James Brown. His job was to be Brown's valet and sometimes his driver. Lloyd's mother helped him get this job. She wanted to make sure he stayed out of trouble.

Becoming a Famous Flame

In 1957, the group James Brown and the Famous Flames was going through changes. Some members, like Bobby Byrd, had left. This was because James Brown was getting all the main credit. Over time, new members joined and left the group.

By 1958, James Brown had taken full control of The Famous Flames. Lloyd Stallworth was then asked to join the group. He was the youngest member, so he got the nickname Baby Lloyd. Other original members, Bobby Bennett and Johnny Terry, also rejoined. With James Brown, they formed the main lineup of The Famous Flames.

Music and Performances

Lloyd Stallworth sang with The Famous Flames on many popular songs. These included hits like "Bewildered", "I Don't Mind", and "Think". He also helped write James Brown's 1961 hit song, "Lost Someone".

The group recorded several albums together. One of their most famous was "Live at The Apollo" (1963). This album sold over a million copies! At first, the record company only put James Brown's name on it. But later, The Famous Flames were properly credited for their work. Other albums included Pure Dynamite! Live at the Royal and Think.

Solo Work and Movies

Besides singing with the group, Lloyd Stallworth also performed solo. He would open for James Brown's shows. He also released a few of his own songs. One of these was "I Need You" in 1960.

Lloyd Stallworth and The Famous Flames appeared in movies too. They were in the 1964 concert film The T.A.M.I. Show. They even performed so well that they impressed the headliners, The Rolling Stones! They also appeared in the movie Ski Party (1965). In 1966, they were on The Ed Sullivan Show on CBS.

Why Members Left

In 1966, James Brown and The Famous Flames were on The Ed Sullivan Show twice. Lloyd Stallworth was with the group for the first show. However, he left before the second one. The group members were paid a salary, but only James Brown got special billing and payment for these big shows. This caused problems within the group.

Bobby Bennett, another member, later said that members left because of money. He explained that James Brown wanted to keep most of the money for himself. By 1968, Bobby Byrd and Bobby Bennett had also left the group. This led to the end of The Famous Flames as a regular group.

Later Life and Recognition

After leaving The Famous Flames, Lloyd Stallworth worked for a short time in James Brown's office. Lloyd Stallworth passed away in 2002. He was 61 years old. His death was due to problems from diabetes.

In 2014, a movie about James Brown was released called "Get on Up". In this movie, a choreographer named Codie Wiggins played Lloyd "Baby Lloyd" Stallworth.

In 2020, Lloyd "Baby Lloyd" Stallworth received another big honor. He was inducted into the National Rhythm and Blues Hall of Fame. He was inducted along with other Famous Flames members like Bobby Byrd, Bobby Bennett, and Johnny Terry. This happened seven years after James Brown was inducted into the same Hall of Fame.