Ivory Joe Hunter facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ivory Joe Hunter
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| Background information | |
| Also known as | The Baron of the Boogie The Happiest Man Alive |
| Born | October 10, 1914 Kirbyville, Texas, United States |
| Died | November 8, 1974 (aged 60) Memphis, Tennessee, United States |
| Genres | R&B, blues, boogie-woogie, country |
| Occupations | Singer-songwriter |
| Instruments | Piano |
| Years active | 1933–1974 |
Ivory Joe Hunter (born October 10, 1914 – died November 8, 1974) was a talented American singer, songwriter, and pianist. He was famous for his rhythm-and-blues (R&B) music, but he also played blues, boogie-woogie, and country music. People called him The Baron of the Boogie and The Happiest Man Alive. He even achieved something special: he was honored at both the Monterey Jazz Festival and the Grand Ole Opry, which are big events for different types of music! His most famous song was "Since I Met You Baby" from 1956.
Contents
Growing Up with Music
Ivory Joe Hunter was born in Kirbyville, Texas. His parents named him Ivory Joe, it wasn't a stage name. He once said they thought he looked "just like the baby on the outside of the Castoria Ivory bottle."
He grew up in a big family where everyone loved music. His dad, Dave Hunter, played the guitar, and his mom sang gospel songs. Ivory Joe became a very good pianist by the time he was 13 years old. He often played in school orchestras.
After finishing high school in 1930, he made his first recording. This was in 1933 for Alan Lomax and the Library of Congress. Hunter was also the uncle of Rick Stevens, who was the first lead singer for the band Tower of Power.
Becoming a Music Star
In the early 1940s, Ivory Joe Hunter had his own radio show in Beaumont, Texas, on a station called KFDM. He even became the program manager there. In 1942, he moved to Los Angeles. He joined a group called Johnny Moore's Three Blazers in the mid-1940s.
He wrote and recorded his first song, "Blues at Sunrise," with the Three Blazers. He released it on his own record label, Ivory Records. This song became a hit across the country on the R&B chart in 1945.
Later in the 1940s, Hunter started another record company called Pacific Records. He also recorded for Four Star Records and King Records. In 1949, he had more R&B hits like "I Quit My Pretty Mama" and "Guess Who." For these songs, he was backed by musicians from Duke Ellington's famous band.
Big Hits and New Friends
After signing with MGM Records, Ivory Joe Hunter released "I Almost Lost My Mind" in 1950. This song went straight to number one on the R&B charts! Another song, "I Need You So," was also a big hit, reaching number two that same year.
Because of his smooth singing style, Hunter became a very popular R&B artist. People in the country music world also started to notice him. In 1951, he appeared on national television for the first time on a show called You Asked for It. He traveled a lot, performing with his band. He was known for being tall (6 feet 4 inches), wearing bright stage suits, and having a strong personality.
By 1954, he had recorded over 100 songs! He then moved to Atlantic Records. His song "Since I Met You Baby" (1956) was his first to become popular on the pop music charts. It reached number 12, making it his only song to reach the Top 40 pop list.
In 1957, while visiting Memphis, Tennessee, Hunter was invited to Graceland by Elvis Presley. They spent the day singing songs together, including "I Almost Lost My Mind." Hunter said that Elvis was "very spiritually minded" and showed him "every courtesy." Elvis later recorded several of Hunter's songs, such as "I Need You So" and "Ain't That Lovin' You, Baby." Ivory Joe Hunter was a very busy songwriter, and some people believe he wrote more than 7,000 songs!
Country Music Comeback
Even after his pop music popularity slowed down, Hunter had other songs like "Empty Arms" and "Yes I Want You" that made it onto the pop charts. He also had a smaller hit with "City Lights" in 1959.
In the late 1960s, Ivory Joe Hunter made a comeback as a country singer. He often performed at the Grand Ole Opry and released an album called I've Always Been Country.
In 1969, country singer Sonny James released his own version of "Since I Met You Baby," which became a number one country hit. This helped pave the way for Hunter's album The Return of Ivory Joe Hunter and his performance at the Monterey Jazz Festival. The album was recorded in Memphis with famous musicians like Isaac Hayes.
His Final Years
Ivory Joe Hunter passed away in 1974 in Memphis, Tennessee, at the age of 60. He died from problems related to lung cancer. He was buried in the Spring Hill Community Cemetery.
Albums
- Ivory Joe Hunter, Atlantic (1957)
- Mean Woman Blues, Pickwick (Grand Prix Series)
