J. J. Barnes facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
J.J. Barnes
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | James Jay Barnes |
| Born | November 30, 1943 Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
| Died | December 10, 2022 (aged 79) |
| Genres | Soul, pop, R&B |
| Occupation(s) | Singer |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 1960–2022 |
| Labels | Motown Ric-Tic Micay Records Groovesville Buddah Contempo Records |
James Jay Barnes (born November 30, 1943 – died December 10, 2022) was an American R&B singer and songwriter. He was known for his soulful voice and for writing many of his own songs.
Early Music Career
J.J. Barnes started recording songs in 1960. Some of his early songs, like "Just One More Time" and "Please Let Me In," were released on labels like Mickay and Ric-Tic. These songs didn't become big hits right away. However, they later became very popular in the UK. They were loved by fans of a music style called Northern soul.
He later joined Motown Records, a very famous music company. At Motown, he mostly wrote songs for other artists. Even though he didn't release his own songs as a singer there, some of his Motown recordings were released much later on special albums.
The Holidays and Big Hits
J.J. Barnes was also part of a music group called The Holidays. This group included Edwin Starr, another well-known singer. In 1966, their song "I'll Love You Forever" became a big hit. It reached number 7 on the R&B music charts in the United States.
Barnes had his biggest solo hit in 1967 with the song "Baby Please Come Back Home." He helped write this song himself. It reached number 9 on the US Billboard R&B chart. After this success, he released more songs on different labels. However, these songs did not become as popular.
Moving to the UK
In the 1970s, J.J. Barnes moved to England. His friend Edwin Starr suggested he move there. Starr helped Barnes get shows and a record deal with Contempo Records. Barnes became a favorite artist in the UK's Northern soul music scene. He performed often for his fans there.
Some of his older songs, like "Please Let Me In," were re-released in the UK. This was done to meet the high demand from Northern soul fans.
Later Recordings and Legacy
During the 1970s, Contempo Records released seven singles and an album by Barnes. The album was called Sara Smile. None of these songs became chart hits. In the 1980s, he released five more records. One of these was a version of "Do I Love You (Indeed I Do)," a famous Northern soul song. He also recorded music with producer Ian Levine in the 1990s.
His song "Chains of Love" was originally the B-side of his 1967 hit "Baby Please Come Back Home." This song became famous again in 2001. The band the Dirtbombs covered it on their album Ultraglide in Black.
J.J. Barnes passed away on December 10, 2022, at the age of 79.
