Jesse Belvin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jesse Belvin
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Jesse Lorenzo Belvin |
| Born | December 15, 1932 San Antonio, Texas, U.S. |
| Died | February 6, 1960 (aged 27) Hope, Arkansas, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter |
| Instruments | Vocals, piano |
| Years active | 1950–60 |
| Labels | Modern Records, Dot, Impact, RCA, Recorded In Hollywood Tender Records |
| Associated acts | Big Jay McNeely, The Hollywood Flames, The Shields |
Jesse Lorenzo Belvin (born December 15, 1932 – died February 6, 1960) was a talented American singer, pianist, and songwriter. He was very popular in the 1950s. Jesse Belvin helped write the famous 1954 song "Earth Angel" for The Penguins. This song was a "doo-wop" classic, a style of music with strong vocal harmonies. "Earth Angel" sold over 10 million copies!
Jesse Belvin's most popular song that he recorded himself was "Goodnight My Love" in 1956. It became a big hit, reaching number 7 on the R&B music charts. Sadly, Jesse Belvin's successful career ended too soon. He died in a car crash at the young age of 27. His wife, Jo Ann, and their driver also passed away in the accident.
The accident happened after a concert in Little Rock, Arkansas. This concert had been interrupted by people who were against different races mixing. An officer at the scene later said that the tires of Belvin's car looked like they had been tampered with. After his death, the famous blues singer Etta James called Jesse Belvin "the most gifted of us all." She believed he was the greatest singer of his time.
Early Life and Music Beginnings
Jesse Belvin was born in San Antonio, Texas. When he was five years old, his family moved to Los Angeles, California.
In 1949, Jesse Belvin performed as an opening act with famous musicians like Big Jay McNeely and Lionel Hampton. This was at a big music event called the 5th Cavalcade of Jazz in Los Angeles.
In 1950, he joined a vocal group called Three Dots and a Dash. This group sang backup for saxophonist Big Jay McNeely. Jesse Belvin was a key part of their recordings. In 1952, he started recording as a solo artist. His fourth song, "Dream Girl," became a hit in 1953. It reached number 2 on the R&B charts and was credited to "Jesse & Marvin."
Music Career Highlights
Around 1953, Jesse Belvin joined the army, but he kept writing songs. One of his songs, "Earth Angel," became a huge hit for The Penguins. This song was one of the first R&B songs to also become popular on the pop music charts. It sold 1 million copies between 1954 and 1955.
In 1956, Jesse Belvin signed with Modern Records. However, he also sang for other record companies using different names. His biggest hit was "Goodnight My Love," which reached number 7 on the R&B chart. This song later became the closing theme for Alan Freed's famous rock and roll radio shows.
Belvin also recorded with a group called the Shields in 1958. Their song "You Cheated" was a success, reaching number 15 on the pop chart. In 1956, he recorded "The Girl in My Dreams" with Eugene Church as "The Cliques." This song also made it onto the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
In 1959, Jesse Belvin signed with RCA Records. He quickly had another top 40 hit with "Guess Who." This song was written by his wife, Jo Ann. It started as a love letter from her to him, and Jesse turned it into a popular song. He also recorded an album called Just Jesse Belvin. On this album, he showed a more grown-up and smooth style of singing ballads.
Jesse Belvin's singing style was influenced by famous singers like Nat King Cole and Billy Eckstine. He even became a role model for other singers like Sam Cooke. People started calling him "Mr. Easy." His record company saw him as a rising star who could appeal to both Black and white audiences.
Later in 1959, Belvin recorded more songs with an orchestra. These songs included soulful versions of classic tunes like "Blues in the Night" and "In the Still of the Night." These songs were released on his album Mr. Easy.
Tragic Death
Before his album Mr. Easy was released, Jesse Belvin performed in a concert in Little Rock, Arkansas, on February 6, 1960. Other famous singers like Sam Cooke and Jackie Wilson were also there. This concert was important because it was the first time an audience of different races attended a show together in Little Rock. The show was stopped twice because some white people in the audience shouted racist comments and told white teenagers to leave.
After the concert, Jesse Belvin, his wife Jo Ann, and their driver were killed in a head-on car crash near Hope, Arkansas. Police suspected that someone had tampered with Belvin's car. Jackie Wilson, another singer at the concert, said he asked his lawyer to look into it. However, no official cause for the tampering was ever found.
Jesse Belvin and the driver died at the scene. His wife, Jo Ann, died later in the hospital. Jesse was 27 years old, and Jo Ann was 23. They were both buried in Evergreen Cemetery in Los Angeles. Even after his death, new music by Jesse Belvin continued to be released, showing his lasting talent.
See also
- "Earth Angel" Legal Issues
- The 27 Club
