Jimmy Jones (singer) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jimmy Jones
Jones in the 1960s
Background information
Birth name	James Jones
Born	(1930-06-02)June 2, 1930 Birmingham, Alabama, U.S.
Died	August 2, 2012(2012-08-02) (aged 82) Aberdeen, North Carolina, U.S.
Genres	Pop Rock and roll R&B
Occupation(s)	Singer
Instruments	Vocals
Years active	1954–2012
Labels	Cub, Ro-Jac, Vee-Jay, Roulette, Parkway, Bell (US) MGM (UK)

James Jones (born June 2, 1930 – died August 2, 2012) was an American singer and songwriter. He moved to New York City when he was a teenager. He became famous for his 1960 hit song, "Handy Man". Jimmy Jones was known for his smooth and soulful singing style called falsetto. This means he sang in a very high voice, similar to singers like Clyde McPhatter and Sam Cooke.

Early Life and Career Beginnings

Jimmy Jones was born in Birmingham, Alabama. His first job in the entertainment world was as a tap dancer. In 1954, he joined a doo-wop group called the Berliners. This group later changed its name to Sparks of Rhythm.

Writing "Handy Man"

In 1955, Jimmy Jones helped write the song "Handy Man". The Sparks of Rhythm recorded this song in 1956, after Jones had left the group.

Becoming a Solo Star

After singing with other groups, Jones decided to become a solo artist. In 1959, he started working with Otis Blackwell, a famous songwriter. Blackwell helped rework "Handy Man" for Jones to record.

The Whistling Hit

During the recording session for "Handy Man", the flute player did not show up. So, Otis Blackwell famously whistled on the recording instead. "Handy Man" was released in 1959. It became Jimmy Jones's first big hit in both the US and the UK.

Chart Success

In 1960, "Handy Man" reached number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the US. It also peaked at number 3 in the UK Singles Chart. This song introduced a rock falsetto singing style to audiences in Britain. Later, other singers like Del Shannon and James Taylor also had hits with this song.

A few months later in 1960, Jones's song "Good Timin'" became a number 1 hit in the UK. It also reached number 3 in the US. Both "Handy Man" and "Good Timin'" sold over a million copies. This earned Jimmy Jones two gold discs.

Later Career and Influence

Even though Jimmy Jones had only two huge hit songs, he stayed active in the music industry. He continued to write songs and record music. He also performed live when he wanted to.

Continuing to Record

Jones stayed with Cub Records until 1962. For the next ten years, he recorded music for many different record labels. These included Bell, Parkway, Roulette, and Vee-Jay.

Falsetto Influence

Many singers were influenced by Jimmy Jones's falsetto style. Del Shannon said that Jones and Bill Kenny inspired his high singing voice. Later, singers like Frankie Valli from the Four Seasons, Lou Christie, Robert John, Jimmy Somerville, and Barry Gibb also used falsetto. Barry Gibb even said that Del Shannon influenced his high-pitched singing for the Bee Gees.

Later Releases

In the 1990s, Jones released a CD called Grandma's Rock & Roll Party. This album included new versions of his famous songs "Handy Man" and "Good Timin'". In 2002, Castle/Sanctuary released a double album called Good Timin': The Anthology.

Death

Jimmy Jones passed away in Aberdeen, North Carolina, on August 2, 2012. He was 82 years old.

Discography

Singles