Jo Jo Benson facts for kids

Joseph M. Hewell (born April 15, 1938 – died December 23, 2014), known as Jo Jo Benson, was an American singer. He was famous for his R&B and soul songs. Jo Jo Benson was especially well-known for the music he made with Peggy Scott in the late 1960s.

Jo Jo Benson's Musical Journey

Early Life and Start in Music

Jo Jo Benson was born in Phenix City, Alabama. He loved music from a young age. As a teenager, he started singing in nightclubs. This was how he began his career in music.

In the 1950s, Jo Jo Benson joined Chuck Willis. He worked as a backing singer for Willis. This means he sang harmonies behind the main singer. It was a great way to learn more about performing.

Teaming Up with Peggy Scott

Later, Jo Jo Benson met another talented singer named Peggy Scott. Peggy had also been a backing singer for famous artists like Ben E. King. They decided to form a singing duo.

A record producer named Huey Meaux heard them sing. He was very impressed by their voices. Meaux encouraged them to record music together. Soon, they signed with SSS International, a record label in Nashville, Tennessee. This label was owned by Shelby Singleton.

Big Hits and Success

Jo Jo Benson and Peggy Scott released their first song, "Lover's Holiday," in 1968. It quickly became a huge hit! The song reached number 8 on the Billboard R&B chart. It also made it to number 31 on the pop chart. "Lover's Holiday" sold so many copies that it became a gold record. This means it sold over 500,000 copies!

They followed up with another popular song called "Pickin' Wild Mountain Berries." This song was also a big hit. It was so successful that they were even nominated for a Grammy. A Grammy is one of the highest awards in music.

In 1969, Jo Jo and Peggy had two more hit songs: "Soulshake" and "I Want to Love You Baby." They also released two albums together. These albums were called Lover's Heaven and Soulshake.

Later Career and Solo Work

Jo Jo Benson and Peggy Scott stopped performing together in 1971. After their duo split, Jo Jo Benson became a business owner. He owned several nightclubs in the Chattahoochee Valley area.

In the mid-1980s, Jo Jo and Peggy reunited for a short time. They even recorded another album together.

In 1999, Jo Jo Benson released his first solo album. It was called Reminiscing in the Jam Zone. A music magazine called Living Blues said it was one of the best soul albums of that time. He released another solo album in 2001, titled Everybody Loves to Cha Cha Cha.

Jo Jo Benson passed away on December 23, 2014, at the age of 76. He left behind a legacy of great R&B and soul music.

Discography

Albums with Peggy Scott

• Lover's Heaven (1969)
• Soulshake (1969)
• Nothing Can Stand In Our Way (1984)

Solo Albums

• Reminiscing in the Jam Zone (1999)
• Everybody Loves to Cha Cha Cha (2001)