Tamiko Jones facts for kids

Tamiko Jones (born Barbara Tamiko Ferguson in 1945) is an American singer. She is best known for her hit song "Touch Me Baby (Reaching Out For Your Love)" from 1975.

Tamiko's Musical Journey

Early Life and First Songs

Barbara Tamiko Ferguson was born in Kyle, West Virginia. She has a mix of Japanese, British, and Cherokee descent. Her middle name, Tamiko, comes from Japan. She grew up in Detroit, where she started singing. She first performed in a club in 1961.

Tamiko began her career singing pop songs with a jazz twist. Her very first song was "Is It A Sin?". It came out in 1963 under the name Timiko. Later, in 1964, she recorded "Rhapsody" as Tamiko.

Growing as an Artist

By 1966, Tamiko was recording "I'm Spellbound". She then joined Atlantic Records and released more songs in 1967. One of these was "Boy You're Growing On Me". That same year, she made an album called A Mann and a Woman with jazz flutist Herbie Mann. She also appeared as an extra in a few movies during the 1960s.

In 1967, after her album with Herbie Mann, Tamiko signed with a new record label called December Records. This led to her album Tamiko, released in 1968.

Collaborations and Challenges

In 1968, Tamiko was in the hospital with polio. There, she met singer Solomon Burke. They recorded several songs together. Tamiko even became Burke's manager for a while. She helped produce his famous song "Proud Mary".

She also recorded the album I'll Be Anything For You. This album had short songs perfect for the radio. It included two singles: "Ya Ya / Goodnight My Love" and "Goodnight, My Love / Please Return Your Love To Me". In 1969, her album In Muscle Shoals was released.

Chart Success and Later Career

In the early 1970s, Tamiko started performing again in Las Vegas. But it was too much work, so she went back to New York. In 1971, she began performing at the Rainbow Room.

Her biggest hit song was "Touch Me Baby (Reaching Out For Your Love)". It was released in 1975 and became very popular. It reached number 12 on the Billboard R&B chart. Her next song, "Just You and Me", also did well on the R&B chart. She also released an album called Love Trip.

In 1976, her song "Let It Flow" was released. Tamiko married John Abbey in 1977. He owned the record label that released "Let It Flow".

In 1977, "Cloudy" reached number 92 on the R&B chart. In 1979, her song "Can't Live Without Your Love" also made it to the R&B chart. Her last R&B chart hit was "I Want You" in 1986. In the early 1990s, Tamiko worked as Smokey Robinson's manager.

In 2008, "Can't Live Without Your Love" was part of the music in the video game Grand Theft Auto IV. Tamiko's songs are still popular today. They are often remixed by DJs. In April 2024, her song "Let It Flow" was remixed and released again.

Tamiko's Music

Hit Songs

Albums Released

• A Mann & A Woman (1967) with Herbie Mann
• I'll Be Anything For You (1968)
• Tamiko (1968)
• In Muscle Shoals (1969)
• Love Trip (1975)
• Cloudy (1976)
• Let It Flow (1977)

As a Backing Singer

With Herbie Mann

• The Beat Goes On (1967)