Jimmy Lewis (musician)
Jimmy Lewis | |
---|---|
Birth name | James Eddie Lewis |
Born | Tangerine, Buddah , Hotlanta, Miss Butch | November 19, 1937
James Eddie Lewis (November 19, 1937 – September 11, 2004)[2] was an American soul singer, songwriter, arranger and producer. He was a member of the Drifters in the 1960s, worked as a songwriter and producer with Ray Charles, and wrote songs for Z. Z. Hill among many others.[3]
Biography
Born in
In 1968, some of his songs were heard by
In 1974, Lewis moved to the Hotlanta label, and released the album Totally Involved, described by critic Richie Unterberger as "respectable Southern-styled soul",[3] on which he wrote and produced all the tracks.[6] The album included the track "Help Me Understand You", which reached number 95 on the R&B chart in 1975, his only solo chart hit.[7]
"Fans of monopoly capital will please explain how this belated subclassic of hortatory soul could happen anywhere but on a Southern indie label. Lewis, a former Ray Charles factotum, sounds a lot like Joe Tex, and like both Tex and the Genius he has little use for 'good taste.' Especially historic is the opening track, in praise of women who are not fine."
—More More More Latimore review in Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies (1981)[8]
As a writer, he had further success in 1977, when Z. Z. Hill's " Love Is So Good When You're Stealing It" reached the R&B chart. Lewis continued to write for Hill after the latter's move to Malaco Records.[4] Lewis continued to work as a writer, producer, and occasional recording artist, through the 1980s and 1990s, writing and producing on two of Ray Charles' albums, Would You Believe? (1990) and Strong Love Affair (1996). He also set up his own label, Miss Butch; wrote Peggy Scott-Adams' 1997 hit single, "Bill"; and produced Malaco musician Latimore.[4] Around this time , he cut a few sides with Little Richard.
Lewis died in Los Angeles in 2004, aged 66 from unknown causes.[2]
References
- ^ Los Angeles Sentinel, September 29, 2004 Obituary of James Lewis
- ^ ISBN 978-0313344237.
- ^ Allmusic. Retrieved 18 December 2010.
- ^ a b c d Liner notes, "Jimmy Lewis: Still Wanna Be Black", Ace Records, 2004 Archived 2016-10-18 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 14 October 2016
- ^ Songs written by Jimmy Lewis, MusicVf.com. Retrieved 14 October 2016
- ^ Jimmy Lewis, "Totally Involved", Discogs.com. Retrieved 14 October 2016
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (1996). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-1995. Record Research. p. 265.
- ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved March 1, 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.