Young Jessie
![]() | This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (September 2021) |
Young Jessie | |
---|---|
Birth name | Obediah Donnell Jessie |
Also known as | Obie Jessie |
Born | Lincoln Manor, Dallas, Texas, United States | December 28, 1936
Died | April 27, 2020 | (aged 83)
Genres | |
Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter |
Years active | 1953–2020 |
Labels | Modern, Atco, Capitol, Mercury, Jazz Family |
Formerly of | The Flairs The Coasters |
Obediah Donnell "Obie" Jessie (December 28, 1936 – April 27, 2020)[1] was an American R&B, rock and roll and jazz singer and songwriter. He recorded as Young Jessie in the 1950s and 1960s, and was known for his solo career, work with The Flairs and a brief stint in The Coasters. He later performed and recorded jazz as Obie Jessie.
Early life
Jessie's father was a cook but had no musical background. His mother, Malinda (
Early career
In 1946, he moved with his family to Los Angeles, where he began studying music, and formed a vocal group, The Debonaires, which also included Richard Berry.[3] The group recorded Jessie's song, "I Had A Love", in 1953, and the single was released under the name of The Hollywood Blue Jays. They then renamed themselves as The Flairs, and won a recording contract with Modern Records.[3]
However, in 1954, Jessie signed a solo contract with producers
Recordings and performances
In 1955, he wrote and recorded the single "Mary Lou", later covered by
Jessie then moved on to record jazz for the Capitol label, novelty records for Mercury in the early 1960s, and soul ballads for the Vanessa label in 1963, but with little commercial success.[3] He recorded some unreleased material for Jake Porter in the 1960s.[6] He also did an album's worth of songs owned by Harvey Fuqua in the 1970s that never got released.[6] In 1972, he recorded a single as Obe Jessie & The Seeds Of Freedom for Stone Dogg Records.[7]
He also formed a jazz group, the Obie Jessie Combo, which played club dates, and in 1976 became musical director for Esther Phillips. In 1982, he toured in Europe and recorded jazz in Germany, and in 1983 performed at an "R & B Jamboree" in London, where he reportedly "astonished the audience with a charismatic performance."[4]
He also performed with Leon Hughes' group of The Coasters. As "Obie Jessie", he later released several jazz albums, including What Happened To Jr. (1995), Here's To Life (2002), and New Atmosphere (2009).[4] He also recorded with Atlanta-based saxophonist Bob Miles, and performed on the song "People The Time Has Come" with lyrics by Nadim Sulaiman Ali.[8]
Personal life
His younger brother
Obie Jessie died on April 27, 2020, aged 83.[1]
Discography
Singles
- "I Smell A Rat" / "Lonesome Desert" (Modern #921) (January 1954)
- "Mary Lou" / "Don't Think I Will" (Modern #961) (June 1955)
- "Nothing Seems Right" / "Do You Love Me" (Modern #963) (November 1955)
- "Hot Dog" (Modern; unreleased) (rec. 1956) (recorded this before Elvis Presley)
- "Hit Git And Split" / "It Don't Happen No More" (Modern #1002) (September 1956)
- "Oochie Coochie" / "Here Comes Henry" (Modern #1010) (December 1956)
- "Shuffle In The Gravel" / "Make Believe" (Atco #6101, 1957)
- "Shuffle In The Gravel" / "Make Believe" (UK London #8544, 1958)
- "Margie" / "That's Enough For Me" (Atlantic #2003) (1958)
- "Lulu Belle" / "The Wrong Door" (Capitol #4318) (1959)
- "Teacher, Gimme Back" / "My Country Cousin" (Mercury #71895) (1961)
- "Be Bop Country Boy" / "Big Chief" (Mercury #71985) (1962)
- "I'm A Lovin' Man" / "Too Fine For Cryin'2" (Mercury #72104) (1963)
- "Mary Lou" / "You Were Meant For Me" (Mercury #72146) (1963)
- "Make Me Feel A Little Good" / "Brown Eyes (Come On Home)" (Vanessa #101) (1963)
- "Young Jessie's Bossanova, Part 1" / "Part 2" (Bit #7464) (1964)
- "Who's To Blame" / "Beautiful Day My Brother" (Stone Dogg #801) (1972) (released as Obe Jessie & The Seeds Of Freedom)
Albums
- Chuck Jackson And Young Jessie (Crown) (1963)
- R & B Jamboree (Ace) (1983)
- Hit Git And Split (Ace) (1985)
- Shuffle In The Gravel (Mr. R&B #1004) (1987) (released in Sweden)
- Shufflin And Jivin (Ace) (1987)
- I'm Gone (Ace) (1995)
As Obie Jessie
- What Happened To Jr. (Solar #72597) (1995)
- Here's To Life (Jazz Family #101) (2002)
- New Atmosphere (Jazz Family ) (2009)
References
- ^ a b "R.I.P. Obie "Young" Jessie, 1936-2020", The Perlich Post, April 29, 2020. Retrieved 29 April 2020
- ^ ISBN 0-9519888-8-3.
- ^ ISBN 0-85112-939-0.
- ^ a b c d e "Young Jessie". Rockabilly.nl. Retrieved September 17, 2021.
- ISBN 0-936433-18-3.
- ^ ISBN 0-9519888-8-3.
- ISBN 0-352-30020-5.
- ^ "Bob Miles - Nubian Woman CD Album". Cduniverse.com. Retrieved September 17, 2021.
- ISBN 0-9519888-8-3.
External links
- Young Jessie on Myspace
- Young Jessie discography
- The Coasters Web Site
- Marv Goldberg's R&B Notebooks - The Flairs
- Allmusic - Young Jessie
- Allmusic - Obie Jessie
- Young Jessie discography at Discogs as Young Jessie
- Young Jessie discography at Discogs as Obie Jessie
- discography at 45cat.com
- discography at 45cat.com as 'Young Jesse'
- discography at 45cat.com as 'Young Jessee'