James Phelps
DOB Unknown – October 26, 2010
James Phelps was a pioneering Gospel and R&B singer who, over the course of his long career worked with Sam Cooke, Lou Rawls, and Otis Redding. Phelps entered into show business while still in his teens, when he moved from Shreveport to Chicago and began singing in local Gospel groups. After dabbling in rock ‘n roll and R&B a bit, Phelps returned to Gospel for the rest of his professional life. In 1965, he scored an R&B hit with “Love is a Five Letter Word.” James Phelps was 87 when he passed away on October 26, 2010. He died from complications of diabetes.
Thanks to Craig Rosen at Number1Albums for the assist.