Died On This Date (August 2, 2012) Jimmy Jones / Early ’60s Hit Maker
themusicsover Jimmy Jones
June 2, 1930 – August 2, 2012
Born in Birmingham, Alabama, Jimmy Jones got his start in show business as a tap dancer after he moved with his family to New York City as a teen. By the mid ’50s, Jones was singing in local doo-wop groups, but soon went solo. In 1959, he recorded “Handy Man,” a song that he co-wrote, for Cub Records. The record soared to #3 on the US singles chart and topped the charts in the UK as well. That was quickly followed by “Good Timin,'” which did nearly as well. Each sold over a million copies. In later years, both Del Shannon and James Taylor had hits with “Handy Man.” Jones continued to perform and record, though with no other major hits, until the time of his death. He has been cited as popularizing the use of a falsetto voice in pop music, a style that was later used by the likes of Frankie Valli and the Bee Gees. During the ’90s, Jones enjoyed a resurgence in popularity thanks to the Northern Soul movement in the UK. Jimmy Jones was 82 when he passed away on August 2, 2012.
Thanks to Henk de Bruin for the assist.
What You Should Own
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