Ivory Joe Hunter

This article is about the R&B musician. For the Motown musician, see Joe Hunter (musician). For the Motown songwriter/producer, see Ivy Jo Hunter.
Ivory Joe Hunter
Background information
Also known as The Baron of the Boogie
The Happiest Man Alive
Born (1914-10-10)October 10, 1914
Kirbyville, Texas, United States
Died November 8, 1974(1974-11-08) (aged 60)
Memphis, Tennessee, United States
Genres R&B, blues, boogie-woogie, country
Occupation(s) Singer-songwriter
Instruments Piano
Years active 1933–1974

Ivory Joe Hunter (October 10, 1914 – November 8, 1974)[1] was an American rhythm and blues singer, songwriter, and pianist. After a series of hits on the US R&B chart starting in the mid-1940s, he became more widely known for his hit recording, "Since I Met You Baby" (1956). He was billed as The Baron of the Boogie, and also known as The Happiest Man Alive. His musical output ranged from R&B to blues, boogie-woogie, and country, and Hunter made a name in all of those genres. Uniquely, he was honored at the Monterey Jazz Festival and the Grand Ole Opry.[2]

Early years

Hunter was born in Kirbyville, Texas, United States. Ivory Joe Hunter was his birthname, not a nickname nor a stage name.[1] As a youngster, Hunter developed an early interest in music from his father, Dave Hunter, who played guitar, and his gospel-singing mother. He was a talented pianist by the age of 13, and as a teenager, Hunter made his first recording for Alan Lomax and the Library of Congress in 1933.[3] Hunter was also the uncle of Tower of Power's original lead vocalist, Rick Stevens.[4]

Radio and recordings

In the early 1940s, Hunter had his own radio show in Beaumont, Texas, on KFDM, where he eventually became program manager, and in 1942 he moved to Los Angeles, joining Johnny Moore's Three Blazers in the mid-1940s.[1] When he wrote and recorded his first song, "Blues At Sunrise", with the Three Blazers for his own label, Ivory Records, it became a nationwide hit on the R&B chart in 1945.[3][5]

In the late 1940s, Hunter founded Pacific Records,[1] and in 1947, he recorded for Four Star Records and King Records. Two years later, he recorded further R&B hits; on "I Quit My Pretty Mama" and "Guess Who" he was backed by members of Duke Ellington's band.[3][6]

After signing with MGM Records, he recorded "I Almost Lost My Mind",[1] which topped the 1950 R&B charts and would later (in the wake of Hunter's success with "Since I Met You Baby") be recorded by Pat Boone whose version became a number one pop hit.[3] "I Need You So" was a number two R&B hit that same year. With his smooth delivery, Hunter became a hot R&B commodity, and he also began to be noticed in the country music community. In April 1951, he made his network TV debut on You Asked For It. He toured widely with a backing band and became known for his large build (he was 6' 4" tall), his brightly colored stage suits, and his volatile temperament.[7]

By 1954, he had recorded more than 100 songs and moved to Atlantic Records. His first song to cross over to the pop charts was "Since I Met You Baby" (1956). It was to be his only Top 40 pop song, climbing to the number 12 position.[8]

While visiting Memphis, Tennessee, in the spring of 1957, Hunter was invited by Elvis Presley to visit Graceland. The two spent the day together, singing "I Almost Lost My Mind" and other songs together. Hunter commented, "He is very spiritually minded... he showed me every courtesy, and I think he's one of the greatest."[9] Presley recorded several of his songs, including "I Need You So", "My Wish Came True" and "Ain't That Lovin' You, Baby".[3] Hunter was a prolific songwriter, and some estimate he wrote more than 7,000 songs.

Country comeback

Hunter's "Empty Arms" and "Yes I Want You" also made the pop charts, and he had a minor hit with "City Lights" in 1959, just before his popularity began to decline. Hunter came back as a country singer in the late 1960s, making regular Grand Ole Opry appearances and recording an album titled I've Always Been Country.[10]

Ivory Joe Hunter in his network television debut on You Asked for It (DuMont, April 1951)

Country singer Sonny James issued a version of "Since I Met You Baby" and it topped the country charts in 1969, paving the way for Hunter's album The Return of Ivory Joe Hunter and his appearance at the Monterey Jazz Festival. The Return of Ivory Joe Hunter was recorded in Memphis with a band that included Isaac Hayes, Gene "Bowlegs" Miller and Charles Chalmers.[3] Jerry Lee Lewis covered "Since I Met You Baby" in 1969.

Death

In 1974, lung cancer led to Hunter's death in Memphis, Tennessee, at the age of 60.[1] He was buried in his native Kirbyville.

Chart singles

Year Single Chart Positions
US Pop[11] US
R&B[12]
1945 "Blues At Sunrise" - 3
1948 "Pretty Mama Blues" - 1
"Don't Fall In Love With Me" - 8
"What Did You Do To Me" - 9
"I Like It" - 14
1949 "Waiting In Vain" - 5
"Blues At Midnight" - 10
"Guess Who" /
"Landlord Blues"		 -
-		 2
6
"Jealous Heart" - 2
1950 "I Almost Lost My Mind" - 1
"I Quit My Pretty Mama" - 4
"S. P. Blues" - 9
"I Need You So" - 1
"It's A Sin" - 10
1955 "It May Sound Silly" - 14
1956 "A Tear Fell" - 15
"Since I Met You Baby" 12 1
1957 "Empty Arms" /
"Love's A Hurting Game"		 43
-		 2
7
1958 "Yes I Want You" 94 13
1959 "City Lights" 92 -

Albums

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Bill Dahl. "Ivory Joe Hunter". Allmusic. Retrieved November 27, 2011.
  2. ↑ Russell, Tony (1997). The Blues: From Robert Johnson to Robert Cray. Dubai: Carlton Books Limited. p. 121. ISBN 1-85868-255-X.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Williamson, Nigel (2007). The Rough Guide to the Blues. London: Rough Guides Limited. p. 205. ISBN 1-84353-519-X.
  4. ↑ "Rick Stevens Official Website Biography". Rickstevensmusic.com. 2012-07-20. Retrieved 2013-03-22.
  5. ↑ JammUpp 23: "Let Me Dream: Ivory Joe Hunter" by J.C. Marion
  6. ↑ "Ivory Joe Hunter Page". Tsimon.com. 2000-04-20. Retrieved 2013-03-22.
  7. ↑ Evans, Joe (2008). Follow Your Heart: moving with the giants of jazz, swing, and rhythm and blues. University of Illinois Press. pp. 83–87. ISBN 0-252-03303-5.
  8. ↑ "Allmusic ((( Ivory Joe Hunter > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles )))".
  9. ↑ Werner, Craig Hansen. A Change Is Gonna Come: Music, Race & the Soul of America, University of Michigan Press, (2006)
  10. ↑ "East Texas Celebrities". Texasescapes.com. 2007-06-23. Retrieved 2013-03-22.
  11. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2003). Top Pop Singles 1955-2002 (1st ed.). Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. p. 327. ISBN 0-89820-155-1.
  12. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (1996). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-1995. Record Research. p. 202.

Notes

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Tuesday, March 15, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.