J. J. Barnes
| J.J. Barnes | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | James Jay Barnes |
| Born |
November 30, 1943 Detroit Michigan, U.S. |
| Genres | Soul, pop, R&B |
| Occupation(s) | Singer |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 1960– |
| Labels |
Motown Ric-Tic Micay Groovesville Buddah Contempo |
James Jay "J. J." Barnes (born November 30, 1943, Detroit, Michigan) is an American R&B singer and songwriter.[1]
He recorded several singles, starting in 1960. His early releases including "Just One More Time" and "Please Let Me In", on the record labels Mickay and Ric-Tic, had relatively little success, but were subsequently picked up as Northern soul favorites in the UK. He later was signed to Motown Records, where he contributed as a songwriter but did not have any recordings released as a singer.
His biggest hit single came in 1967 with "Baby Please Come Back Home" on the Groovesville label, which, like many of his records, he co-wrote. The song reached #9 on the US Billboard R&B chart. However, subsequent singles on a variety of labels, including covers of "Black Ivory" at Today/Perception Records, failed to repeat the success.[2]
On the recommendation of his friend, Edwin Starr, Barnes moved to England in the 1970s becoming very popular. Starr had arranged for Barnes to appear on a series of shows which led to him signing a deal with Contempo.[3] He became a favorite artist of the UK Northern soul scene, and performed frequently in the UK. Early recordings from Barnes, such as "Please Let Me In" and "Real Humdinger", were re-released in the UK on the Tamla Motown label to cater for the buyers of Northern soul records.[4] In the 1970s Contempo records released seven singles and an album, Sara Smile, from Barnes, all without chart success. In the 1980s he released five more records including a version of the Northern soul favorite by Frank Wilson, "Do I Love You (Indeed I Do)".[3]
His song "Chains of Love", originally the B-side to his 1967 hit "Baby Please Come Back Home", achieved further renown when it was covered by The Dirtbombs on their Ultraglide in Black album in 2001.
References
- ↑ "JJ Barnes". www.discogs.com. Retrieved 3 May 2012.
- ↑ hamilton, Andrew, J.J. Barnes e-guide.com. Retrieved March 2011
- 1 2 "All Music JJ Barnes". www.allmusic.com. Retrieved 3 May 2012.
- ↑ "J. J. Barnes– Real Humdinger". www.discogs.com. Retrieved 3 May 2012.
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