Ivory Joe Hunter
Encyclopedia
Ivory Joe Hunter 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 transgressed 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
.
, United States
. Ivory Joe Hunter was his birthname, not a nickname nor a stage name. 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.
, 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. 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.
In the late 1940s, Hunter founded Pacific Records, 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.
After signing with MGM Records
, he recorded "I Almost Lost My Mind
," 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. "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.
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.
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." Presley recorded several of his songs, including "I Need You So", "My Wish Came True" and "Ain't That Lovin' You, Baby
". Hunter was a prolific songwriter, and some estimate he wrote more than 7,000 songs.
appearances and recording an album titled I've Always Been Country.
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. Jerry Lee Lewis
covered "Since I Met You Baby" in 1969.
led to Hunter's death in Memphis, Tennessee
at the age of 60. He was buried in his native Kirbyville.
Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
singer, songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
, and pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
. 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
Since I Met You Baby (song)
"Since I Met You Baby" is an American rhythm and blues song written and recorded by pianist Ivory Joe Hunter. The song, which Hunter recorded in 1956, became an American standard, and saw renewed popularity in 1969 when country music artist Sonny James released his hit version.-Song...
" (1956). He was billed as The Baron of the Boogie, and also known as The Happiest Man Alive. His musical output transgressed from R&B to blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
, boogie-woogie
Boogie-woogie
Boogie-woogie has the following meanings:*Boogie-woogie, a piano-based music style*Boogie-woogie , a swing dance or a dance that imitates the rock-n-roll dance of the 1950s*"Boogie Woogie" , a song by EuroGroove and Dannii Minogue...
, and country
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
, and Hunter made a name in all of those genres. Uniquely, he was honored at the Monterey Jazz Festival
Monterey Jazz Festival
The Monterey Jazz Festival is one of the longest consecutively running jazz festivals. It debuted on October 3, 1958 and was founded by San Francisco jazz radio broadcaster Jimmy Lyons.-History:...
and the Grand Ole Opry
Grand Ole Opry
The Grand Ole Opry is a weekly country music stage concert in Nashville, Tennessee, that has presented the biggest stars of that genre since 1925. It is also among the longest-running broadcasts in history since its beginnings as a one-hour radio "barn dance" on WSM-AM...
.
Early years
Hunter was born in Kirbyville, TexasKirbyville, Texas
Kirbyville is a city in Jasper County, Texas, United States. The population was 2,085 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Kirbyville is located at ....
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Ivory Joe Hunter was his birthname, not a nickname nor a stage name. As a youngster, Hunter developed an early interest in music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
from his father, Dave Hunter, who played guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, and his gospel-singing mother. He was a talented pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
by the age of 13, and as a teenager, Hunter made his first recording for Alan Lomax
Alan Lomax
Alan Lomax was an American folklorist and ethnomusicologist. He was one of the great field collectors of folk music of the 20th century, recording thousands of songs in the United States, Great Britain, Ireland, the Caribbean, Italy, and Spain.In his later career, Lomax advanced his theories of...
and the Library of Congress
Library of Congress
The Library of Congress is the research library of the United States Congress, de facto national library of the United States, and the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States. Located in three buildings in Washington, D.C., it is the largest library in the world by shelf space and...
in 1933.
Radio and recordings
In the early 1940s, Hunter had his own radio show in Beaumont, TexasBeaumont, Texas
Beaumont is a city in and county seat of Jefferson County, Texas, United States, within the Beaumont–Port Arthur Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city's population was 118,296 at the 2010 census. With Port Arthur and Orange, it forms the Golden Triangle, a major industrial area on the...
, on KFDM, where he eventually became program manager, and in 1942 he moved to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, joining Johnny Moore's Three Blazers
Johnny Moore's Three Blazers
Johnny Moore’s Three Blazers were a successful and influential African-American vocal and instrumental group in the 1940s and 1950s.The original members were :-Johnny Moore and his younger brother Oscar grew up in Texas and then Phoenix, Arizona, where they both started playing guitar and formed...
in the mid 1940s. 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.
In the late 1940s, Hunter founded Pacific Records, and in 1947, he recorded for Four Star Records
Four Star Records
4 Star Records is the name of a record label that recorded many well-known country music acts in the 1950s. The label, founded after World War II, was home to singers such as Hank Locklin, Maddox Brothers and Rose, Rose Maddox, Webb Pierce and T. Texas Tyler...
and King Records
King Records (USA)
King Records is an American record label, started in 1943 by Syd Nathan and originally headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio.-History:At first it specialized in country music, at the time still known as "hillbilly music." King advertised, "If it's a King, It's a Hillbilly -- If it's a Hillbilly, it's a...
. 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
Duke Ellington
Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington was an American composer, pianist, and big band leader. Ellington wrote over 1,000 compositions...
band.
After signing with MGM Records
MGM Records
MGM Records was a record label started by the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film studio in 1946, for the purpose of releasing soundtrack albums of their musical films. Later it became a pop label, lasting into the 1970s...
, he recorded "I Almost Lost My Mind
I Almost Lost My Mind
"I Almost Lost My Mind" is a popular song. It was written by Ivory Joe Hunter and was published in 1950. Hunter's recording of the song was a number one hit on the US Billboard R&B chart in that year....
," 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
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
by Pat Boone
Pat Boone
Charles Eugene "Pat" Boone is an American singer, actor and writer who has been a successful pop singer in the United States during the 1950s and early 1960s. He covered black artists' songs and sold more copies than his black counterparts...
whose version became a number one pop hit. "I Need You So
I Need You So
"I Need You So" is a song written by Ivory Joe Hunter, whose recording of it reached no. 1 on the Billboard R&B chart in 1950, staying there for two weeks. It was also recorded by Elvis Presley, on his 1957 album Loving You....
" 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
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
community. In April 1951, he made his network TV debut on You Asked For It
You Asked For It
You Asked for It is a popular human-interest show created and hosted by Art Baker. Initially titled The Art Baker Show, the program originally aired on American television between 1950 and 1959...
. 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.
By 1954, he had recorded more than 100 songs and moved to Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
. 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.
While visiting Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
, in the spring of 1957, Hunter was invited by Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
to visit Graceland
Graceland
Graceland is a large white-columned mansion and estate that was home to Elvis Presley in Memphis, Tennessee. It is located at 3764 Elvis Presley Boulevard in the vast Whitehaven community about 9 miles from Downtown and less than four miles north of the Mississippi border. It currently serves as...
. 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." Presley recorded several of his songs, including "I Need You So", "My Wish Came True" and "Ain't That Lovin' You, Baby
Ain't That Lovin' You, Baby
Ain't That Lovin' You, Baby is a song originally performed by Eddie Riff in 1956. It was recorded by Elvis Presley on June 10, 1958, but wasn't released as a single by him until September 1964 when it reached number 16 on the Billboard chart, with Ask Me as the B-side. It is a standard...
". 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 OpryGrand Ole Opry
The Grand Ole Opry is a weekly country music stage concert in Nashville, Tennessee, that has presented the biggest stars of that genre since 1925. It is also among the longest-running broadcasts in history since its beginnings as a one-hour radio "barn dance" on WSM-AM...
appearances and recording an album titled I've Always Been Country.
Sonny James
James Loden , known professionally as Sonny James, is an American country music singer and songwriter best known for his 1957 hit, "Young Love". Dubbed the Southern Gentleman, James had 72 country and pop chart hits from 1953 to 1983, including a five-year streak of 16 straight among his 23 No. 1...
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
Monterey Jazz Festival
The Monterey Jazz Festival is one of the longest consecutively running jazz festivals. It debuted on October 3, 1958 and was founded by San Francisco jazz radio broadcaster Jimmy Lyons.-History:...
. The Return of Ivory Joe Hunter was recorded in Memphis with a band that included Isaac Hayes
Isaac Hayes
Isaac Lee Hayes, Jr. was an American songwriter, musician, singer and actor. Hayes was one of the creative influences behind the southern soul music label Stax Records, where he served both as an in-house songwriter and as a record producer, teaming with his partner David Porter during the...
, Gene "Bowlegs" Miller
Gene "Bowlegs" Miller
Gene "Bowlegs" Miller was an Authentic Beale Street Musician who was a trumpeter and band leader. He was born May 27, 1933 and died December 25, 1987....
and Charles Chalmers. Jerry Lee Lewis
Jerry Lee Lewis
Jerry Lee Lewis is an American rock and roll and country music singer-songwriter and pianist. An early pioneer of rock and roll music, Lewis's career faltered after he married his young cousin, and he afterwards made a career extension to country and western music. He is known by the nickname 'The...
covered "Since I Met You Baby" in 1969.
Death
In 1974, lung cancerLung cancer
Lung cancer is a disease characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung. If left untreated, this growth can spread beyond the lung in a process called metastasis into nearby tissue and, eventually, into other parts of the body. Most cancers that start in lung, known as primary...
led to Hunter's death in Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
at the age of 60. He was buried in his native Kirbyville.
Chart singles
| Year | Single | Chart Positions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Pop Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
US R&B Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,... |
||
| 1945 | "Blues At Sunrise" | - | 3 |
| 1948 | "Pretty Mama Blues Pretty Mama Blues "Pretty Mama Blues" is a 1948 song written and performed by Ivory Joe Hunter. Hunter's second release became his first number one on the US Billboard R&B chart. "Pretty Mama Blues' spent three weeks at the number one spot.... " |
- | 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 Jealous Heart "Jealous Heart" is a classic C&W song which has also been recorded by several Pop singers.-Early versions:The first recording of "Jealous Heart" was made in 1944 by its composer Jenny Lou Carson... " |
- | 2 | |
| 1950 | "I Almost Lost My Mind I Almost Lost My Mind "I Almost Lost My Mind" is a popular song. It was written by Ivory Joe Hunter and was published in 1950. Hunter's recording of the song was a number one hit on the US Billboard R&B chart in that year.... " |
- | 1 |
| "I Quit My Pretty Mama" | - | 4 | |
| "S. P. Blues" | - | 9 | |
| "I Need You So I Need You So "I Need You So" is a song written by Ivory Joe Hunter, whose recording of it reached no. 1 on the Billboard R&B chart in 1950, staying there for two weeks. It was also recorded by Elvis Presley, on his 1957 album Loving You.... " |
- | 1 | |
| "It's A Sin" | - | 10 | |
| 1955 | "It May Sound Silly" | - | 14 |
| 1956 | "A Tear Fell A Tear Fell "A Tear Fell" is a popular song. It was written by Eugene Randolph and Dorian Burton and released in 1956.The best-known version of the song was recorded by Teresa Brewer the same year, peaking at #2 in the UK Singles Chart.-Cover versions:... " |
- | 15 |
| "Since I Met You Baby Since I Met You Baby (song) "Since I Met You Baby" is an American rhythm and blues song written and recorded by pianist Ivory Joe Hunter. The song, which Hunter recorded in 1956, became an American standard, and saw renewed popularity in 1969 when country music artist Sonny James released his hit version.-Song... " |
12 | 1 | |
| 1957 | "Empty Arms" / "Love's A Hurting Game" |
43 - |
2 7 |
| 1958 | "Yes I Want You" | 94 | 13 |
| 1959 | "City Lights" | 92 | - |
External links
- TV debut of Ivory Joe Hunter on You Asked For ItYou Asked For ItYou Asked for It is a popular human-interest show created and hosted by Art Baker. Initially titled The Art Baker Show, the program originally aired on American television between 1950 and 1959...
- Ivory Joe performing "S.P. Blues" with brief Nina SimoneNina SimoneEunice Kathleen Waymon , better known by her stage name Nina Simone , was an American singer, songwriter, pianist, arranger, and civil rights activist widely associated with jazz music...
leading fragment - Ivory Joe Hunter at Shades Of Blue
- Ivory Joe Hunter, Mean Woman Blues album info