Jimmy Justice (musician)
Encyclopedia
James Anthony Bernard Little, better known by his stage name
Jimmy Justice (born 15 December 1939, Bermondsey
) was an English
pop
singer. He scored three Top 40 hits
in the UK
in 1962.
. Because of this, Little was occasionally invited to sing with The Checkmates
, and was encouraged by Ford to start his own group. After competing in a talent show
he was noticed by executives from EMI
, but he eventually signed with Pye Records
instead at the urging of Ford. His debut single
, credited to "JJ & the Jury", was 1960's "I Understand". While "The Jury" was the name used for Justice's subsequent backing band, on this first recording
he is backed by The Checkmates.
Despite the single's lack of success, Pye offered him a three-year recording contract
. While visiting his girlfriend, who lived in Sweden
, he sang in clubs and on radio and television, resulting in his first major exposure; eventually, he would score a major hit in Sweden with the tune "Little Lonely One", originally by The Jarmels
. He remained in Sweden during the time that his records
began to break in the UK, with three of them hitting the UK Singles Chart
in 1962; "When My Little Girl Is Smiling" (#9, March), "Ain't That Funny" (#8, June), and "Spanish Harlem
" (#20, August). His version
of "When My Little Girl Is Smiling" had competition from both The Drifters
original cut (UK #31) and Craig Douglas
' cover (UK #9).
Because of his general absence in UK at the time his records hit the charts
, he was unable to capitalize fully on his popularity in his home country. Meanwhile, Kapp Records
picked up "When My Little Girl Is Smiling" for distribution in the U.S.
, where it peaked at #127. His records were also popular throughout continental Europe
and in Australia
.
Justice released two full-length albums in 1963 (I Wake Up Crying and Justice for All!
) but soon faded in the wake of the beat group explosion. The former included a cover of Clyde McPhatter
's hit - "Since You've Been Gone".
In 2001, fifty of his Pye recordings were released on two compact disc
s by Castle Music.
Stage name
A stage name, also called a showbiz name or screen name, is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers such as actors, wrestlers, comedians, and musicians.-Motivation to use a stage name:...
Jimmy Justice (born 15 December 1939, Bermondsey
Bermondsey
Bermondsey is an area in London on the south bank of the river Thames, and is part of the London Borough of Southwark. To the west lies Southwark, to the east Rotherhithe, and to the south, Walworth and Peckham.-Toponomy:...
) was an English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
singer. He scored three Top 40 hits
Hit record
A hit record is a sound recording, usually in the form of a single or album, that sells a large number of copies or otherwise becomes broadly popular or well-known, through airplay, club play, inclusion in a film or stage play soundtrack, causing it to have "hit" one of the popular chart listings...
in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
in 1962.
Biography
As a young man, James Little befriended Dave and George Sweetman, who were stepbrothers of Emile FordEmile Ford
Emile Ford is a musician and singer, who was popular in the United Kingdom in the late 1950s and early 1960s.-Life and career:...
. Because of this, Little was occasionally invited to sing with The Checkmates
Emile Ford
Emile Ford is a musician and singer, who was popular in the United Kingdom in the late 1950s and early 1960s.-Life and career:...
, and was encouraged by Ford to start his own group. After competing in a talent show
Talent show
A talent show is an event where participants perform their talent or talents of acting, singing, dancing, acrobatics, drumming, martial arts, playing an instrument, and other activities to showcase a unique form of talent, sometimes for a reward, trophy or prize...
he was noticed by executives from EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
, but he eventually signed with Pye Records
Pye Records
Pye Records was a British record label. In its first incarnation, perhaps Pye's best known artists were Lonnie Donegan , Petula Clark , The Searchers , The Kinks , Sandie Shaw and Brotherhood of Man...
instead at the urging of Ford. His debut single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
, credited to "JJ & the Jury", was 1960's "I Understand". While "The Jury" was the name used for Justice's subsequent backing band, on this first recording
Sound recording and reproduction
Sound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
he is backed by The Checkmates.
Despite the single's lack of success, Pye offered him a three-year recording contract
Recording contract
A recording contract is a legal agreement between a record label and a recording artist , where the artist makes a record for the label to sell and promote...
. While visiting his girlfriend, who lived in Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, he sang in clubs and on radio and television, resulting in his first major exposure; eventually, he would score a major hit in Sweden with the tune "Little Lonely One", originally by The Jarmels
The Jarmels
The Jarmels are a doo wop/rhythm and blues group officially formed in 1959 in Richmond, Virginia. They were composed of Nathaniel Ruff , Paul Burnett , Ray Smith , Earl Christian , and Tom Eldridge .They met while attending Armstrong High School and while some sang at nearby Mount Olivet Baptist...
. He remained in Sweden during the time that his records
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
began to break in the UK, with three of them hitting the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
in 1962; "When My Little Girl Is Smiling" (#9, March), "Ain't That Funny" (#8, June), and "Spanish Harlem
Spanish Harlem (song)
"Spanish Harlem" is a song released by Ben E. King in 1960 on Atco Records, written by Jerry Leiber and Phil Spector and produced by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller...
" (#20, August). His version
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...
of "When My Little Girl Is Smiling" had competition from both The Drifters
The Drifters
The Drifters are a long-lived American doo-wop and R&B/soul vocal group with a peak in popularity from 1953 to 1963, though several splinter Drifters continue to perform today. They were originally formed to serve as Clyde McPhatter's backing group in 1953...
original cut (UK #31) and Craig Douglas
Craig Douglas
Craig Douglas is an English pop singer, who was popular in the late 1950s and early 1960s...
' cover (UK #9).
Because of his general absence in UK at the time his records hit the charts
Record chart
A record chart is a ranking of recorded music according to popularity during a given period of time. Examples of music charts are the Hit parade, Hot 100 or Top 40....
, he was unable to capitalize fully on his popularity in his home country. Meanwhile, Kapp Records
Kapp Records
Kapp Records was an independent record label started in 1954 by David Kapp, brother of Jack Kapp . David Kapp founded his own label after stints with Decca Records and RCA Victor Records. Kapp licensed its records to London Records for release in the UK.In 1967, David Kapp sold his label to MCA Inc...
picked up "When My Little Girl Is Smiling" for distribution in the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, where it peaked at #127. His records were also popular throughout continental Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
Justice released two full-length albums in 1963 (I Wake Up Crying and Justice for All!
Justice for All!
Justice for All! is an LP recorded by British singer Jimmy Justice. It contains all three of his British hits, "When My Little Girl Is Smiling," "Spanish Harlem," and "Ain't That Funny." Cover versions include "If You Love Me ," "I'm Beginning to See the Light," and "Misty."-Side 1:# When My Little...
) but soon faded in the wake of the beat group explosion. The former included a cover of Clyde McPhatter
Clyde McPhatter
Clyde McPhatter was an American R&B singer, perhaps the most widely imitated R&B singer of the 1950s and 1960s, making him a key figure in the shaping of doo-wop and R&B. He is best known for his solo hit "A Lover's Question"...
's hit - "Since You've Been Gone".
In 2001, fifty of his Pye recordings were released on two compact disc
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
s by Castle Music.
UK singles chart hits
- "When My Little Girl Is Smiling" (Gerry GoffinGerry GoffinGerry Goffin is an American lyricist. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990 with former songwriting partner and first wife, Carole King. he has co-written six Billboard Hot 100 chart-toppers.-Career:Goffin enlisted with the Marine Corps Reserve after graduating from...
/Carole KingCarole KingCarole King is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. King and her former husband Gerry Goffin wrote more than two dozen chart hits for numerous artists during the 1960s, many of which have become standards. As a singer, King had an album, Tapestry, top the U.S...
) - #9 - PyePye RecordsPye Records was a British record label. In its first incarnation, perhaps Pye's best known artists were Lonnie Donegan , Petula Clark , The Searchers , The Kinks , Sandie Shaw and Brotherhood of Man... - "Ain't That Funny" (Les VandykeLes VandykeLes Vandyke was a popular music singer and later songwriter in the 1950s and 1960s. He was also known as Johnny Worth and John Worsley...
) #8 - Pye - "Spanish HarlemSpanish Harlem (song)"Spanish Harlem" is a song released by Ben E. King in 1960 on Atco Records, written by Jerry Leiber and Phil Spector and produced by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller...
" (Jerry LeiberJerry Leiber and Mike StollerJerome "Jerry" Leiber and Mike Stoller were American songwriting and record producing partners. Stoller was the composer and Leiber the lyricist. Their most famous songs include "Hound Dog", "Jailhouse Rock", "Kansas City", "Stand By Me" Jerome "Jerry" Leiber (April 25, 1933 – August 22, 2011)...
/Phil SpectorPhil SpectorPhillip Harvey "Phil" Spector is an American record producer and songwriter, later known for his conviction in the murder of actress Lana Clarkson....
) #20 - Pye