Norman Giscombe
Encyclopedia
Junior Giscombe is a singer-songwriter
(frequently known simply by the mononym, Junior) who was one of the first British
R&B
artists
to be successful in the United States
.
with Linx
between 1980 and 1982.
When turning towards a solo
career, he was first billed simply as Junior and he scored a #7 hit
in the UK Singles Chart
in 1982, with "Mama Used to Say
". His follow-up single, "Too Late" also made the Top 20 in the UK
. "Mama Used to Say
" was also a Top 40 Pop hit and Top 5 R&B in the United States, earning him a "Best Newcomer" award from Billboard
magazine.
Sometime (most likely) around 1984 and 1985, Junior Giscombe recorded (and very possibly co-wrote) an unknown number of songs with Phil Lynott
, the former leader, vocalist and bass-player of hard rock band Thin Lizzy
. Lynott died in January 1986 and the songs were never officially released. Most remain as demos, but one of the songs, "Lady Loves to Dance", was mastered and nearly released before being pulled by the record company. Some of the songs are available on YouTube, including "What's the Matter Baby" (Giscombe provides backing vocals) and "Time (and Again)" (Giscombe shares vocals with Lynott).
After a period outside the charts
, he made a brief return to the Top 10 in 1987 when he sang a duet
with Kim Wilde
on "Another Step (Closer to You)
". He also became involved with the formation of Red Wedge
in 1986 with Billy Bragg
, Jimmy Somerville
and Paul Weller, and had been a part of The Council Collective with The Style Council
, Jimmy Ruffin
and others for the 1984 fundraising single
, "Soul Deep". Later he became better known as a songwriter
for various artists, including Sheena Easton
. He is currently a DJ
with internet radio
station
, Solarradio.com.
Giscombe is the uncle
of the UK comedian
, Richard Blackwood
, who sampled
"Mama Used to Say" on his single "Mama - Who Da Man" in June 2000.
Prisoner of Hope 2011
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
(frequently known simply by the mononym, Junior) who was one of the first British
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...
R&B
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...
artists
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
to be successful in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Career
Giscombe was a backing vocalistBacking vocalist
A backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...
with Linx
Linx (band)
Linx were a British soul/funk band consisting of David Grant, Bob Carter , Andy Duncan , Canute Edwards and Peter Martin . After their first hit in 1980, the band slimmed down to a duo of Grant and Martin. They had six entries on the UK Singles Chart from mid 1980 until mid 1982...
between 1980 and 1982.
When turning towards a solo
Solo (music)
In music, a solo is a piece or a section of a piece played or sung by a single performer...
career, he was first billed simply as Junior and he scored a #7 hit
Hit single
A hit single is a recorded song or instrumental released as a single that has become very popular. Although it is sometimes used to describe any widely-played or big-selling song, the term "hit" is usually reserved for a single that has appeared in an official music chart through repeated radio...
in 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 1982, with "Mama Used to Say
Mama Used to Say
"Mama Used to Say" is the debut single release from British singer-songwriter Junior, taken from his debut studio album, Ji."Mama Used to Say" was released in April, 1982 and peaked inside the UK Singles Chart top 10 in June, 1982, where it remained at number seven for two weeks...
". His follow-up single, "Too Late" also made the Top 20 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...
. "Mama Used to Say
Mama Used to Say
"Mama Used to Say" is the debut single release from British singer-songwriter Junior, taken from his debut studio album, Ji."Mama Used to Say" was released in April, 1982 and peaked inside the UK Singles Chart top 10 in June, 1982, where it remained at number seven for two weeks...
" was also a Top 40 Pop hit and Top 5 R&B in the United States, earning him a "Best Newcomer" award from Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
magazine.
Sometime (most likely) around 1984 and 1985, Junior Giscombe recorded (and very possibly co-wrote) an unknown number of songs with Phil Lynott
Phil Lynott
Philip Parris "Phil" Lynott was an Irish musician who first came to prominence as a founding member, principal songwriter, and frontman of the Irish rock band Thin Lizzy....
, the former leader, vocalist and bass-player of hard rock band Thin Lizzy
Thin Lizzy
Thin Lizzy are an Irish hard rock band formed in Dublin in 1969. Two of the founding members, drummer Brian Downey and bass guitarist/vocalist Phil Lynott met while still in school. Lynott assumed the role of frontman and led them throughout their recording career of thirteen studio albums...
. Lynott died in January 1986 and the songs were never officially released. Most remain as demos, but one of the songs, "Lady Loves to Dance", was mastered and nearly released before being pulled by the record company. Some of the songs are available on YouTube, including "What's the Matter Baby" (Giscombe provides backing vocals) and "Time (and Again)" (Giscombe shares vocals with Lynott).
After a period outside 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 made a brief return to the Top 10 in 1987 when he sang a duet
Duet (music)
A duet is a musical composition for two performers. In classical music, the term is most often used for a composition for two singers or pianists; with other instruments, the word duo is also often used. A piece performed by two pianists performing together on the same piano is referred to as...
with Kim Wilde
Kim Wilde
Kim Wilde is an English pop singer, author and television presenter who burst onto the music scene in 1981 with the number 2 UK Singles Chart new wave classic "Kids in America". In 1987 she had a major hit in the United States when her version of The Supremes' classic "You Keep Me Hangin' On"...
on "Another Step (Closer to You)
Another Step (Closer to You)
"Another Step " is the third single from the Kim Wilde album Another Step, performed as a duet with Junior Giscombe.Wilde co-wrote the song with Steve Byrd, who originally sang the male part on the demo. However, they decided the vocals would be better suited to someone with a more soulful voice...
". He also became involved with the formation of Red Wedge
Red Wedge
Red Wedge was a collective of musicians who attempted to engage young people with politics in general, and the policies of the Labour Party in particular, during the period leading up to the 1987 general election, in the hope of ousting the Conservative government of Margaret Thatcher.Fronted by...
in 1986 with Billy Bragg
Billy Bragg
Stephen William Bragg , better known as Billy Bragg, is an English alternative rock musician and left-wing activist. His music blends elements of folk music, punk rock and protest songs, and his lyrics mostly deal with political or romantic themes...
, Jimmy Somerville
Jimmy Somerville
James William Somerville is a Scottish pop singer and songwriter. He had considerable success in the 1980s with the pop groups Bronski Beat and The Communards, and has also had a successful solo career. He is known in particular for his falsetto singing voice...
and Paul Weller, and had been a part of The Council Collective with The Style Council
The Style Council
The Style Council were an English band, formed in 1983 by the ex-The Jam singer and guitarist Paul Weller, with keyboardist Mick Talbot. The permanent line-up grew to include drummer Steve White and Weller's then-wife, vocalist Dee C. Lee. Other artists such as Tracie Young and Tracey Thorn also...
, Jimmy Ruffin
Jimmy Ruffin
Jimmy Ruffin is an American soul singer, and elder brother of the late David Ruffin of The Temptations. He had several hit records between the 1960s and 1980s, the most successful being "What Becomes of the Brokenhearted."-Life:...
and others for the 1984 fundraising 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...
, "Soul Deep". Later he became better known as a 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...
for various artists, including Sheena Easton
Sheena Easton
Sheena Easton is a Scottish recording artist. Easton became famous for being the focus of an episode in the British television programme The Big Time, which recorded her attempts to gain a record contract and her eventual signing with EMI Records.Easton rose to fame in the early 1980s with the pop...
. He is currently a DJ
Disc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
with internet radio
Internet radio
Internet radio is an audio service transmitted via the Internet...
station
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
, Solarradio.com.
Giscombe is the uncle
Uncle
An uncle is a type of familial relationship.Uncle may also refer to:* Uncle , by J. P. Martin* U.N.C.L.E., a fictional organization in the TV series The Man from U.N.C.L.E....
of the UK comedian
Comedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
, Richard Blackwood
Richard Blackwood
Richard Blackwood , is an English comedian, media personality, occasional actor and MC. Blackwood is step-brother of Naomi Campbell after his father was married to her mother for a time...
, who sampled
Sampling (music)
In music, sampling is the act of taking a portion, or sample, of one sound recording and reusing it as an instrument or a different sound recording of a song or piece. Sampling was originally developed by experimental musicians working with musique concrète and electroacoustic music, who physically...
"Mama Used to Say" on his single "Mama - Who Da Man" in June 2000.
Singles
- On Mercury RecordsMercury RecordsMercury Records is a record label operating as a standalone company in the UK and as part of the Island Def Jam Motown Music Group in the US; both are subsidiaries of Universal Music Group. There is also a Mercury Records in Australia, which is a local artist and repertoire division of Universal...
:- "Mama Used to SayMama Used to Say"Mama Used to Say" is the debut single release from British singer-songwriter Junior, taken from his debut studio album, Ji."Mama Used to Say" was released in April, 1982 and peaked inside the UK Singles Chart top 10 in June, 1982, where it remained at number seven for two weeks...
" (1982), No 7 UK Singles ChartUK Singles ChartThe 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 ...
, R&B No 2, US No 30 - "Too Late" (1981), No 20 UK, R&B No 8
- "Let Me Know"/"I Can't Help It" (1982), No 53 UK
- "Communication Breakdown" (1983), No 57 UK, R&B No 40
- "Mama Used to Say
- On London RecordsLondon RecordsLondon Records, referred to as London Recordings in logo, is a record label headquartered in the United Kingdom, originally marketing records in the United States, Canada and Latin America from 1947 to 1979, then becoming a semi-independent label....
:- "Somebody" (1984), No 64 UK
- "(Do You Really) Want My Love" (1985), No 47 UK
- "Oh Louise" (1985), No 74
- On MCA RecordsMCA RecordsMCA Records was an American-based record company owned by MCA Inc., which later gave way to the larger MCA Music Entertainment Group , of which MCA Records was still part. MCA Records was absorbed by Geffen Records in 2003...
:- "Another Step (Closer to You)" (credited to Kim WildeKim WildeKim Wilde is an English pop singer, author and television presenter who burst onto the music scene in 1981 with the number 2 UK Singles Chart new wave classic "Kids in America". In 1987 she had a major hit in the United States when her version of The Supremes' classic "You Keep Me Hangin' On"...
and Junior) (1987) No 6 UK - "Step Off" (1990), No 63 UK (credited to Junior Giscombe)
- "Then Came You" (1992), No 32 UK (credited to Junior Giscombe)
- "All Over the World" (1992), No 74 UK (credited to Junior Giscombe)
- "Another Step (Closer to You)" (credited to Kim Wilde
- Independently
- "Mama Used To Say (2011 Version) (with Mumzy StrangerMumzy StrangerMuhammad Mumith Ahmed , better known by his stage name Mumzy Stranger, is a British MC, singer-songwriter and record producer. He made his mainstream recording debut in the summer of 2009 with his debut single "One More Dance," which topped the UK Asian Charts, as did the follow-up singles,...
)
- "Mama Used To Say (2011 Version) (with Mumzy Stranger
Albums
- Ji (Mercury Records 1982), No 28 UKUK Albums ChartThe UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart...
- Inside Lookin' Out (1983)
- Acquired Taste (1985)
- Sophisticated Street (1988)
- Stand Strong (1990)
- Renewal (1992)
- Honesty (1995)
- Oceans (2005)
- Prisoner of Hope (2011)
Prisoner of Hope 2011