JIMMY HUGHES, SOUL SINGER, DIES AT 62

[Eric LeBlanc-CISTI]

JIMMY HUGHES (1935-1997)
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"I've got to see you, somehow
Not tomorrow, right now
I know it's too late, ooh I can't wait
So come on and steal away, please steal away"

(Jimmy Hughes, "Steal Away", Fame 6401, June 1964)

Florence,AL-born Jimmy J. Hughes died on Tuesday, April 1/1997, at age 62,
about 6 weeks after he was released from The David Wade Correction Center,
Homer, LA. He first sang gospel, as a member of The Singing Clouds (1956)
and sometimes with his cousin Percy Sledge. In 1962, Carl Bailey (ex-Singing
Clouds) introduced him to Rick Hall of FAME Studios, resulting in the Muscle
Shoals soul classics "I'm Qualified" ('63), "Steal Away" ('64), "Neighbor,
Neighbor" ('65) and "Why Not Tonight" ('67). He then joined Atlantic ('68),
followed by 5 VOLT singles, including a cover version of a 1966 Four Tops
recording "I Like Everything About You" ('68), the Al Jackson Jr. produced
"Let'em Down Baby" ('69) and "Just Ain't Strong As I Used To Be" ('71) with
the HI-rhythm section. His complete VOLT recordings are now available
from ACE/STAX. I would like to thank J. C. Cooper for his help with this
obit.

Selected LP/CD Discography

VEE JAY LP 1102 : Jimmy Hughes (early Fame sides)
ATCO LP 33-209 : Jimmy Hughes - Why Not Tonight?
ACE/STAX CD 012 : Various - Soul Soldiers (7 cuts)
ACE/STAX CD 098 : Joe Hicks/Jimmy Hughes - Something Special (13 cuts)
STAX CD 4411 : Complete STAX/VOLT Singles (1968-1971) (9 CD) (5 cuts)