photo courtesy of gilles petard (ace records)
b. J.R. Bailey a.k.a. James Ralph Bailey, 26th February 1934, South Carolina, U.S.A.
d. January 1980, New York, U.S.A..
J.R. Bailey was an R & B singer and songwriter.
the cadillacs
He was a member of the Cadillacs from 1956 to 1972 and scored five R & B singles hits under his own name between 1968 and 1975, the biggest of which was 'After Hours' (number 29, 1973).
After his stay with the Cadillacs, J.R.Bailey began songwriting for the likes of Ben E.King, The Three Degrees, The Platters, Esther Phillips, The Sweet Inspirations, The Rayletts, Arthur Prysock and Ike & Tina Turner.
He is also the author of the hits 'Everybody Plays the Fool,' by the Main Ingredient, and 'Love, Love, Love,' by Donny Hathaway.
J.R. also sang backgrounds for the likes of Aretha Franklin, Roberta Flack, Donny Hathaway, Melvin Van Peebles and Jimmy Castor.
J.R. Bailey With the Manhattans 1975
In 1974, J.R. Bailey released 'Just Me N' You' on MAM Records, distributed by London Records, which contained his version of 'Love, Love, Love'.
P roduced by Bailey, Jerome Jasper, Ken Williams and Mel Kent, this album has become highly collectable amongst the U.K. soul fraternity.
J.R.Bailey's additional releases included 'I'm Still In Love With You' (1982), while as a songwriter his credits included 'Sweet Music, Soft Lights And You' (lsaac Hayes / Millie Jackson), and 'Just Me And You' (Erasmus Hall).
He died in 1980.
Albums:
Rockin,' Rollin' and Strollin' (Capitol 1958)
Just Me N' You (MAM 1974)
Love and Conversation (United Artists 1977)
