J. J. Barnes

{{Short description|American singer-songwriter (1943–2022)}} {{Infobox musical artist  | name = J.J. Barnes | image = J. J. Barnes non-free.jpg | caption = | image_size = | background = solo_singer | birth_name = James Jay Barnes | alias = | birth_date = {{birth date|1943|11|30}} | birth_place = [[Detroit]], [[Michigan]], U.S. | death_date = {{death date and age|2022|12|10|1943|11|30}} | death_place = | instrument = [[Human voice|Vocals]] | genre = [[Soul music|Soul]], [[Pop music|pop]], [[R&B]] | occupation = [[Singing|Singer]] | years_active = 1960–2022 | label = [[Motown Records|Motown]] [[Ric-Tic Records|Ric-Tic]] Micay Records Groovesville [[Buddah Records|Buddah]] Contempo Records }}

'''James Jay Barnes''' (November 30, 1943 – December 10, 2022) was an American [[Rhythm and blues|R&B]] singer and songwriter.<ref>{{cite web|title=JJ Barnes|url=http://www.discogs.com/artist/J.+J.+Barnes#p=1&t=Releases_All|website=Discogs.com|accessdate=3 May 2012}}</ref>

==Biography== He recorded several singles, starting in 1960.<ref name="LarkinSM"/> His early releases including "Just One More Time" and "Please Let Me In", on the [[record label]]s Mickay and [[Ric-Tic]], had relatively little success, but were subsequently picked up as [[Northern soul]] favorites in the UK.<ref name="LarkinSM">{{cite book|title=[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music|The Guinness Who's Who of Soul Music]]|editor=[[Colin Larkin (writer)|Colin Larkin]]|publisher=[[Guinness Publishing]]|date=1993|edition=First|isbn=0-85112-733-9|page=16/7}}</ref> He was later signed to [[Motown Records]], where he contributed as a songwriter but did not have any recordings released as a singer.<ref name="LarkinSM"/> Some of his Motown material has subsequently been released on the ''[[A Cellarful of Motown!]]'' compilation album series.

Barnes was a member of the Holidays, a trio which also included [[Edwin Starr]] and Steve Mancha. They had a #7 R&B hit in June 1966 with "I'll Love You Forever" (#43 in Canada).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f2/nlc008388.5705.pdf| title=RPM Top 100 Singles - July 11, 1966|website=Collections.gc.ca}}</ref> Barnes' biggest [[hit single]] came in 1967 with "Baby Please Come Back Home" on the Groovesville label, which, like many of his [[Gramophone record|records]], he co-wrote.<ref name="LarkinSM"/> The song reached No. 9 on the [[United States|US]] ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|R&B]] [[record chart|chart]], and No. 25 in Canada.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f2/nlc008388.100108.pdf| title=RPM Top 30 R&B - October 28, 1967|website=Collections.gc.ca}}</ref> However, subsequent singles on a variety of labels, including [[cover record|cover]]s of "Black Ivory" on Today/Perception Records, failed to repeat the success.<ref>Hamilton, Andrew, [http://www.e-guide.com/bands/lists/..%5Cb01%5Cb0017465.htm J.J. Barnes], E-guide.com. Retrieved March 2011</ref>

On the recommendation of his friend [[Edwin Starr]], Barnes moved to England in the 1970s, becoming popular. Starr had arranged for Barnes to appear on a series of shows, which led to him signing a deal with Contempo Records.<ref name=am>{{cite web|title=J.J. Barnes|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/jj-barnes-p54366/biography|website=[[AllMusic]]|accessdate=3 May 2012}}</ref> He became a favorite artist of the [[United Kingdom|UK]] Northern soul scene, and performed frequently in the UK.<ref name="LarkinSM"/> Early recordings from Barnes, such as "Please Let Me In" and "Real Humdinger", were re-released in the UK on the [[Motown|Tamla Motown]] label to cater for the buyers of Northern soul records.<ref>{{cite web|title=J. J. Barnes– Real Humdinger|url=http://www.discogs.com/J-J-Barnes-Real-Humdinger/release/1198097|website=Discogs.com|date=September 1973 |accessdate=3 May 2012}}</ref>

In the 1970s, Contempo Records released seven singles and an album, ''Sara Smile'' from Barnes, all without chart success. In the 1980s, he released five more records including a version of the Northern soul favorite by [[Frank Wilson (musician)|Frank Wilson]], "[[Do I Love You (Indeed I Do)]]",<ref name="am" /> and he recorded with producer [[Ian Levine]] in the 1990s.

His song "Chains of Love", originally the B-side of his 1967 hit "Baby Please Come Back Home", achieved further renown when it was covered by [[the Dirtbombs]] on their ''[[Ultraglide in Black]]'' album in 2001.

Barnes died on December 10, 2022, at the age of 79.<ref>Rizik, Chris. (December 10, 2022) [https://www.soultracks.com/story-jj-barnes-dies "1960s R&B star J.J. Barnes dies at age 79"], ''SoulTracks''. Retrieved December 11, 2022.</ref><ref name="DMT">{{cite web |url=https://www.metrotimes.com/music/rip-detroit-soul-singer-jj-barnes-dead-at-79-31825665|title=R.I.P. Detroit soul singer J.J. Barnes, dead at 79|last=DeVito|first=Lee|date=December 11, 2022|accessdate=December 13, 2022|website=Detroit Metro Times}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * {{discogs artist|J. J. Barnes}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Barnes, J. J.}} [[Category:1943 births]] [[Category:2022 deaths]] [[Category:20th-century African-American male singers]] [[Category:20th-century American male singers]] [[Category:20th-century American singers]] [[Category:American rhythm and blues singers]] [[Category:American soul singers]] [[Category:American expatriates in England]] [[Category:Motown artists]] [[Category:Smash Records artists]] [[Category:Northern soul musicians]] [[Category:Buddah Records artists]] [[Category:African-American songwriters]] [[Category:Ric-Tic Records artists]] [[Category:Songwriters from Michigan]] [[Category:Singers from Detroit]] [[Category:21st-century African-American musicians]] [[Category:American male songwriters]]