# Young Jessie

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American singer (1936–2020)

Not to be confused with [Young Jeezy](/source/Young_Jeezy).

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Young Jessie Also known as Obie Jessie Born Obediah Donnell Jessie (1936-12-28)December 28, 1936 Lincoln Manor, Dallas, Texas, United States Died April 27, 2020(2020-04-27) (aged 83) Genres R&B soul jazz rock and roll jump blues Occupations Singer, songwriter Years active 1953–2020 Labels Modern, Atco, Capitol, Mercury, Jazz Family Formerly of The Flairs The Coasters

Musical artist

**Obediah Donnell "Obie" Jessie** (December 28, 1936 – April 27, 2020)[1] was an American [R&B](/source/Rhythm_and_blues), [rock and roll](/source/Rock_and_roll) and [jazz](/source/Jazz) [singer](/source/Singing) and [songwriter](/source/Songwriter). He recorded as **Young Jessie** in the 1950s and 1960s, and was known for his solo career, work with [The Flairs](/source/The_Flairs) and a brief stint in [The Coasters](/source/The_Coasters). He later performed and recorded jazz as **Obie Jessie**.

## Early life

Jessie's father was a cook but had no musical background. His mother, Malinda ([née](/source/Married_and_maiden_names) Harris) was very musical, playing piano and other instruments; she had a brief musical career under the name Plunky Harris.[2] On his mother's side of the family, Jessie was also kin to the blues musician, [Blind Lemon Jefferson](/source/Blind_Lemon_Jefferson).[2]

## Early career

In 1946, he moved with his family to [Los Angeles](/source/Los_Angeles), where he began studying music, and formed a vocal group, The Debonaires, which also included [Richard Berry](/source/Richard_Berry_(musician)).[3] The group recorded Jessie's song, "I Had A Love", in 1953, and the single was released under the name of The Hollywood Blue Jays. They then renamed themselves as [The Flairs](/source/The_Flairs), and won a recording contract with [Modern Records](/source/Modern_Records).[3]

However, in 1954, Jessie signed a solo contract with producers [Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller](/source/Jerry_Leiber_and_Mike_Stoller), and began recording as "Young Jessie".[3] He said: "[The name] came about because I sounded like I was forty, like ancient for a boy of 17. I had this deep baritone voice and the [Biharis](/source/Bihari_brothers) wanted me to get close to the [rock 'n' roll](/source/Rock_'n'_roll) market. I could have called myself Obie Jessie but I didn't want people to think I was old."[4]

## Recordings and performances

In 1955, he wrote and recorded the single "Mary Lou", later covered by [Ronnie Hawkins](/source/Ronnie_Hawkins) in 1959,[3] [Steve Miller Band](/source/Steve_Miller_Band) in 1973, [Bob Seger](/source/Bob_Seger) in 1976, [Gene Clark](/source/Gene_Clark) in 1977, [Frank Zappa](/source/Frank_Zappa) in 1983 and [The Oblivians](/source/The_Oblivians) in 1997. In 1956, he released "Hit, Git and Split",[3] co-written with [Buck Ram](/source/Buck_Ram) and recorded in [New York City](/source/New_York_City) with guitarist [Mickey Baker](/source/Mickey_Baker).[4] He also briefly recorded with [The Coasters](/source/The_Coasters) in 1957,[3] (including harmony vocals on "Searchin'" and "Young Blood"), and appeared on records by The Crescendos[5] and Johnny Morisette, as well as being a writer for other artists' recordings, including The Chargers and Jimmy Norman. He released the single "Shuffle In the Gravel" / "Make Believe", again produced by Leiber and Stoller, on the [Atco](/source/Atco_Records) label in 1957.[4]

Jessie then moved on to record jazz for the [Capitol](/source/Capitol_Records) label, novelty records for [Mercury](/source/Mercury_Records) in the early 1960s, and soul ballads for the Vanessa label in 1963, but with little commercial success.[3] He recorded some unreleased material for Jake Porter in the 1960s.[6] He also did an album's worth of songs owned by [Harvey Fuqua](/source/Harvey_Fuqua) in the 1970s that never got released.[6] In 1972, he recorded a single as Obe Jessie & The Seeds Of Freedom for Stone Dogg Records.[7]

He also formed a jazz group, the Obie Jessie Combo, which played club dates, and in 1976 became musical director for [Esther Phillips](/source/Esther_Phillips). In 1982, he toured in Europe and recorded jazz in Germany, and in 1983 performed at an "R & B Jamboree" in [London](/source/London), where he reportedly "astonished the audience with a charismatic performance."[4]

He also performed with [Leon Hughes](/source/Leon_Hughes)' group of [The Coasters](/source/The_Coasters). As "Obie Jessie", he later released several jazz albums, including *What Happened To Jr.* (1995), *Here's To Life* (2002), and *New Atmosphere* (2009).[4] He also recorded with Atlanta-based saxophonist Bob Miles, and performed on the song "People The Time Has Come" with lyrics by Nadim Sulaiman Ali.[8]

## Personal life

His younger brother [DeWayne Jessie](/source/DeWayne_Jessie) became an [actor](/source/Actor),[2] and became well known as [Otis Day](/source/Otis_Day_and_the_Knights) in the film, *[National Lampoon's Animal House](/source/National_Lampoon's_Animal_House)*. Two of Young Jessie's four children sang in a group called Wizdom in the 1980s.[9]

Obie Jessie died on April 27, 2020, aged 83.[1]

## Discography

### Singles

- "I Smell A Rat" / "Lonesome Desert" (Modern #921) (April 1954)

- "Mary Lou" / "Don't Think I Will" (Modern #961) (June 1955)

- "Nothing Seems Right" / "Do You Love Me" (Modern #973) (November 1955)

- "Hot Dog" (Modern; unreleased) (1956; recorded this song before [Elvis Presley](/source/Elvis_Presley))

- "Hit, Git and Split" / "It Don't Happen No More" (Modern #1002) (September 1956)

- "Here Comes Henry" / "Oochie Coochie" (Modern #1010) (December 1956)

- "Shuffle In The Gravel" / "Make Believe" (Atco #6101, 1957)

- "Shuffle In The Gravel" / "Make Believe" (London [UK] #8544, 1958)

- "Margie" / "That's Enough For Me" (Atlantic #2003) (1958)

- "Lulu Belle" / "The Wrong Door" (Capitol #4318) (1959)

- "Teacher, Gimme Back" / "My Country Cousin" (Mercury #71895) (1961)

- "Be Bop Country Boy" / "Big Chief" (Mercury #71985) (1962)

- "I'm A Lovin' Man" / "Too Fine For Cryin'2" (Mercury #72104) (1963)

- "Mary Lou" / "You Were Meant For Me" (Mercury #72146) (1963)

- "Make Me Feel A Little Good" / "Brown Eyes (Come On Home)" (Vanessa #101) (1963)

- "Young Jessie's Bossanova, Part 1" / "Part 2" (Bit #7464) (1964)

- "Who's To Blame" / "Beautiful Day My Brother" (Stone Dogg #801) (1972) (released by 'Obe Jessie and the Seeds of Freedom')

### Albums

- *Chuck Jackson and Young Jessie* (Crown #5354) (1963)

- *R & B Jamboree* ([Ace](/source/Ace_Records_(UK))) (1983)

- *Hit, Git and Split* (Ace) (1985)

- *Shuffle in the Gravel* (Mr. R&B #1004) (1987; released in Sweden)

- *Shufflin' and Jivin'* (Ace) (1987)

- *I'm Gone (The Legendary Modern Recordings)* (Ace) (1995)

#### As Obie Jessie

- *What Happened To Jr.* (Solar #72597) (1995)

- *Here's To Life* (Jazz Family #101) (2002)

- *New Atmosphere* (Jazz Family) (2009)

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Perlich_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Perlich_1-1) ["R.I.P. Obie "Young" Jessie, 1936-2020"](https://theperlichpost.blogspot.com/2020/04/rip-obie-young-jessie-1936-2020.html), *The Perlich Post*, April 29, 2020. Retrieved 29 April 2020

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-blindlemon_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-blindlemon_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-blindlemon_2-2) Millar, Bill (2004). *Let The Good Times Rock*. York, England: Music Mentor Books. p. 153. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-9519888-8-3](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-9519888-8-3).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-LarkinGE_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-LarkinGE_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-LarkinGE_3-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-LarkinGE_3-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-LarkinGE_3-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-LarkinGE_3-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-LarkinGE_3-6) [Colin Larkin](/source/Colin_Larkin_(writer)), ed. (1992). *[The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music](/source/Encyclopedia_of_Popular_Music)* (First ed.). [Guinness Publishing](/source/Guinness_Publishing). p. 1281. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-85112-939-0](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-85112-939-0).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-blackcat_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-blackcat_4-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-blackcat_4-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-blackcat_4-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-blackcat_4-4) ["Young Jessie"](http://www.rockabilly.nl/references/messages/young_jessie.htm). *Rockabilly.nl*. Retrieved September 17, 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-crescendos_5-0)** Galen Hart; [Steve Propes](/source/Steve_Propes) (2001). *L.A. R&B Vocal Groups 1945-1965*. Milford, NH: Big Nickel Publications. p. 38. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-936433-18-3](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-936433-18-3).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-porter_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-porter_6-1) Millar, Bill (2004). *Let The Good Times Rock*. York, England: Music Mentor Books. p. 158. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-9519888-8-3](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-9519888-8-3).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-stonedogg_7-0)** Millar, Bill (1974). *The Coasters*. London, England: Star Books. p. 178. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-352-30020-5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-352-30020-5).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Bob Miles - Nubian Woman CD Album"](https://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=6890666). *Cduniverse.com*. Retrieved September 17, 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-wizdom_9-0)** Millar, Bill (2004). *Let The Good Times Rock*. York, England: Music Mentor Books. p. 159. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-9519888-8-3](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-9519888-8-3).

## External links

- [Young Jessie](https://myspace.com/obiejessie) on [Myspace](/source/Myspace)

- [Young Jessie discography](http://koti.mbnet.fi/wdd/youngjessie.htm) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20150504011719/http://koti.mbnet.fi/wdd/youngjessie.htm) 2015-05-04 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine)

- [The Coasters Web Site](https://www.angelfire.com/mn/coasters/)

- [Marv Goldberg's R&B Notebooks - The Flairs](http://home.att.net/~marvart/Flairs/flairs.html)

- [Allmusic - Young Jessie](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/p173698)

- [Allmusic - Obie Jessie](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/p90624)

- [Young Jessie](https://www.discogs.com/artist/Young+Jessie) discography at [Discogs](/source/Discogs) as Young Jessie

- [Young Jessie](https://www.discogs.com/artist/Obie+Jessie) discography at [Discogs](/source/Discogs) as Obie Jessie

- [discography at 45cat.com](http://www.45cat.com/45_artist_by_date.php?a=young-jessie)

- [discography at 45cat.com as 'Young Jesse'](http://www.45cat.com/artist/young-jesse)

- [discography at 45cat.com as 'Young Jessee'](http://www.45cat.com/artist/young-jessee)

v t e The Coasters Carl Gardner Billy Guy Bobby Nunn Leon Hughes Adolph Jacobs Young Jessie Cornell Gunter Will "Dub" Jones Vernon Harrell Earl "Speedo" Carroll Ronnie Bright Jimmy Norman Singles "Down in Mexico" "One Kiss Led to Another" "Young Blood" "Yakety Yak" "Charlie Brown" "Along Came Jones" "Poison Ivy" "What About Us" "Besame Mucho (Part I)" "Wake Me, Shake Me" "Shoppin' for Clothes" "Little Egypt (Ying-Yang)" "Girls Girls Girls" "T'ain't Nothin' to Me" "Let's Go Get Stoned" "D. W. Washburn" "Love Potion Number Nine" "Cool Jerk" B-sides "Brazil" "Searchin'" "Zing! Went the Strings of My Heart" "Three Cool Cats" "Besame Mucho (Part II)" "Lovey Dovey" "Money Honey" "Saturday Night Fish Fry" Other songs "Autumn Leaves" "But Beautiful" "Don't Get Around Much Anymore" "Easy Living" "Frosty the Snowman" "Gee, Baby, Ain't I Good to You" "I Love Paris" "If I Had a Hammer" "The 'In' Crowd" "Moonglow" "Moonlight in Vermont" "Mustang Sally" "My Babe" "On Broadway" "On the Sunny Side of the Street" "Satin Doll" "The Way You Look Tonight" "Willow Weep for Me" "You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To"

Authority control databases International ISNI VIAF WorldCat National United States France BnF data Finland Artists MusicBrainz

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Young Jessie](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Young_Jessie) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Young_Jessie?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.