Wednesday, January 28, 2015

Baby Face Sings


Baby Face Sings 
J-04a When I'm Gone 
Jimmy Lewis Band, Howard McGee, Bobby Jasper, Benny Green

J-04b Please Baby
Jimmy Lewis Band, Howard McGee, Featuring Bobby Jasper On Flute
Ment Records
(early sixties)

This is perhaps the very last record by Jimmy 'Baby Face' Lewis on his own label located on West End Avenue in Manhattan which was also probably his residence.   At least four singles were issued on the Ment label, all by Jimmy Lewis and his band, in the early sixties.  Guitarist and singer, Jimmy Lewis started his musical career in Harlem.  . He was a regular performer at venues including the Apollo and the Cotton Club.  
He recorded for Aladdin and Savoy (1947), Manor (1949), Atlantic (1949-1951), RCA-Victor (1952) and Cat (1954). All these recordings are available on the Blue Moon CD "Jimmy "Baby Face" : The Complete Recordings. [sic]
In March 1963, he was arrested in his Manhattan apartment for possession  of $180,000 worth of narcotics and deadly weapons.

After returning to New York from a Boston benefit show staged to aid the fight against juvenile delinquency, Jimmy Lewis was arrested on narcotics and gun charges after cops, one wearing a grass skirt, posing as musicians seeking an audition, gained entrance to his apartment
He is the father of musician Mingo Lewis and the grandfather of percussionist Mingo Lewis Jr. 


Ment discography 
 (all releases by Jimmy Lewis)

1010 Let Them Believe
1010 I've Tried To Please You
J-02 Um'A Leave
J-02 I Love You

J-03 The Gypsey
J-03 I'm In Love

J-04a When I'm Gone
J-04b Please Baby

3 comments:

  1. Thanks for the song but the side "Please Baby" is actually "When I'm Gone".
    Please upload "Please Baby" when you get chance.
    Thank You.

    ReplyDelete
  2. You've posted When I'm Gone twice instead of Please Baby. Love your blog, btw :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Some of this information is incorrect

    ReplyDelete