Here's a cool cat. He can do The Jerk and The Twine. Join in with Jack-A-Rue.
I knew of Jackey Beavers , but had never researched him before. In fact when I first came across his name I thought he was a female artist, and continued to think that for some years until I finally listened to some of his records. He was born in Cartersville, Georgia as Robert Lewis Beavers. His recording career started in 1959 as part of the duo Johnny & Jackey – Johnny being Johnny Bristol. With Bristol and Harvey Fuqua he co-wrote Diana Ross & The Supremes hit Someday We’ll Be Together.
Jack-A-Rue was his first solo record, released in 1965. He went on to have a considerable number of singles released over the next ten years. Two of these are particular favourites on the Northern Soul scene, including his last secular release Trying To Get Back To You, which came out on the Dade label. It was, in fact, Dade’s final release, in 1975. Dade was a Miami label. It is purely by coincidence that I have discovered this is not where the parallels with yesterday’s artist end. Jackey spent some years at John Richbourg’s Sound Stage 7 label as both a producer and recording artist, and he wrote at least one song for Ella Washington (It Must Be Love). Like Ella he left a soul music career behind in the 70s and turned to the church, and was ordained as a Minister.
I
find many artists from the golden age of soul went on to lead
interesting lives outside of the music industry. In Jackey’s case
in later life (Wikipedia tells me) he was Executive Assistant to the
Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Corrections for
three years; and an aide to Tom Murphy, Speaker of the
Georgia House of Representatives, for seven years. Jackey is no longer with us, having passed in 2008 aged 71. He is buried in Cartersville, the town he was born in.
I urge you to pay particular attention to the backing singers on this one (unfortunately I have no idea who they are). They are having a great time and I think they really make this track.
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