Jimmy Hughes

Jimmy J. Hughes (February 3, 1938 – May 20, 2026) was an American rhythm and blues singer, whose biggest successes in the mid-1960s, notably his hit "Steal Away", were important in the early development of the Muscle Shoals music industry.

Life and career Hughes was born in Leighton, Alabama, on February 3, 1938. He was a cousin of Percy Sledge. He began singing in a gospel quartet, The Singing Clouds, while at high school.

Early in 1964, he returned to Hall with a powerful ballad he had written, "Steal Away", partly based on the gospel song " Steal Away to Jesus", and recorded the song in one take, On the basis of Hughes' record, Hall signed a national distribution deal with Vee-Jay Records for his FAME label. Hughes' follow-up record, "Try Me", reached number 65 on the Hot 100, and he recorded an album, Steal Away, released on the Vee-Jay label, which included the first songwriting collaborations between Dan Penn and Spooner Oldham.

Early in 1968, Hughes moved to Stax Records, where his recordings were issued on the subsidiary Volt label. His first record for the label, "I Like Everything About You", reached number 21 on the R&B chart, but later records were less successful. At the time, Stax was undergoing a major reorganisation with new management and new artists. Although his records, including a 1969 album Something Special, were produced by label boss Al Bell, Hughes later stated that he felt like the "low man on the totem pole" at the label, and became frustrated by what he saw as a lack of promotion.

Discography Singles (chart hits only) Year Title Label & Cat. No. U.S. Pop U.S. R&B 1964 "Try Me" Fame 6403 center|n/a Why Not Tonight? (Atco, 1967) Something Special (Volt, 1969)