Jimmy Soul

Jimmy Soul (born James Louis McCleese; August 24, 1942 – June 25, 1988) was an American vocalist. He is best remembered for his 1963 number one hit, "If You Wanna Be Happy."

Background Born in Weldon, North Carolina, he became a preacher at the age of seven and performed gospel music as a teenager. He acquired his performing name, "Soul", from his congregation.

Soul took to the road and toured the Southern United States as a member of various gospel groups. During this time he became popular around the Norfolk, Virginia area.

Success Soul had two top-40 hit singles, both of which were refused by Bonds. The other was "If You Wanna Be Happy", which was the No. 1 hit for the week ending May 18, 1963. The latter, which also hit No. 1 on the Hot R&B Singles chart, was based on the calypso "Ugly Woman", by Roaring Lion.

"If You Wanna Be Happy" sold over one million records, earning gold disc status. It had two spells in the UK Singles Chart, peaking at No. 39 (1963) and No. 68 (1991).

Later years Soul's next single, "Treat 'Em Tough", peaked at No. 8 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100; his last appearance on a Billboard chart. After unsuccessfully trying to follow up the success of those songs with one more album, Soul gave up his career as a musician and joined the United States Army.

Later in life, Soul fell into a drug habit, and on January 9, 1986, was sentenced to four-and-a-half to nine years in prison as a second felony offender, convicted of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree and criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree. The sentence was affirmed upon appeals on October 26, 1987, and March 22, 1988.

Soul died of a heart attack on June 25, 1988, aged 45.

Discography Singles YearTitlePeak chartpositionsRecord LabelB-sideAlbum USPop USR&B UK 1961 "Twistin' Matilda (And the Channel)" 22 20 — S.P.Q.R. "I Can't Hold Out Any Longer" If You Wanna Be Happy 1962 "When Matilda Comes Back" — — — "Some Kinda Nut?" "My Baby Loves to Bowl" — — — "Guess Things Happen That Way" 1963 "If You Wanna Be Happy" 1 1 39 "Don't Release Me" If You Wanna Be Happy "Treat 'Em Tough" 108 — — "Church Street in the Summertime" "I Wish I Could Dance" — — — 20th Century-Fox "Respectable" "Go 'Way Christina" — — — S.P.Q.R. "Everybody's Gone Ape" "I Hate You Baby" — — — "Change Partners" 1964 "A Woman Is Smarter in Every Kinda Way" — — — "My Girl - She Sure Can Cook" "Take Me to Los Angeles" — — — "You Can't Have Your Cake" "Twistin' Matilda (And the Channel)" — — — "Treat 'Em Tough" 1965 "My Little Room" — — — "Ella Is Yella"