Jo Jo Benson

Joseph M. Hewell (April 15, 1938 – December 23, 2014) was an American R&B and soul singer better known under his stage name Jo Jo Benson. He was best known for his recordings in the late 1960s with Peggy Scott.

Life and career He was born in Phenix City, Alabama, and began singing in nightclubs when in his teens. He joined Chuck Willis as a backing singer in the 1950s, before joining forces with fellow singer Peggy Scott, who previously backed Ben E. King, in a duo. The pair were heard and encouraged by record producer Huey Meaux, and were recruited by Shelby Singleton's SSS International label in Nashville, Tennessee, in order to record duets. Their first recording for the label, "Lover's Holiday", reached No. 8 on the Billboard R&B chart and No. 31 on the pop chart in 1968, eventually becoming a gold record. They followed it up with "Pickin' Wild Mountain Berries", which was also a hit and for which they were nominated for a Grammy.

The pairing of Benson and Scott split up in 1971. Benson later owned several nightclubs in the Chattahoochee Valley, and was seriously wounded in a shooting incident in 1979.

Discography

Chart singles with Peggy Scott Year Single Chart Positions US Pop USR&B 1968 "Lover's Holiday" 31 8 "Pickin' Wild Mountain Berries" 27 8 1969 "Soulshake" 37 13 "I Want to Love You Baby" 81 24

Albums

With Peggy Scott Lover's Heaven (1969) Soulshake (1969) Nothing Can Stand In Our Way (1984)

Solo Reminiscing in the Jam Zone (1999) Everybody Loves to Cha Cha Cha (2001)