Young Jessie

Obediah Donnell "Obie" Jessie (December 28, 1936 – April 27, 2020) On his mother's side of the family, Jessie was also kin to the blues musician, Blind Lemon Jefferson. The group recorded Jessie's song, "I Had A Love", in 1953, and the single was released under the name of The Hollywood Blue Jays. They then renamed themselves as The Flairs, and won a recording contract with Modern Records.

Recordings and performances In 1955, he wrote and recorded the single "Mary Lou", later covered by Ronnie Hawkins in 1959, and Johnny Morisette, as well as being a writer for other artists' recordings, including The Chargers and Jimmy Norman. He released the single "Shuffle In the Gravel" / "Make Believe", again produced by Leiber and Stoller, on the Atco label in 1957. He also did an album's worth of songs owned by Harvey Fuqua in the 1970s that never got released.

He also formed a jazz group, the Obie Jessie Combo, which played club dates, and in 1976 became musical director for Esther Phillips. In 1982, he toured in Europe and recorded jazz in Germany, and in 1983 performed at an "R & B Jamboree" in London, where he reportedly "astonished the audience with a charismatic performance."

Personal life His younger brother DeWayne Jessie became an actor,

Obie Jessie died on April 27, 2020, aged 83.

Discography Singles "I Smell A Rat" / "Lonesome Desert" (Modern #921) (April 1954) "Mary Lou" / "Don't Think I Will" (Modern #961) (June 1955) "Nothing Seems Right" / "Do You Love Me" (Modern #973) (November 1955) "Hot Dog" (Modern; unreleased) (1956; recorded this song before Elvis Presley) "Hit, Git and Split" / "It Don't Happen No More" (Modern #1002) (September 1956) "Here Comes Henry" / "Oochie Coochie" (Modern #1010) (December 1956) "Shuffle In The Gravel" / "Make Believe" (Atco #6101, 1957) "Shuffle In The Gravel" / "Make Believe" (London [UK] #8544, 1958) "Margie" / "That's Enough For Me" (Atlantic #2003) (1958) "Lulu Belle" / "The Wrong Door" (Capitol #4318) (1959) "Teacher, Gimme Back" / "My Country Cousin" (Mercury #71895) (1961) "Be Bop Country Boy" / "Big Chief" (Mercury #71985) (1962) "I'm A Lovin' Man" / "Too Fine For Cryin'2" (Mercury #72104) (1963) "Mary Lou" / "You Were Meant For Me" (Mercury #72146) (1963) "Make Me Feel A Little Good" / "Brown Eyes (Come On Home)" (Vanessa #101) (1963) "Young Jessie's Bossanova, Part 1" / "Part 2" (Bit #7464) (1964) "Who's To Blame" / "Beautiful Day My Brother" (Stone Dogg #801) (1972) (released by 'Obe Jessie and the Seeds of Freedom')

Albums Chuck Jackson and Young Jessie (Crown #5354) (1963) R & B Jamboree (Ace) (1983) Hit, Git and Split (Ace) (1985) Shuffle in the Gravel (Mr. R&B #1004) (1987; released in Sweden) Shufflin' and Jivin' (Ace) (1987) I'm Gone (The Legendary Modern Recordings) (Ace) (1995)

As Obie Jessie What Happened To Jr. (Solar #72597) (1995) Here's To Life (Jazz Family #101) (2002) New Atmosphere (Jazz Family) (2009)