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Jimmy Jones (born June 2, 1937, in Birmingham, Alabama) is an African American, singer/songwriter who moved to New York City while a teenager.
Jones joined a doo wop group named The Berliners in 1954. They later changed their name to Sparks Of Rhythm. In 1955 he wrote "Handy Man" which was recorded by the Sparks Of Rhythm in 1956 (after Jones left the group).
After recording with other groups, he went solo and in 1959 he teamed up with Otis Blackwell who reworked "Handy Man" which Jones recorded on the MGM label, Cub subsidiary. When the flute player didn't show up for the session, Blackwell whistled on the recording.
In 1959 the song was released, and Jimmy Jones had his first US and UK hit single with the free-running, and all-time classic track. Later, in 1960 his recording "Good Timin", went to Number 1 on the UK Singles Chart. His subsequent career was low key, although it included three more UK chart entries in the following twelve months. The song, "Handy Man", which introduced a rock falsetto singing style to the British audience, provided later hits for Del Shannon and James Taylor.
Although Jones had but two Top 40 hits, both smash million sellers, he was able to keep active in the music business as both a song writer and recording artist, making personal appearances when he wanted to. His importance on singing can not be overstated as Del Shannon has cited both Jones and The Ink Spots as an influence. Other singers who later used falsetto included Lou Christie and Barry Gibb, the latter who has cited Shannon in turn as an influence for his disco vocalizations with the Bee Gees.
Jimmy Jones released Grandma's Rock & Roll Party in the 1990s on CD, perhaps in part to his popularity in the UK Northern Soul music circle, which included new versions of "Handy Man" and "Good Timin'".
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