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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZBELVIN, Jesse(b 15 Dec. '33, Texarkana AR; d 6 Feb. '60, Little Rock) Singer/songwriter. To LA age five, sang in church choir, band singer age 16. First recordings '51 with Big Jay McNeely; solo cuts for various Hollywood labels followed by US Army, during which he wrote 'Earth Angel', a huge hit for the Penguins on R&B chart, also covered by the Crew Cuts on pop chart. Returned to LA after service, recorded with groups and solo on several labels, went to Modern records '56, hit with first single: 'Goodnight My Love' used as closing theme by Alan Freed radio show. Continued to turn up on several labels; then wife/co-writer Jo Ann also became his manager, landing RCA contract late '58. She also wrote 'Guess Who', his first top 40 hit '59. A fine singer whose voice fitted somewhere between Nat Cole and Sam Cooke, he made LP Just Jesse Belvin '59, was working on Mr Easy when he and his wife were both killed in car crash after leaving a gig. |