Loading details…
Artist
Joe Valentine
12+ albums
about
Joe Valentine (Joseph Benedict Valentine, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.A., 3 February 1937 - 13 July 2018) was an American rhythm & blues and soul singer and songwriter. Joe Valentine was born in New Orleans and was in the music business since he was 14. He started his career with the Mitchell Lennox Rhythm Swing Band, being their featured vocalist for two years. He cut his first 45 for the tiny local Merit label at the age of 16. The uptempo “I Still Love You” jumps about as only Crescent City music can and the downbeat “Young Lover” is a blues ballad on which his vocal belies his tender age. His second release coupled the impassioned mid paced R & B of “Coming On Home” with a fine slow dirge-like ListenShe’s Gone Again on which his emotionally charged vocal chimes perfectly with the mood. This 45 first appeared on Rachan, but saw a second outing on Athens. Around this time Joe formed his own band, whom he called the Imperials, although they weren’t name checked until a little later in the 60s when he started his own Val concern. By now Joe had relocated to Baton Rouge where he found a long term residency at the Carousel Club. And based there he had a further 45 on Doug, another label so small it’s likely that “Sweeter Than Sugar (And Twice As Nice)” / “I Need You” (also called “Let It Be Love” on some copies of the 45) was the only release. The top side is another bouncy chugging NOLA styled number, while the flip is another dead slow blues ballad which features some fine
