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Artist
Young Jessie
12+ albums
bluesAlljump bluesoldiesrock'n'roll
about
Young Jessie was the recording name in the 1950s and 1960s of American R&B, rock and roll and jazz singer and songwriter Obediah Donnell "Obie" Jessie (December 28, 1936 – April 27, 2020) . He was known for his solo recordings, his work with The Flairs and for a brief stint in The Coasters. He later performed and recorded jazz as Obie Jessie. Jessie's father was a cook but had no musical background. His mother, Malinda (née Harris) was very musical, playing piano and other instruments; she had a brief musical career under the name Plunky Harris. On his mother's side of the family, Jessie was also kin to blues musician Blind Lemon Jefferson. In 1946, he moved with his family to Los Angeles, where he began studying music, and formed a vocal group, The Debonaires, which also included Richard Berry. 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. However, in 1954 Jessie signed a solo contract with producers Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, and began recording as "Young Jessie". He said: "[The name] came about because I sounded like I was forty, like ancient for a boy of 17. I had this deep baritone voice and the Biharis wanted me to get close to the rock 'n' roll market. I could have called myself Obie Jessie but I didn't want people to think I was old." In 1955 he wrote and recorded the single "Mary Lo
