Roosevelt Jamison
Encyclopedia
Roosevelt Jamison was a music manager, publicist
and songwriter
in Memphis
, Tennessee
, during the 1960s.
Jamison's first and most notable composition was "That's How Strong My Love Is
", recorded by O.V. Wright
and released on Quinton Claunch's Goldwax record label in 1964. The song has since been much covered, most notably by Otis Redding
, appearing on his 1965 album The Great Otis Redding Sings Soul Ballads
, and on Out of Our Heads
by The Rolling Stones
, also in 1965. In 1973 Humble Pie
included it on their album Eat It
. The song has also been covered on albums by Taj Mahal
, Candi Staton
, Percy Sledge
and Buddy Miller
, as well as by Roland Gift
on the Beautiful Girls movie soundtrack and by Battlefield Band
on their 2011 album, Line Up
.
. It was through these groups that he discovered O.V. Wright
and James Carr
, who were both with the gospel
group The Harmony Echoes.
Jamison began writing his own songs, resulting in the hugely successful "That's How Strong My Love Is", which was originally released by O.V. Wright. However, after a contract dispute between Wright and Don Robey
, the duo parted company and Jamison focused all his attention on mentoring James Carr, who was a gifted soul
belter. From a young age, Carr was shy and withdrawn and never really possessed the right temperament to become the big star his talent suggested and he ended up suffering from manic depression.
For most of the rest of Carr's life, Jamison served as his manager, mentor, publicist, composer and confidante. With Jamison pushing the naturally withdrawn Carr, the singer managed to score several hits for the Goldwax label, including the legendary "The Dark End of the Street
". Jamison remained committed to Carr long after Goldwax folded in 1969. In 1977 Jamison mortgaged his home to finance a James Carr comeback on Jamison's own Rivercity Records label, featuring "Let Me Be Right", which saw marginal success. Carr later decided to leave the R&B music business and returned to his gospel church roots instead.
Aside from his music interests, Jamison spent early years in sickle cell research under Dr. L.W. Diggs at the University of Tennessee
. He taught Anatomy
and Physiology
at Draughn's Business College for several years. He also continued his employment as an assistant supervisor of the hematology
lab at City of Memphis Hospital (The Med), until his retirement in 1986.
Publicist
A publicist is a person whose job is to generate and manage publicity for a public figure, especially a celebrity, a business, or for a work such as a book, film or album...
and songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
in Memphis
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
, Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
, during the 1960s.
Jamison's first and most notable composition was "That's How Strong My Love Is
That's How Strong My Love Is
"That's How Strong My Love Is" was a hit debut song by deep soul singer O. V. Wright in 1964. The single was a hit on the American R&B Chart.The B-side is "There Goes My Used to Be".-Song profile:...
", recorded by O.V. Wright
O.V. Wright
Overton Vertis "O. V." Wright was an American singer who is regarded as one of Southern soul's most authoritative and individual artists...
and released on Quinton Claunch's Goldwax record label in 1964. The song has since been much covered, most notably by Otis Redding
Otis Redding
Otis Ray Redding, Jr. was an American soul singer-songwriter, record producer, arranger and talent scout. He is considered one of the major figures in soul and R&B...
, appearing on his 1965 album The Great Otis Redding Sings Soul Ballads
The Great Otis Redding Sings Soul Ballads
-Appearance in other media:The song, "For Your Precious Love", a cover of a song by Jerry Butler, can be heard entirely at the very beginning of the French thriller film Tell No One by Guillaume Canet and is integrated to the film soundtrack.-References:...
, and on Out of Our Heads
Out of Our Heads
- American release:Initially issued in July 1965 in America - American release:Initially issued in July 1965 in America - American release:Initially issued in July 1965 in America (featuring a shot from the same photo session that graced the cover of 12 X 5 and The Rolling Stones No...
by The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are an English rock band, formed in London in April 1962 by Brian Jones , Ian Stewart , Mick Jagger , and Keith Richards . Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts completed the early line-up...
, also in 1965. In 1973 Humble Pie
Humble Pie (band)
Humble Pie was a rock band from England, finding success both in the UK and the US. They are remembered for songs such as "Black Coffee" "30 Days in the Hole", "I Don't Need No Doctor", and "Natural Born Bugie"...
included it on their album Eat It
Eat It (Humble Pie album)
Eat It was the seventh album by English rock group Humble Pie, released in 1973. A double album, it reached #13 on the Billboard 200, and #34 in the UK.-Album profile:...
. The song has also been covered on albums by Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal (musician)
Henry Saint Clair Fredericks , who uses the stage name Taj Mahal, is an American Grammy Award winning blues musician. He incorporates elements of world music into his music...
, Candi Staton
Candi Staton
Candi Staton is an American soul and gospel singer, best known for her 1970 remake of Tammy Wynette's "Stand By Your Man" and her 1976 disco hit "Young Hearts Run Free". In 2007, Staton was inducted into the Christian Music Hall of Fame.-Early years:...
, Percy Sledge
Percy Sledge
Percy Sledge is an American R&B and soul performer who recorded the hit "When a Man Loves a Woman" in 1966.-Early career:...
and Buddy Miller
Buddy Miller
Buddy Miller is a country singer, songwriter, musician, recording artist and producer, currently living in Nashville, Tennessee...
, as well as by Roland Gift
Roland Gift
Roland Lee Gift is a British singer and actor. He was the lead singer of the band Fine Young Cannibals.-Biography:...
on the Beautiful Girls movie soundtrack and by Battlefield Band
Battlefield Band
Battlefield Band is a Scottish traditional music group. Founded in Glasgow in 1969, they have released over 30 albums and undergone many changes of lineup. As of 2010, there are no founder members in the band....
on their 2011 album, Line Up
Line up
Lineup may refer to* a queue area of waiting people* a police lineup of suspects* the roster of a sports team at a given time** Batting order in baseball** the starting position in polocrosse...
.
Biography
Jamison was always interested in music and was an important figure on the Memphis scene, managing local groups and rehearsing them at the back of the Interstate Blood Bank he ran on Beale StreetBeale Street
Beale Street is a street in Downtown Memphis, Tennessee, which runs from the Mississippi River to East Street, a distance of approximately . It is a significant location in the city's history, as well as in the history of the blues. Today, the blues clubs and restaurants that line Beale Street are...
. It was through these groups that he discovered O.V. Wright
O.V. Wright
Overton Vertis "O. V." Wright was an American singer who is regarded as one of Southern soul's most authoritative and individual artists...
and James Carr
James Carr (musician)
James Carr , was an American Rhythm & Blues and soul singer.Born to a Baptist preacher's family in Coahoma, Mississippi, Carr began singing in church and was performing in gospel groups and making tables on an assembly line in Memphis, Tennessee, when he began recording in the mid-'60s for Goldwax...
, who were both with the gospel
Gospel music
Gospel music is music that is written to express either personal, spiritual or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music....
group The Harmony Echoes.
Jamison began writing his own songs, resulting in the hugely successful "That's How Strong My Love Is", which was originally released by O.V. Wright. However, after a contract dispute between Wright and Don Robey
Don Robey
Don Robey was an American record label executive, songwriter and record producer, who used criminal means as part of his business model...
, the duo parted company and Jamison focused all his attention on mentoring James Carr, who was a gifted soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
belter. From a young age, Carr was shy and withdrawn and never really possessed the right temperament to become the big star his talent suggested and he ended up suffering from manic depression.
For most of the rest of Carr's life, Jamison served as his manager, mentor, publicist, composer and confidante. With Jamison pushing the naturally withdrawn Carr, the singer managed to score several hits for the Goldwax label, including the legendary "The Dark End of the Street
The Dark End of the Street
"The Dark End of the Street" is a 1967 soul song written by Muscle Shoals songwriters Dan Penn and Chips Moman and first performed by James Carr...
". Jamison remained committed to Carr long after Goldwax folded in 1969. In 1977 Jamison mortgaged his home to finance a James Carr comeback on Jamison's own Rivercity Records label, featuring "Let Me Be Right", which saw marginal success. Carr later decided to leave the R&B music business and returned to his gospel church roots instead.
Aside from his music interests, Jamison spent early years in sickle cell research under Dr. L.W. Diggs at the University of Tennessee
University of Tennessee
The University of Tennessee is a public land-grant university headquartered at Knoxville, Tennessee, United States...
. He taught Anatomy
Anatomy
Anatomy is a branch of biology and medicine that is the consideration of the structure of living things. It is a general term that includes human anatomy, animal anatomy , and plant anatomy...
and Physiology
Physiology
Physiology is the science of the function of living systems. This includes how organisms, organ systems, organs, cells, and bio-molecules carry out the chemical or physical functions that exist in a living system. The highest honor awarded in physiology is the Nobel Prize in Physiology or...
at Draughn's Business College for several years. He also continued his employment as an assistant supervisor of the hematology
Hematology
Hematology, also spelled haematology , is the branch of biology physiology, internal medicine, pathology, clinical laboratory work, and pediatrics that is concerned with the study of blood, the blood-forming organs, and blood diseases...
lab at City of Memphis Hospital (The Med), until his retirement in 1986.