Biography
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Years Active
1963 – present (61 years)
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Founded In
Gary, Lake County, Indiana, United States
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Members
- Baby Huey
Baby Huey & the Babysitters was a soul band hailing from Gary, Indiana. The band, founded in 1963, was the idea of organist / trumpeter Melvyn Jones and guitarist Johnny Ross. James Ramey was their front man, and he adopted the stage name of "Baby Huey" (after the cartoon/comic book character Baby Huey). They were well known on the club scene in Chicago.
The group came into being as a result of Johnny Ross; Melvyn Jones (later to be known as Melvyn "Deacon" Jones); and James Ramey getting together. In the beginning they would practice in the sound-proof room at the home of Melvyn Jones. The room was built for Melvyn and his drummer brother, Harold Jones, to practice in.
During their early career they recorded four songs released on singles between 1964 and 1966: "Monkey Man," "Messin' with the Kid," "Just Being Careful," and "Beg Me." They went to Paris, France to play at the coming out party for the daughter of the Baron de Rothschild. In 1966 they were added to the client roster of Capitol Booking.
Billboard, in its May 17, 1969 issue, reported that the band was due to appear on the Merv Griffin Show (May 21).
By 1970, most of the original Babysitter members had left and had been replaced by new personnel. Melvyn Jones was one of the last original founding members to leave.
Ramey died on October 28, 1970. He was in the midst of recording the band's debut album for the Curtom label. The album that was released posthumously only featured some songs by the Babysitters. The rest were with Curtom session musicians.
The Babysitters re-formed, briefly, to play at Ramey's funeral. Manager Marv Stuart would later take some former members, including Dave Cook, to form Goliath with Chaka Khan.
Melvyn Jones joined The Impressions touring band, and became A&R man for Curtom Records. He also worked with Freddie King and John Lee Hooker. He later came to be known as Melvyn "Deacon" Jones. He died in 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Johnny Ross recorded some singles, and had his own cable television show, he died in 2006.
Dennis Moore, the original drummer, killed himself after coming back from Vietnam, having lost his ability to play drums. Because he had dropped out of school to go to Paris with the band, he had lost his draft exempt status, and had been drafted.
Past members
Original line up early-mid 1960s
Baby Huey : lead vocals (James Ramey, 17 August 1944 - 28 October 1970)
Johnny Ross : lead guitar (May 28, 1942 – February 9, 2006)
Melvyn Jones : trumpet and organ (December 12, 1943 – July 6, 2017)
Larry Sales : bass guitar
Dennis Moore : drums
Added later
Byron Watkins : saxophone
Charles Clark : saxophone
Late 1960s members
James Ramey (Baby Huey): lead vocals
Melvyn Jones : keyboards
Othello Anderson : flute
Rene Smith : percussion
Byron Watkins : tenor saxophone
Rick Marcotte : trumpet
Alton Littles : trumpet
Danny O'Neil : guitar
Dave Cook : organ
Dan Alfano : bass guitar
Plato Jones : bongos
Additional personnel
Jack Renee : unknown instrument
Philip Henry : unknown instrument
Moose (nickname): Drums
Discography (partial)
"Just Being Careful" / "Messin' with the Kid" …. Shann 73924 (1965)
"Just Being Careful" / "Messin' with the Kid" ….USA 801 (1965)
"Monkey Man" / Messin' with the Kid" …. St. Lawrence 1002 (1965, white label only)
"Monkey Man" / "Beg Me" ….St. Lawrence 1002 (1965, issued on both blue and white label)
"Monkey Man" / "Messin' with the Kid" …. Satellite 2013 (1967)
"Mighty Mighty Children Pt I" / "Mighty Mighty Children Pt II" …. Curtom CR 1939 (1971)
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