Biography
Born Jimmy Brunsen, R&B vocalist Jimmy Bee began performing as the tenor member of New York doo-wop group the Four Jays, exiting the lineup in the first months of 1954 just before its members adopted the name the Regals and cut sides for Aladdin. He entered a reconstituted edition of the Rhythm Aces in 1956; the collective issued material under several aliases—the Rockets, the Rocketeers, the Magic Notes, and the Planets. In 1958 the act aligned itself with the Johnny Otis Show, traveling extensively with the blues and R&B leader while supplying uncredited backing vocals on selected Otis recordings of the period, among them the hit “Willie and the Hand Jive.” Unable to score success under its own name, the ensemble disbanded soon afterward, after which Brunsen spent the years 1959–1963 on the road with the Billy Williams Revue. Taking the stage name Jimmy Bee, he launched a solo career with a pair of 20th Century Fox singles, “Talkin’ ’Bout Me” and “If It Wasn’t for Love,” released across 1966–1967. A lone Kimberly 45 coupling “Wanting You” with “I Only Have Eyes for You” appeared in 1969 and later became prized by soul collectors. Further releases followed on Kent and Ala in the early 1970s and on Calla and Cherry Red toward the decade’s close. He eventually stepped away from singing to work as a record promoter for Arista.
Albums