Born as James Little on 15 December 1939 in Carlshalton, Surrey, England, the singer known as Jimmy Justice joined Pye Records in 1960 after fellow label artist Emile Ford discovered him performing in a coffee bar. His initial pair of singles made no impression on British charts, prompting a move to Sweden where a version of the Jarmels’ ‘Little Lonely One’ found success. Assisted by producer Tony Hatch in 1962, he notched three UK Top 20 entries that year: a fresh interpretation of the Drifters’ American success ‘When My Little Girl Is Smiling’, the Johnny Worth original ‘Ain’t That Funny’, and ‘Spanish Harlem’. Throughout 1962 Justice divided his time between England and prior Swedish engagements, yet still appeared with his backing band the Excheckers on a Larry Parnes package tour featuring Billy Fury and Joe Brown. The white performer’s mature, soulful delivery earned him the nickname ‘Britain’s Ben E. King’, although his take on King’s ‘Spanish Harlem’ drew criticism for its close vocal resemblance. Additional sessions took place at Decca Records in 1969, RCA Records in 1968 and B&C in 1972.
