Biography
Los Angeles, California-based vocalist McLollie emerged in the mid-1950s as one of several jump blues performers who achieved short-lived prominence alongside the rise of rock ‘n’ roll. With his combo the Honey Jumpers supplying the backing, he cut a handful of minor hits for Modern Records and then slipped from view.
Born in the United States and raised in California, McLollie was conscripted into military service during World War II. While in uniform he sang with the vocal quartet the Bullets at USO shows staged for other servicemen. Once the conflict ended, he moved to Los Angeles to launch a professional music career and found regular work on the rigorous lounge circuit as lead singer with a jump blues combo.
Mercury Records brought him on board in 1951 as west coast head of A&R for black music, yet the absence of any chart successes prompted the label to terminate the arrangement. He resumed lounge work with his combo until 1953, when he secured his initial major opportunity by recording the jump number “The Honey Jump.” Leon René and his son Rafael—proprietors of the small Class Records imprint—had composed the track as a competitor to Joe Liggins’ crossover success “The Honeydripper.” As the single gained traction, René transferred ownership to Modern Records, at which stage McLollie’s version vied for attention with simultaneous recordings by the Sauter-Finegan Orchestra and Jackie And Roy.
His next release, “All That Oil In Texas,” sold well enough to draw a competing cover by Ralph Marterie’s dance band. Additional jump sides appeared throughout 1954—“Mama Don’t Like,” “What You Call ‘Em Joe,” and “Wiggle Toe,” each credited to René under the Jimmie Thomas pseudonym—yet none replicated the commercial reach of the opening pair. Greater attention arrived with the R&B ballad “Convicted,” which disc jockey Alan Freed promoted vigorously and which landed McLollie an appearance on Hunter Hancock’s television program. Its flip side, “Roll Hot Rod Roll,” delivered an energetic upbeat jump blues whose drive echoed the earliest rock ‘n’ roll sides.
McLollie later recorded for both Mercury Records and Leon René’s Class label, scoring a minor pop hit on the latter in 1958 via the Jeanette Baker duet “Hey Girl, Hey Boy.” In subsequent decades he remained active on the lounge circuit, performing his earlier successes.
Born in the United States and raised in California, McLollie was conscripted into military service during World War II. While in uniform he sang with the vocal quartet the Bullets at USO shows staged for other servicemen. Once the conflict ended, he moved to Los Angeles to launch a professional music career and found regular work on the rigorous lounge circuit as lead singer with a jump blues combo.
Mercury Records brought him on board in 1951 as west coast head of A&R for black music, yet the absence of any chart successes prompted the label to terminate the arrangement. He resumed lounge work with his combo until 1953, when he secured his initial major opportunity by recording the jump number “The Honey Jump.” Leon René and his son Rafael—proprietors of the small Class Records imprint—had composed the track as a competitor to Joe Liggins’ crossover success “The Honeydripper.” As the single gained traction, René transferred ownership to Modern Records, at which stage McLollie’s version vied for attention with simultaneous recordings by the Sauter-Finegan Orchestra and Jackie And Roy.
His next release, “All That Oil In Texas,” sold well enough to draw a competing cover by Ralph Marterie’s dance band. Additional jump sides appeared throughout 1954—“Mama Don’t Like,” “What You Call ‘Em Joe,” and “Wiggle Toe,” each credited to René under the Jimmie Thomas pseudonym—yet none replicated the commercial reach of the opening pair. Greater attention arrived with the R&B ballad “Convicted,” which disc jockey Alan Freed promoted vigorously and which landed McLollie an appearance on Hunter Hancock’s television program. Its flip side, “Roll Hot Rod Roll,” delivered an energetic upbeat jump blues whose drive echoed the earliest rock ‘n’ roll sides.
McLollie later recorded for both Mercury Records and Leon René’s Class label, scoring a minor pop hit on the latter in 1958 via the Jeanette Baker duet “Hey Girl, Hey Boy.” In subsequent decades he remained active on the lounge circuit, performing his earlier successes.