45-484: James Radcliffe (November 18, 1936 – July 27, 1973) was an American soul singer, composer, arranger, conductor and record producer. James Radcliffe was born in New York City. He released such singles as "My Ship is Coming In", a song composed by his writing partner Joey Brooks (later of " You Light Up My Life " fame), was later covered by The Walker Brothers as a pop music hit, and also wrote several songs featured in
90-649: A gospel recording. " Eve's Bayou " (1997), The Tenants (2005), the 2006 romantic drama Something New , and 2010's Soulboy . Jimmy's recording of " Climb Ev'ry Mountain " was showcased on the premiere episode of " Hard Knocks In Season - The Indianapolis Colts" on November 17, 2021. Aretha Franklin 's first credit as a record producer was with Radcliffe on "Black Pride" the theme to Jesse Jackson 's ( Southern Christian Leadership Conference ) S.C.L.C. Black Expo '71. Radcliffe's songs have appeared in films and television dating back to 1965's The Fool Killer , A Man Could Get Killed , which featured " Strangers in
135-523: A 1972 feature film . Another instance of Jimmy Radcliffe's involvement with Broadway bound musicals were his vocal demos of the Bob James and Jack O'Brien songs "Take My Hand" and "Stars Of Glory" for the 1972 theatrical production of The Selling of the President . In August 1963, while preparing to work with the record producer, Bert Berns , on his third release on Musicor Records, Radcliffe attended
180-425: A backing vocalist, and recorded with Doris Troy , Dee Dee Warwick , Cissy Houston , Melba Moore , Toni Wine , Jean Thomas and Barbara Jean English doing sessions for groups such as The Drifters . Radcliffe, Dionne Warwick , and Dee Dee Warwick provided backing vocals on The Drifters " Sweets for My Sweet " recording, (1961). Singer-songwriter Sherman Edwards recorded the original vocal demos of his songs for
225-402: A box office success despite poor reviews. The title song Brooks composed for the film was an even bigger success; a cover version by Debby Boone reached #1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart and held the top position for 10 consecutive weeks, at that time tied for the longest Number One reign in the chart's history. With sales of over five million copies, the song ultimately became
270-426: A child, he also developed a stutter that, according to his production partner Robert K. Lifton, would disappear when Brooks sang or acted. He later attended five different colleges, including Juilliard , but did not graduate from any. In the late 1950s, Brooks pursued a career as a singer-songwriter, adopting the name "Joey Brooks" (later changed to "Joe Brooks" or "Joseph Brooks" ) He released several records on
315-567: A difficult relationship with their father. At the time of Brooks' death, Nicholas, a former student at the University of Colorado , was awaiting trial in New York City, charged with the murder of his girlfriend, swimwear designer Sylvie Cachay , in a Soho House hotel room on December 9, 2010. On July 11, 2013, Nicholas was convicted of Cachay's murder. He was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison in September of that year. On May 22, 2011, Brooks
360-416: A former friend had also filed suit to seize his condominium to pay off an outstanding $ 3.2 million debt, alleging that Brooks had put up his longtime home as collateral for a $ 2.4 million loan in 2006. On May 23, 2011, the medical examiner ruled that Brooks had killed himself, citing asphyxia by helium. Bernie Knee Bernie Knee (Feb. 14, 1924, New York City – Nov. 20, 1994, Fort Lauderdale )
405-525: A meeting with Martin Luther King Jr. , in a Harlem supper club , Radcliffe was inspired and composed his ballad of freedom and equality "Stand Up". Unreleased at the time, until the 2008 issue Where There Smoke There's Fire , the track featured Radcliffe playing the vibes . Radcliffe was self-taught on the guitar, piano, bass , vibes and drums, preferring to write using his Goya acoustic guitar because of its portability. Beginning in 1965, Radcliffe
450-525: A relationship with actress Cindy Williams , who was, at the time, starring in the movie The First Nudie Musical , written and co-directed by her friend Bruce Kimmel. Brooks became an investor in the film. Brooks originally planned for her to star in You Light Up My Life , but he and Williams were already having relationship issues and he asked Kimmel to direct You Light Up My Life , stating he couldn't control Williams. He broke up with Williams before
495-643: A session at Chess Studios, produced by Berns, where three of his co-compositions were being recorded by Tammy Montgomery: "This Time Tomorrow", "I Can't Hold It In Any More" and "I've Got Nothing To Say But Goodbye". "This Time Tomorrow" would be issued as the B-side of Montgomery's Chess / Checker single, "If I Would Marry You." Radcliffe recorded with Montgomery a duet version of "If I Would Marry You," more than three years before her name change to Tammi Terrell and pairing with Marvin Gaye at Motown . The unreleased duet, and
SECTION 10
#1732934496211540-630: The Billboard Hot 100 in November 1958. It also hit the Top Ten on the regional LA charts. The single's B side consisted of a song entitled "Saturday Night in Tiajuana" [sic] credited to Bacharach. Bernie Nee was not listed on any of the promotional materials for the film or the record. To protest this oversight, Nee bought advertisements in music industry trade publications, showcasing his name, whereupon he
585-532: The Broadway musical In My Life (2005), a love story about a female Village Voice personals editor with obsessive-compulsive disorder and a musician with Tourette's syndrome who are brought together by a jingle-singing God. Robert Simonson later wrote in Brooks' Playbill obituary that In My Life was "generally regarded as one of the strangest shows ever to have graced a Broadway stage." When In My Life
630-538: The Canadian-American label as "Joey Brooks", and on Decca as "Joey Brooks and the Baroque Folk". When his singing career failed, he drifted into advertising and occasional songwriting work, although he sporadically released several more records throughout the 1960s and 1970s. In the 1960s, Brooks composed advertising jingles for clients including Pepsi ("You've Got a Lot to Live") and Maxwell House ("Good to
675-490: The apartment when the women arrived, but left before the assaults. At least four of the women accused him of sexual assault. He allegedly lured the women to his apartment to audition for movie roles. According to Manhattan District Attorney Robert Morgenthau , the women responded to a notice that Brooks had posted on Craigslist seeking attractive women to star in movie roles, and flew to New York from Pacific Coast states or Florida , usually at Brooks' expense. He
720-510: The ABC Lucky Stars Special Presents Cilla Black with Cilla Black , The Riot Squad , The Hollies , The Swinging Blue Jeans , Del Shannon and Paul Anka (January 23, 1965); and The Eamonn Andrews Show . Radcliffe did not live long enough to see this recording achieve cult status. He was overweight, had a kidney removed in 1973 and developed further complications with his remaining one. He died in hospital
765-555: The American release of The Garden of the Finzi-Continis (1970), Marjoe (1972), and The Lords of Flatbush (1974) in which he was also an investor. He wrote "Blue Balloon (The Hourglass Song)" which was sung by Robby Benson as the theme song for the film Jeremy (1973), and further claimed to have written, cast and directed most of Jeremy , although Arthur Barron was the sole writer and director of record. Brooks' claim
810-539: The Last Drop Feeling"). He received numerous Clio Awards for his work, as well as a People's Choice Award . Credited as "Joey Brooks", he also wrote the song " My Ship Is Comin' In ", a Top Ten UK hit in 1966 for the Walker Brothers . In the 1970s, Brooks, who had become wealthy from his advertising work (at one point claiming to have 150 commercials on the air), began composing for films. He wrote music for
855-582: The Navy during World War II. A versatile musician, he played guitar, piano and bass in addition to being a vocalist. He performed at some of New York's biggest clubs, including the Copacabana, the Riverboat, and Michael's Pub. In addition, he became known as an accomplished demo singer who made more than 5,000 demo recordings for songwriters in many genres. His biggest top-40 hit was one where his name did not appear: he
900-448: The Night " and "But Not Today" as the main themes, The Banana Splits Adventure Hour (1968–70), The Harlem Globetrotters (1970–72), Se7en (1995), U Turn (1997), La Bande Du Drugstore (2002) featuring "Try Me", Third Watch (1999–2005), Sleeper Cell (2005–06), Lion (2016), and " The Man In The High Castle ". As a record producer Radcliffe produced the original demo of
945-579: The Wedding (1983) in which Ralph Richardson and John Gielgud appeared, and co-producing Eddie and the Cruisers (1983) (which Brooks did not score). In the late 1990s, he and his then-wife Christina Bone began developing a film entitled Sara's Life Before It Became a Movie , which was never released. Brooks also worked on stage productions, composing and writing for the 1989 West End musical adaptation of Metropolis and writing, directing and producing
SECTION 20
#1732934496211990-473: The biggest hit of the 1970s, and earned Brooks a Grammy Award for Song of the Year , an Academy Award for Best Original Song , a Golden Globe Award and an American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) award. Brooks attempted to follow up his success with a similar romantic drama, If Ever I See You Again (1978), for which Brooks not only co-wrote, produced, directed and scored, but also played
1035-582: The children's TV show The Banana Splits . His recording of "Long After Tonight Is All Over" (written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David ) became famous as one of the songs that was played at the Wigan Casino all-nighters, the Northern soul venue. The song was a minor hit in the UK Singles Chart in 1965, reaching #40. The popularity of "Long After Tonight Is All Over" led to a promotional tour in support of
1080-422: The film was made, and the role went to Didi Conn. In 2009, Brooks sued a 22-year-old ex-fiancée, claiming that he had spent $ 2 million on her before learning she was already married. Brooks had four children: Amanda (born 1981) and Nicholas (born 1986) (both from his marriage to Susan Paul), Gabrielle, and Jeffrey. Brooks' daughter Amanda has said that Brooks abused her as a child and that she and Nicholas had
1125-487: The leading role (a successful composer of TV commercial jingles, much like himself in real life), despite having no significant prior acting experience. Although the title song became a moderate hit for Roberta Flack , peaking at #24 on the Hot 100 chart, the movie received sharply negative reviews and was a box-office bomb . Brooks was subsequently involved in several other films, including directing and scoring Invitation to
1170-3559: The material used on Carolyn Franklin , first three albums for RCA Records . Radcliffe and Aretha Franklin co-produced the theme "Black Pride", for the Jesse Jackson organized S.C.L.C. Black Expo in New York City in 1971. Musicor Records Aurora Records Shout Records United Artists The Steve Karmen Big Band featuring Jimmy Radcliffe RCA Records Tollie Records "Secret Weapon (The British Are Coming)" ( Arthur Korb ) / "Jealous Kind of Woman" (Carl Spencer) Single#9024, Produced by Wally Gold for Past, Present And Future Productions, Arranged & conducted by Bob Halley. Vocals: Carl Spencer & Jimmy Radcliffe 1964 Musicor Records "Cry, Cry, Cry" (Joey Brooks, Jimmy Radcliffe) / "A Girl Wants To Believe" (Joey Brooks, Jimmy Radcliffe) Single #MU1037, Produced by Brooks/Radcliffe, arranged & conducted by Garry Sherman. Lead Vocals: Joey Brooks, Backing Vocals: Jimmy Radcliffe. 1964 Fontana Records (UK) "One By One" (Joey Brooks, Jimmy Radcliffe) / "Monkey Jazz" (Joey Brooks, Jimmy Radcliffe) Single#TF-640, Produced and arranged by Jimmy Radcliffe & Joey Brooks for Past, Present and Future Productions. Lead Vocals & Scat by Jimmy Radcliffe, Backing Vocals by Joey Brooks 1965 Decca Records (UK) "I Ain't Blaming You" (Joey Brooks, Al Stillman ) / "Nobody Waved Goodbye" on YouTube (Joey Brooks, Wally Gold , Aaron Schroeder ) Single # F12328, Produced and arranged by Joey Brooks, Lead Vocal: Joey Brooks, Backing Vocal & Acoustic Guitar: Jimmy Radcliffe. January 1966. Rust Records "Cover Girl" (Carl Spencer, Al Cleveland ) / "Progress" (Bob Halley, Carl Spencer) Single#5104, Produced and arranged by Bob Halley for Alice in Wonderland Productions. Side 'B' = Lead Vocal: Carl Spencer, Backing Vocal: Jimmy Radcliffe. 1966 Parrot Records "I'm In The Mood" (S. Barnes, J.J. Jackson) / "The Groove" (Holt, Holt, Ealey, Paris) Single#327, Produced by Ellie Greenwich and Mike Rashkow for Pineywood Productions Inc., Horns arranged by Meco Monardo. Side 'A'= Lead Vocal: Frankie Paris, Counter Lead Vocal: Jimmy Radcliffe. 1968 Philips Records "Variations On A Theme Called Hanky Panky" (Ellie Greenwich, Jeff Barry) / "Picture Postcard World" ( Paul Levinson ) Single#40529, Produced by Mike Rashkow and Ellie Greenwich for Pineywood Productions Inc. Side 'A' arranged by Sammy Lowe, Side 'B' arranged By Paul Lewshen. Lead & Backing Vocals: Johnny Cymbal , Michael Rashkow Ellie Greenwich , Ron Dante , Toni Wine , Lesley Miller, Billy Carr, Tommy West (Picardo), Terry Cashman , Gene Pistilli, Jimmy Radcliffe. 1968 Kirshner Records " Duke of Earl " (Gene Chandler, Earl Edwards, Bernice Williams) / "Everybody's Got Hot Pants ( Neil Sedaka , Howard Greenfield) Single#63-5012, Produced by Jimmy Radcliffe & Wally Gold , arranged By Jimmy Radcliffe. Lead & Backing Vocals: Jimmy Radcliffe. Music Supervisor: Don Kirshner 1971 "Everybody Needs Love" (Phil Stern, Jimmy Radcliffe) / "ESP" (Neil Sedaka, Howard Greenfield) Single#63-5016, Side 'A' Produced by Jimmy Radcliffe & Wally Gold , arranged by Jimmy Radcliffe. Lead & Backing Vocal: Jimmy Radcliffe. Side 'B' Produced by Jeff Barry (Unknown Non-Radcliffe Vocal). Music Supervisor: Don Kirshner 1971 Joseph Brooks (songwriter) Joseph Brooks , born Joseph Kaplan (March 11, 1938 – May 22, 2011),
1215-569: The other two unreleased songs from the sessions, were released on Come on And See Me , a double collection of Terrell's recordings. One Bert Berns , Carl Spencer and Jimmy Radcliffe collaboration that did make the pop charts in 1963 was the song "My Block", recorded by The Chiffons . "She's Got Everything" recorded by The Essex , and produced by Henry Glover , as a follow-up to their million-seller " Easier Said Than Done " also charted at #56 and inspired recordings by singers Maxine Brown , Sugar Pie DeSanto and Barbara George . In 1964, after
1260-402: The planned musical 1776 , but by late 1968 Edwards had also enlisted Jimmy Radcliffe ("Mama Look Sharp", "Is Anybody There"), Bernie Knee ("Mama Look Sharp", "Is Anybody There"), Ann Gilbert ("He Plays The Violin", "Yours, Yours, Yours") to record stylized demo versions that might also impact the pop charts . "1776" went on to become a 1969 Tony Award -winning Broadway show that inspired
1305-527: The record, wherein Radcliffe was featured in the British music press ( Record Mirror , NME ) and appeared on numerous radio and televisions shows including "Ready, Steady, Go!" with The Rolling Stones ’ "Time Is On My Side" , The Kinks ’ "Tired Of Waiting For You" , The Righteous Brothers ’ You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin' , Del Shannon ’s "Keep Searching" (January 15, 1965) and Thank Your Lucky Stars ;
1350-813: The same year on July 27, leaving his wife, Judy, and two sons. During his tenure as a New York City session vocalists, Radcliffe sang future hit songs like " This Diamond Ring " ( Al Kooper , Bobby Brass, Irwin Levine) and " Pretty Flamingo " ( Mark Barkan ), and contributed to the session releases by The Definitive Rock Chorale's "Variations on a Theme Called Hanky Panky" produced by Ellie Greenwich and Mike Rashkow . Burt Bacharach and Hal David had him record songs for Gene Pitney , as would Ellie Greenwich and Tony Powers. Gloria Shayne enlisted his help to get Burl Ives and Arthur Prysock covers. Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller , Scott English and Claus Ogerman were among his clients. To supplement his income, he hired out as
1395-417: The song " It's My Party ". While acting as A&R director of Musicor Records he signed The Intruders who released the single "But You Belong To Me" b/w "Jack Be Nimble" and pop group The Critters , producing the latter's first release "Georgianna" b/w "I'm Gonna Give" in 1964 before they moved over to Kapp Records . Also in 1964, Radcliffe produced a record for the soul group The Relatives that featured
Jimmy Radcliffe - Misplaced Pages Continue
1440-464: The song "Hadn't Been For Baby", which he co-wrote with Billy Edd Wheeler . Radcliffe was also label-mate Gene Pitney 's recording manager. Having met years earlier, before either had signed to Aaron Schroeder's publishing company, Radcliffe helped manage which songs Pitney would record, and directed his recording sessions. Radcliffe co-produced, with John Hammond , Pat Lundy's album Soul Aint Nothin' But The Blues (1967) on Columbia Records and much of
1485-590: Was an American songwriter and filmmaker. He became the subject of an investigation after being accused of a series of casting-couch rapes. He was indicted in 2009, but killed himself on May 22, 2011, before his trial. Brooks was born Joseph Kaplan on March 11, 1938 in Manhattan , and grew up in Manhattan and Lawrence, Long Island, New York . In later interviews, he claimed to have started playing piano at age 3 and writing plays at age 5, following his parents' divorce. As
1530-448: Was an actor and singer/musician. While his birth name was Bernard Knee, most music industry magazines spelled his name Bernie Nee, which was also how his name was spelled on most of the recordings he issued during the 1950s. Knee was born and raised in the Bronx, the son of Louis and Celia Knee. He was a 1948 graduate of New York University, and became interested in performing while serving in
1575-418: Was charged with helping him. "She picked the victims, set up travel arrangements and reassured them,” said Lisa Friel, chief of the district attorney's sex crimes unit. At times, she said, Ms. Lucier also reassured mothers worried about sending their daughters alone to New York on flights paid for by Mr. Brooks. And, she said, Ms. Lucier was sometimes present in
1620-498: Was found dead in his apartment on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, with a plastic bag over his head near a hose attached to a helium tank. A suicide note was located nearby. According to a law enforcement source, Brooks claimed in the note he would be exonerated of the charges pending against him, but complained about his failing health and a woman who he claimed had abused him and taken his money. Shortly before Brooks' death,
1665-568: Was in a studio group called the Five Blobs. This band was assembled in Los Angeles , California for the express purpose of recording "The Blob", the title song for the Steve McQueen film The Blob . Written by Burt Bacharach and Mack David ( Hal David 's brother), the tune featured a prominent saxophone part. The single was released on Columbia Records and became a hit, peaking at No. 35 on
1710-564: Was indicted on June 23, 2009. He was to be tried in the state Supreme Court for Manhattan (a trial-level court) on 91 counts of rape, sexual abuse, criminal sexual act, assault, and other charges. In December 2009, prosecutors indicated that they would ask the grand jury to consider adding even more charges, in part because "additional victims" had come forward. However, Brooks committed suicide on May 22, 2011, before he could be tried. Three days after Brooks' death, Shawni Lucier pleaded guilty to ten counts of criminal facilitation . Brooks
1755-494: Was panned by critics including Ben Brantley of The New York Times , who called it "jaw-dropping moments of whimsy run amok", Brooks spent $ 1.5 million on ads saying that the critics were wrong. Many sources have described Brooks as an egomaniac . His career was curtailed in 2008 by a stroke . In June 2009, Brooks was arrested on charges of raping or sexually assaulting eleven women lured to his East Side apartment from 2005 to 2008. His female assistant, Shawni Lucier,
1800-427: Was recognized by New York Times film critic Roger Greenspun , who wrote that "it seems fair to suggest that, in whatever proportion, both men were involved in the authorship of the film." Brooks next developed his own film project, You Light Up My Life , which he wrote, produced, directed and scored on a budget of approximately $ 1 million. The romantic drama about an aspiring singer, starring Didi Conn , became
1845-524: Was released as "Breakaway" by the Steve Karmen Big Band featuring Jimmy Radcliffe; the soul version of McDonald's "You Deserve A Break Today" (1971); and the Clio Award -winning " Polaroid Gives It To You Now" (1971). Radcliffe's recordings have appeared in films such as 1967's Carmen Baby , What Do You Say to a Naked Lady? (1970), Tiki Tiki (1971) wherein he was backed by Cissy Houston on
Jimmy Radcliffe - Misplaced Pages Continue
1890-431: Was single at the time of his death. A 1978 news article noted that he was married with 7-year-old twins, a boy and a girl. In the late 1970s, Brooks married Susan Paul, an English model and actress who appeared in the films All That Jazz (1979) and Invitation to the Wedding (1983). They had two children during the 1980s and were divorced in the early 1990s. Brooks later married Christina Bone. In 1975, Brooks had
1935-750: Was terminated from Columbia. Nee signed with Joy Records , where The Five Blobs released two 45s in 1959: "From the Top of Your Guggle (to the Bottom of Your Zooch)" backed with "Rockin' Pow Wow," and "Juliet" b/w "Young and Wild." He continued to record, make demos, and sing in New York area clubs into the mid-1960s. For example, he worked on "Sixteen Cubes of Sugar" (by Jack Keller and Howard Greenfield ) and "That's What I Call True Love" (by Keller and Gerry Goffin ), both with Carole King . In 1974, he released "Hang In There, Mr. President" with Frank Yankovic and his Orchestra on
1980-429: Was the first African-American performing artist to write, produce and sing commercial jingles for the advertising industry. By the time of his death in 1973, he had worked on over two hundred television and radio commercials. A few of Radcliffe's commercials are the 1969–70 Pontiac, "breakaway in a wide tracking Pontiac", the 30-second commercial was expanded for general release to try to capitalize on its popularity and
2025-402: Was the older brother of Gilbert Kaplan , the founder of Institutional Investor magazine, aficionado of Gustav Mahler , and amateur conductor . In 2008, Brooks suffered a stroke , which left him unable to play the piano and thus negatively affected his ability to compose. It was reported that he may have had a second stroke shortly before his death. Brooks was married four times, but
#210789