James & Bobby Purify
Encyclopedia
James & Bobby Purify were an R&B
singing
duo
, whose biggest hits
were "I'm Your Puppet" in 1966, which reached #6 in the U.S.
Billboard Hot 100
chart
and in a re-recorded version #12 in the UK Singles Chart
(in April 1976), and "Let Love Come Between Us" in 1967, which reached #23 in the U.S.
James Lee Purify was born on May 12, 1944, in Pensacola
, Florida
. "Bobby Purify" was actually two different singers. The first was James's cousin
, Robert Lee Dickey (born September 2, 1939, Tallahassee
, Florida
), who adopted the Purify name for performing, and sang on their early records
. The second Bobby was vocalist Ben Moore, who replaced Dickey in 1971 when Dickey suffered health problems. This duo recorded the remake of "I'm Your Puppet," which become a small hit in the U.K. and the Netherlands
.
"I'm Your Puppet" was written
by Spooner Oldham
plus Dan Penn
and was produced
by Penn, who introduced Purify to Moore.
The record
spent 14 weeks in the U.S. chart, and sold an estimated one million copies. It was released in September 1966.
The duo continued into the 1980s with no other big hits, but remained popular on the tour circuit. When James Purify withdrew from performing, Moore went solo
, though still using the name 'Bobby Purify' occasionally. In 1983, he was nominated for a Grammy Award
, for a gospel
recording
.
In 1998, Moore went blind from severe glaucoma
and completely dropped out of the music industry. With the encouragement of Ray Charles
, however, he returned to performing and recording. Following a new Bobby Purify album, the Dan Penn-produced Better To Have It in 2005, he joined the gospel band Blind Boys of Alabama.
Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
singing
Singing
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
duo
Duet (music)
A duet is a musical composition for two performers. In classical music, the term is most often used for a composition for two singers or pianists; with other instruments, the word duo is also often used. A piece performed by two pianists performing together on the same piano is referred to as...
, whose biggest hits
Hit record
A hit record is a sound recording, usually in the form of a single or album, that sells a large number of copies or otherwise becomes broadly popular or well-known, through airplay, club play, inclusion in a film or stage play soundtrack, causing it to have "hit" one of the popular chart listings...
were "I'm Your Puppet" in 1966, which reached #6 in the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
chart
Record chart
A record chart is a ranking of recorded music according to popularity during a given period of time. Examples of music charts are the Hit parade, Hot 100 or Top 40....
and in a re-recorded version #12 in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
(in April 1976), and "Let Love Come Between Us" in 1967, which reached #23 in the U.S.
James Lee Purify was born on May 12, 1944, in Pensacola
Pensacola, Florida
Pensacola is the westernmost city in the Florida Panhandle and the county seat of Escambia County, Florida, United States of America. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 56,255 and as of 2009, the estimated population was 53,752...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. "Bobby Purify" was actually two different singers. The first was James's cousin
Cousin
In kinship terminology, a cousin is a relative with whom one shares one or more common ancestors. The term is rarely used when referring to a relative in one's immediate family where there is a more specific term . The term "blood relative" can be used synonymously and establishes the existence of...
, Robert Lee Dickey (born September 2, 1939, Tallahassee
Tallahassee, Florida
Tallahassee is the capital of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat and only incorporated municipality in Leon County, and is the 128th largest city in the United States. Tallahassee became the capital of Florida, then the Florida Territory, in 1824. In 2010, the population recorded by...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
), who adopted the Purify name for performing, and sang on their early records
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
. The second Bobby was vocalist Ben Moore, who replaced Dickey in 1971 when Dickey suffered health problems. This duo recorded the remake of "I'm Your Puppet," which become a small hit in the U.K. and the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
.
"I'm Your Puppet" was written
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
by Spooner Oldham
Spooner Oldham
Dewey Lindon "Spooner" Oldham is an American songwriter and session musician. An organist, he recorded in Muscle Shoals, Alabama and at FAME Studios on such hit R&B songs as "When a Man Loves a Woman" by Percy Sledge, "Mustang Sally" by Wilson Pickett and "I Never Loved a Man" by Aretha...
plus Dan Penn
Dan Penn
Dan Penn is an American singer, songwriter, record producer and sometime guitar player who co-wrote many soul hits of the 1960s including "Dark End of the Street" and "Do Right Woman, Do Right Man" and "Out of Left Field" & "Cry Like A Baby"...
and was produced
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
by Penn, who introduced Purify to Moore.
The record
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
spent 14 weeks in the U.S. chart, and sold an estimated one million copies. It was released in September 1966.
The duo continued into the 1980s with no other big hits, but remained popular on the tour circuit. When James Purify withdrew from performing, Moore went solo
Solo (music)
In music, a solo is a piece or a section of a piece played or sung by a single performer...
, though still using the name 'Bobby Purify' occasionally. In 1983, he was nominated for a Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
, for a gospel
Gospel
A gospel is an account, often written, that describes the life of Jesus of Nazareth. In a more general sense the term "gospel" may refer to the good news message of the New Testament. It is primarily used in reference to the four canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John...
recording
Sound recording and reproduction
Sound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
.
In 1998, Moore went blind from severe glaucoma
Glaucoma
Glaucoma is an eye disorder in which the optic nerve suffers damage, permanently damaging vision in the affected eye and progressing to complete blindness if untreated. It is often, but not always, associated with increased pressure of the fluid in the eye...
and completely dropped out of the music industry. With the encouragement of Ray Charles
Ray Charles
Ray Charles Robinson , known by his shortened stage name Ray Charles, was an American musician. He was a pioneer in the genre of soul music during the 1950s by fusing rhythm and blues, gospel, and blues styles into his early recordings with Atlantic Records...
, however, he returned to performing and recording. Following a new Bobby Purify album, the Dan Penn-produced Better To Have It in 2005, he joined the gospel band Blind Boys of Alabama.
Singles
- "I'm Your Puppet" (1966) U.S.Billboard Hot 100The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
#6; UKUK Singles ChartThe UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
#12 (1976) - "Wish You Didn't Have To Go" (1967) U.S. #38
- "Shake a Tail FeatherShake a Tail Feather"Shake a Tail Feather" is a song originally recorded in 1963 by the Chicago-based group The Five Du-Tones...
" (1967) U.S. #25 - "Let Love Come Between Us" (1967) U.S. #23; UK #51 (1969)
- "I Can Remember" (1968) U.S. #51
- "Morning Glory" (1976) UK #27