Ted Jarrett
Encyclopedia
Theodore R. "Ted" Jarrett (October 17, 1925 - March 21, 2009) was an American singer-songwriter
and producer of country
, gospel
, and soul music
.
. In 1927, when Jarrett was two years old, his father was killed in a gunfight over a woman. The family became poor, and at the age of seven Jarrett was sent to live with his grandparents on a farm outside Nashville. His step-grandfather had a violent temper and threatened him with a beating when he found he was writing song lyrics, reportedly saying "Only white boys write songs. Black boys don't write songs." At 15, Jarrett rejoined his mother and worked his way through Pearl High School in Nashville. In 1944, during World War II
, Jarrett was drafted into the military, just as he was about to attend Fisk University
. He ultimately returned to Fisk in the 1970s, and graduated in 1974.
for WSOK
in Nashville. He also did talent scouting
for Tennessee Records
. While performing at a white Nashville club called the Pink Elephant in 1955, Jarrett wrote "It's Love Baby (24 Hours a Day)", which became a #2 R&B hit for Louis Brooks and His Hi-Toppers, although the vocals were actually by Earl Gaines
, a friend of Jarrett's. The song, which also charted for Hank Ballard
and Ruth Brown
, launched Jarrett's songwriting career.
Later in 1955, country singer Webb Pierce
recorded Jarrett's "Love Love Love
", which spent eight weeks at the top of the country/western music charts. In his autobiography, Jarrett tells of being stopped by a policeman outside Nashville's Hermitage Hotel
because he didn't believe a black man would be invited to the 1955 BMI awards ceremony, where Jarrett was to receive an award for "Love Love Love".
In 1957, Jarrett wrote and produced "You Can Make It If You Try" by Gene Allison
, which was a #3 hit on the R&B charts early in 1958 and also charted on the pop charts. The song has been covered many times since by artists such as the Rolling Stones, Sly & the Family Stone
, Buddy Guy
, and Gene Vincent
.
Jarrett ran or worked for a number of Nashville soul, blues, and gospel labels, including Champion
, Calvert, Cherokee, Poncello, and T-Jaye. He produced for artists such as Christine Kittrell
, The Fairfield Four
, Roscoe Shelton
, and The Avons.
released a compilation album entitled Night Train to Nashville
, containing many tracks produced by Jarrett; it was produced to go with an exhibit of the same name at the museum. A tribute concert was held at the museum in 2005 to coincide with the publication of Jarrett's autobiography You Can Make It If You Try.
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
and producer of country
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
, gospel
Gospel music
Gospel music is music that is written to express either personal, spiritual or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music....
, and soul music
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
.
Early life
Jarrett was born into a prosperous African-American family in Nashville, TennesseeTennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
. In 1927, when Jarrett was two years old, his father was killed in a gunfight over a woman. The family became poor, and at the age of seven Jarrett was sent to live with his grandparents on a farm outside Nashville. His step-grandfather had a violent temper and threatened him with a beating when he found he was writing song lyrics, reportedly saying "Only white boys write songs. Black boys don't write songs." At 15, Jarrett rejoined his mother and worked his way through Pearl High School in Nashville. In 1944, during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Jarrett was drafted into the military, just as he was about to attend Fisk University
Fisk University
Fisk University is an historically black university founded in 1866 in Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. The world-famous Fisk Jubilee Singers started as a group of students who performed to earn enough money to save the school at a critical time of financial shortages. They toured to raise funds to...
. He ultimately returned to Fisk in the 1970s, and graduated in 1974.
Musical career
In 1951, Jarrett became a disc jockeyDisc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
for WSOK
WVOL
WVOL is a radio station broadcasting a Urban Oldies format. Licensed to the Nashville suburb of Berry Hill, Tennessee, USA, the station serves the Nashville area. The station is currently owned by Heidelberg Broadcasting, LLC.-History:...
in Nashville. He also did talent scouting
A&R
Artists and repertoire is the division of a record label that is responsible for talent scouting and overseeing the artistic development of recording artists. It also acts as a liaison between artists and the record label.- Finding talent :...
for Tennessee Records
Tennessee Records
Tennessee Records was a mid-20th century United States based record label, headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee.Tennessee mostly released country music, but the label's biggest hit was "Down Yonder", a ragtime piano performance by Del Wood in 1950...
. While performing at a white Nashville club called the Pink Elephant in 1955, Jarrett wrote "It's Love Baby (24 Hours a Day)", which became a #2 R&B hit for Louis Brooks and His Hi-Toppers, although the vocals were actually by Earl Gaines
Earl Gaines
Earl Gaines was an American soul blues and electric blues singer. Born in Decatur, Alabama, he sang lead vocals on the hit single "It's Love Baby ", accredited to Louis Brooks and his Hi-Toppers, before undertaking a low-key solo career...
, a friend of Jarrett's. The song, which also charted for Hank Ballard
Hank Ballard
Hank Ballard , born John Henry Kendricks, was a rhythm and blues singer and songwriter, the lead vocalist of Hank Ballard and The Midnighters and one of the first proto-rock 'n' roll artists to emerge in the early 1950s...
and Ruth Brown
Ruth Brown
Ruth Brown was an American pop and R&B singer-songwriter, record producer, composer and actress, noted for bringing a pop music style to R&B music in a series of hit songs for Atlantic Records in the 1950s, such as "So Long", "Teardrops from My Eyes" and " He Treats Your Daughter Mean".For these...
, launched Jarrett's songwriting career.
Later in 1955, country singer Webb Pierce
Webb Pierce
Webb Michael Pierce was one of the most popular American honky tonk vocalists of the 1950s, charting more number one hits than any other country artist during the decade. His biggest hit was "In The Jailhouse Now," which charted for 37 weeks in 1955, 21 of them at number one...
recorded Jarrett's "Love Love Love
Love Love Love (Webb Pierce song)
"Love Love Love" is a 1955 single by Webb Pierce, written by Ted Jarrett. "Love Love Love" spent eight weeks at number one on the country charts and spent a total of thirty-two weeks on the charts....
", which spent eight weeks at the top of the country/western music charts. In his autobiography, Jarrett tells of being stopped by a policeman outside Nashville's Hermitage Hotel
Hermitage Hotel
The Hermitage Hotel, also known as Hermitage Hotel, is a historic hotel located at 231 6th Avenue North in Nashville, Tennessee. Commissioned by 250 Nashville residents in 1908 and named for Andrew Jackson's estate The Hermitage near Nashville, the hotel opened in 1910...
because he didn't believe a black man would be invited to the 1955 BMI awards ceremony, where Jarrett was to receive an award for "Love Love Love".
In 1957, Jarrett wrote and produced "You Can Make It If You Try" by Gene Allison
Gene Allison
Gene Allison was an American R&B singer.Born Versie Eugene Allison in Pegram, Tennessee, he grew up in Nashville, Tennessee singing in the church choir with his brother Leevert. As a teenager, Allison was offered a chance to sing with The Fairfield Four and, later, The Skylarks...
, which was a #3 hit on the R&B charts early in 1958 and also charted on the pop charts. The song has been covered many times since by artists such as the Rolling Stones, Sly & the Family Stone
Sly & the Family Stone
Sly and the Family Stone were an American rock, funk, and soul band from San Francisco, California. Active from 1966 to 1983, the band was pivotal in the development of soul, funk, and psychedelic music...
, Buddy Guy
Buddy Guy
George "Buddy" Guy is an American blues and jazz guitarist and singer. He is a critically acclaimed artist who has established himself as a pioneer of the Chicago blues sound, and has served as an influence to some of the most notable musicians of his generation...
, and Gene Vincent
Gene Vincent
Vincent Eugene Craddock , known as Gene Vincent, was an American musician who pioneered the styles of rock and roll and rockabilly. His 1956 top ten hit with his Blue Caps, "Be-Bop-A-Lula", is considered a significant early example of rockabilly...
.
Jarrett ran or worked for a number of Nashville soul, blues, and gospel labels, including Champion
Champion Records
The name Champion Records has been used by at least four record labels.An early Champion label was produced by Gennett Records as an inexpensive label that featured country or "hillbilly" artists, as well as popular bands, hot jazz and blues...
, Calvert, Cherokee, Poncello, and T-Jaye. He produced for artists such as Christine Kittrell
Christine Kittrell
Christine Kittrell was an American R&B singer, who first recorded tracks in 1951 with Louis Brooks and his Band...
, The Fairfield Four
The Fairfield Four
The Fairfield Four is a gospel group that has existed for over 80 years. They started as a trio in Nashville, Tennessee's Fairfield Baptist Church in 1921. They were designated as National Heritage Fellows in 1989 by the National Endowment for the Arts. The group won the 1998 Grammy for Best...
, Roscoe Shelton
Roscoe Shelton
Roscoe Shelton was an American electric blues and R&B singer. He is best remembered for his 1965 hit single, "Strain on My Heart," and his working relationships with both The Fairfield Four and Bobby Hebb. Other notable recordings include "Think It Over" and "Baby Look What You're Doin' To Me"...
, and The Avons.
Recognition
In 2004, the Country Music Hall of Fame and MuseumCountry Music Hall of Fame and Museum
The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum identifies and preserves the evolving history and traditions of country music and educates its audiences...
released a compilation album entitled Night Train to Nashville
Night Train to Nashville
A two disc compilation of R&B songs from 1945-1970 featured on the WIVK radio station of Nashville, Tennessee. It won a Grammy Award in 2005.-Track listing:# Nashville Jumps # Buzzard Pie # Skip's Boogie # L & N Special # Sittin' Here Drinking...
, containing many tracks produced by Jarrett; it was produced to go with an exhibit of the same name at the museum. A tribute concert was held at the museum in 2005 to coincide with the publication of Jarrett's autobiography You Can Make It If You Try.