Lee Garrett

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Lee Garrett
Born (1943-06-30) June 30, 1943 (age 80)
Mississippi, United States
GenresSoul, R&B
OccupationsRadio DJ, singer, songwriter
Years active(1960s –present)
LabelsAmerican First Record Corporation, Chrysalis Records, Harthon , Van Dyk, World Artists

Lee Garrett (born June 30, 1943, in Mississippi) is an American rhythm and blues singer-songwriter, most famous for co-writing the classic song "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours". He recorded a handful of solo singles during the 1960s, one of which was "I Can't Break the Habit". He had a hit in 1976 with "You're My Everything". Artists that have covered his compositions include Taka Boom, Carl Graves, Peter Frampton, Eddie Money, Jackie Moore, Marlena Shaw, The Spinners and many more. He has also been a radio show host.

Background

Garrett is a Mississippi born singer, composer and radio D.J., and a graduate of the Missouri School for the Blind.[1][2]

He wrote several songs with Stevie Wonder, including the Jermaine Jackson song "Let's Get Serious"[3] and The Spinners "It's a Shame".[4] Garrett and Wonder would eventually be involved in a legal battle over a song.[5]

Garrett worked in radio during the 1960s and 1970s.[6][7]

In 1976, his solo track "You're My Everything" reached number 15 in the UK Singles Chart. Without any further chart presence, he became a one-hit wonder.[8]

Over the years, Garrett and Wonder have mended their relationship. During his 2007 tour, during a performance on August 30, Wonder paid tribute to Garrett by singing a medley of songs they co-created, and also introduced Garrett to the audience by acknowledging his presence at the show, and thanking him for years of friendship and support.[citation needed]

Garrett resides in the Portland, Oregon, area (in Beaverton, a city just west of Portland) and continues to perform throughout the United States.[citation needed] As of 2004, he was the featured vocalist with a 1950s style rock and roll style group called the Boomer Band.[9]

Career

1960s to 1970s

By November 1964, his single "Linda Sue" was released on the Van Dyk label.[10] In 1965, the August 21 issue of Billboard mentioned his single on the World Artists label, "I Need Somebody" as a Hot 100 prediction.[11] In 1967, Garrett had a single "I can't break the habit" released on the Harthon label, cat no. 137.[12][13] The song would later find popularity on the Northern Soul scene.[14] By August that year, Garrett who had the "9 to Midnight" show at Philadelphia's WHAT r&b station had filled position of musical director, and would still continue his show.[15]

It was reported in the December 9, 1972, issue that Garrett having worked as an all night D.J. at WHAT-AM in Philadelphia and WLOK-AM in Memphis was seeking more work in radio.[16]

Years later, Garrett recalled when he was working as a DJ in Detroit, he would play Johnny Cash's "A Boy Named Sue" and Ray Stevens', "Gitarzan", reasoning that the songs being so popular, there must have been black people buying them as well.[17]

Hit song

According to the June 5, 1976, article in Record Mirror, 'The only colour I see is Music' Garrett came to Chrysalis because of a rumor that the label's new US office were scouting for Black American talent. Garrett was the first US signing.[18]

In May, 1976, Garrett had his hit with "You're My Everything". It peaked at no. 58 in the HOT 100 chart. It spent seven weeks in the UK singles chart, peaking at no. 15.[19][20] It also peaked at no. 9 on the Record Mirror UK Soul Top 20 chart,[21] and no. 5 on the Record Mirror UK Disco Top 20 chart.[22]

Garrett appeared on Top of the Pops in an episode which was broadcast on May 13th that year.[23] He also made another appearance on the show on 10/06/76.[24] The song also appears on the Top Of The Pops 1976 compilation released on EMI Gold in 2007.[25]

Garrett, Lou Rawls, Mike Love and Donna Summer etc. were pictured in a small article, Basket Cases or Or is it Wicker's World in the October 16, 1976 issue of Record Mirror. It showed musicians sitting in peacock basket chairs. The caption under Garrett's picture read, ". . . now Garret really gets into the part - he's got the throne, now what about the crown . . .?"

Album

His hit appeared on his album Heat for the Feets which also included "It's Better than Walking Out", "Heart Be Still", "You're My Everything", "How Can I Be a Man", "Broken Down D.J.", "Sad, Sad Story", "Stop that Wrong", " Love Enough For Two" and "Don't Let it Get You Down". Musicians who played on the album included Harvey Mason, Lee Ritenour, June Millington, Tom Scott and Dave Grusin.[26] Also around that time, Marlena Shaw had a minor hit with one of the songs, "Better than Walking Out", which Garrett had co-composed with Robert Taylor.[27] "Heart Be Still" would be covered by artists such as Carl Graves, Jackie Moore and Frankie Valli.[28]

Further activities

By May 22, 1976, the song, "How Can I Be a Man" had been issued on Chrysalis PRO 628 in a 12" format. Vince Aletti in his Disco File column of Record World called a must and incredibly strong.[29][30]

1980s to 1990s

In February, 1981, Garrett's single "See the Love on Your Face" was out on American First AFRC-1492. It was given a positive review with the review calling Garrett a "a first-rate R&B crooner" and the song "Top-flight B/C fare".[31]

In 1985, Garrett and Lloyd Chiate took Legal action against Stevie Wonder over the song "I Just Called to Say I Love You" claiming that Wonder stole the song from them. With attorney Jack Whitley representing Garrett, the claim was that Garrett and Chiate wrote the song in 1978 when staying with Wonder in a Hollywood hotel. Wonder heard the rehearsals and was give a demo on tape. The song Garrett and Chiate wrote was I "Just Called To Say". It was registered with BMI in 1979. On Garrett and Chiate's song, it had the chorus "I just called to say I love you, I just called to say I think you're fine". Wonder's refrain had a quicker tempo and said, "I just called to say I love you, I just called to say how much I care". According to Jack Whitley, the chords were the same, and both songs were in four-four time. But Wonder's melody line was different. A 10 million dollar lawsuit was filed.[32] In February 1990, the findings were in Wonder's favor with Garrett at some stage having come over to Wonder's side, leaving Chiate to peruse the matter.[33]

Later years

Garrett was performing with The Boomer Band who had played Great Hall" New Year's Eve 2003 at the Quinault Beach Resort & Casino in Washington state to over 900 guests.[34] By 2004, with the Boomettes handling chorus behind him, Garrett was officially the feature vocalist with the Band which had been going since 1987.[35] In 2007, Garrett formed a song writing partnership with Mir German of Miriams Well, a rock band based in Portland. German and Garrett had heard about each other from friends in Portland for some time, and were encouraged to meet to consider writing together. The partnership worked and they, along with co-writer Mark Bowden, created an album called Indians And Clowns, released in 2010. Their song catalogue is well over 60 songs to date.[when?]

Garrett toured in 2011 with Miriams Well, sharing the stage for a set of Garrett's Motown hits and more contemporary tunes as well. They appeared together at the Waterfront Blues Festival in Portland in 2011.[citation needed]

In January 2013, The Boomer Band played at the Clambake Jazz Festival.[36]

Denny McCaffrey covered "Better than Walking Out" which appeared on his 2014 album, Come On In.[37]

Discography

Albums

Album(s) Releases USA unless indicated otherwise
Title Catalogue Year Notes #
Heat for the Feets Chrysalis Records CHR 1109 1976

Singles

Singles(selective) Releases USA unless indicated otherwise
Title Catalogue Year Notes #
"Linda Sue" / "Tell the World" Van Dyk 1606 1964
"I Need Somebody" / "So Far Away" World Artists WA 1061 1965
" I'm So Glad Part 1" / " I'm So Glad Part 2" Harthon H-141 1966
"I Can't Break The Habit" / " Baby, Please Don't Go" Harthon LG-137 1966
"I Can't Break The Habit" / " Baby, Please Don't Go" Harthon H-137 1974
"Heart Be Still" / "Broken Down D.J." Chrysalis CHS 2101 1976 UK
"You're My Everything" / "Love Enough For Two" Chrysalis CHS 2112 1976
"See The Love On Your Face" / "Searching" American First Record Corporation AFRC-1492 1981
"Do The Funky 4 Corners" / "Do The Funky 4 Corners" (instrumental) Rising-Soul RS-104-D [38][39]

References

  1. ^ Stevie Wonder: The Rhythms of Wonder by Sharon Davis - Page 66
  2. ^ Billboard, August 19, 1967 - Page 38 Vox Jox
  3. ^ Jacksons Number Ones, Craig Halstead, Chris Cadman · 2003 - Page 73 LETS GET SERIOUS, Jermaine Jackson
  4. ^ Rock Song Index: The 7500 Most Important Songs for the Rock and Roll Era, Bruce Pollock · 2014 - Page 189 IT'S A SHAME, Artist: The Spinners
  5. ^ AP News, October 8, 1985 - Singer Stevie Wonder Sued For Plagiarism - LYNN ELBER
  6. ^ Billboard, August 19, 1967 - Page 38 Vox Jox
  7. ^ Billboard, December 9, 1972 - Page 20 Vox Jox
  8. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 222. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  9. ^ CISION PRweb, FEBRUARY 24, 2004 - Boomer Band Breaks In, Boomer Band Establishes Internet Presence
  10. ^ Billboard, November 14, 1964 - Page 16 RHYTHM & BLUES, R&B D'J. ROUNDUP
  11. ^ Billboard, August 21, 1965 - Page 18 CHART Spotlights-Predicted to reach the HOT 100 Chart
  12. ^ HitHistory - RBC-Songliste (ab 1960), Lee Garrett Can'T Break The Habit HARTHON 137 1967 Kenny Gamble Aug-11
  13. ^ Popsike - Northern Soul 45 LEE GARRETT I Can't Break The Habit HARTHON HEAR
  14. ^ MusicBrainz - Groovin' at the Go-Go - The Marathon Collection - Northern Soul Rarities From Philadelphia
  15. ^ Billboard, August 19, 1967 - Page 38 Vox Jox
  16. ^ Billboard, December 9, 1972 - Page 20 Vox Jox
  17. ^ Record Mirror, June 5, 1976 - Page 11 'The only colour I see is music' Signed, sealed and delivered, Lee Garrett talks to Robin Katz
  18. ^ Record Mirror, June 5, 1976 - Page 11 'The only colour I see is music' Signed, sealed and delivered, Lee Garrett talks to Robin Katz
  19. ^ Music VF.com - Songs written by Lee Garrett , Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography, Lee Garrett
  20. ^ Official Charts - LEE GARRETT, SINGLES
  21. ^ Record Mirror, 12 June, 1976 - Page 2 RECORD MIRROR UK Soul Top 20 - 9, 12
  22. ^ Record Mirror, July 3, 1976 - Page 2 RECORD MIRROR UK DISCO TOP 20 - 5 7
  23. ^ BBC One - 13/05/1976
  24. ^ British Film Institute - Top of the Pops[10/06/76] (1976)
  25. ^ 45worlds - CD Album Top Of The Pops 1976
  26. ^ Session Days - 1976 Lee Garrett – Heat For The Feets
  27. ^ Music VF.com - Songs written by Lee Garrett , Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography, Marlena Shaw
  28. ^ Record Mirror, June 5, 1976 - Page 11 'The only colour I see is music' Signed, sealed and delivered, Lee Garrett talks to Robin Katz
  29. ^ Record World, May 22, 1976 - Page 42 Disco File (Continued from page 24)
  30. ^ Popsike - DISCOGRAPHY, Lee Garrett, How Can I Be A Man
  31. ^ Cash Box, February 28, 1981 - Page 13 REVIEWS SINGLES REVIEWS, NEW AHD DEVELOPING /ARTISTS
  32. ^ AP News, October 8, 1985 - Singer Stevie Wonder Sued For Plagiarism by Lyn Elber
  33. ^ The Los Angeles Times, Feb. 23, 1990 - Wonder Wins Suit Over Song by Henry Weinstein
  34. ^ CISION PRWeb, FEBRUARY 19, 2004 - Boomer Band Rock's, Boomer Band Rock's The Quinault Beach Resort & Casino in Washington state.
  35. ^ CISION PRWeb, FEBRUARY 24, 2004 - Boomer Band Breaks In
  36. ^ The World, Jan 10, 2013 - Jazz, Clambake Jazz Festival holds preview event by Beth Burback
  37. ^ Deezer - Come On In, Denny McCaffrey
  38. ^ 45Cat - Lee Garrett - Discography USA
  39. ^ Discogs - Lee Garrett, Discography, Singles & EPs

External links

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