James D. Helms was born in Florida, United States. His grandfather was a Black Seminole and a preacher. Helms discovered music when his aunt gave the family a radio, and went on to play trumpet in the school band. After high school he moved to Columbus, Ohio. He released his first single, “Daddy! Daddy!” on Forest Records in 1962. He played with the Carl Sally band and moved to Boston, where he worked as a session guitarist. He joined the US Army and played trumpet in the Fort Jackson Army Band.[1]
After 1970, Helms began to spend more time pursuing a music career in the UK. He released a number of singles on labels such as Cube, Capitol, Philips, and Pye. None of these releases made much of an impact but they helped to keep Helms in the spotlight.[2]
Music career
In Boston in 1970, Helms appeared in the Broadway musical Hair, in which he played the character Hud.[3][4] Reviewing his performance, Billboard Magazine noted: "He projects a personality that is vital."[5]
Helms signed to the UK’s Fly Records in 1972, and released "So Long Love" on its Cube Records subsidiary. However, he is best known for his No. 8 UKhit single, "Gonna Make You an Offer You Can't Refuse" in 1973.[6] Later releases such as "I'll Take Good Care of You" and "Jack Horner's Holiday" did not repeat the commercial success. "Gonna Make You an Offer You Can't Refuse" was written and produced by John Worth.
Helms worked on the soundtrack of the 1985 movie Water, and performed some songs on the album release of the 1980s stage musical Time. He worked as a session musician with Topper Headon, Deacon Blue, Madness, and other groups in this period.[2]
In 1988 Helms, along with band members George Chandler (ex-The Olympic Runners), Jimmy Chambers, and William Henshall formed the band, Londonbeat. The band reached initial success in the Netherlands, but quickly found a broader audience. The group's hits include "I've Been Thinking About You", "A Better Love", and "9 A.M (The Comfort Zone)", all written by William Henshall. The song "I've Been Thinking About You", written by Helms, produced his highest-ever profile, reaching No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart in September 1990, and No. 1 on the USBillboardHot 100 in February 1991. It stayed on this chart for nearly five months.[10]
Londonbeat went on hiatus in 1995, but in 2003, it re-formed as New Londonbeat with a line-up consisting of Jimmy Helms, Jimmy Chambers, Myles Kayne and Marc Goldschmitz. Signed to the Germanrecord label, Coconut, they released an album called Back in the Hi-Life, which featured re-recordings of "A Better Love", "I've Been Thinking About You", and with new tracks added.[10]
Jimmy Helms "Gonna Make You an Offer You Can't Refuse" from YouTube
January 06, 2023
jimmy, helms, james, helms, born, september, 1941, american, soul, singer, known, member, londonbeat, also, solo, hits, such, gonna, make, offer, refuse, belgium, 2014background, informationbirth, namejames, helmsborn, 1941, september, 1941, florida, united, s. James D Helms born September 27 1941 1 is an American soul singer known as a member of Londonbeat but who also had solo hits such as Gonna Make You an Offer You Can t Refuse Jimmy HelmsJimmy Helms Belgium 2014Background informationBirth nameJames D HelmsBorn 1941 09 27 September 27 1941 age 81 Florida United StatesGenresSoulfunkrhythm and bluesOccupation s SingerInstrument s VocalsguitartrumpetkeyboardsYears active1963 presentLabelsLondonPyeFlyWebsitejimmyhelms wbr co wbr uk Contents 1 Early years 2 Music career 2 1 1980s and 1990s 2 2 Londonbeat 3 Discography 3 1 Albums 3 2 Singles 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksEarly years EditJames D Helms was born in Florida United States His grandfather was a Black Seminole and a preacher Helms discovered music when his aunt gave the family a radio and went on to play trumpet in the school band After high school he moved to Columbus Ohio He released his first single Daddy Daddy on Forest Records in 1962 He played with the Carl Sally band and moved to Boston where he worked as a session guitarist He joined the US Army and played trumpet in the Fort Jackson Army Band 1 After 1970 Helms began to spend more time pursuing a music career in the UK He released a number of singles on labels such as Cube Capitol Philips and Pye None of these releases made much of an impact but they helped to keep Helms in the spotlight 2 Music career EditIn Boston in 1970 Helms appeared in the Broadway musical Hair in which he played the character Hud 3 4 Reviewing his performance Billboard Magazine noted He projects a personality that is vital 5 Helms signed to the UK s Fly Records in 1972 and released So Long Love on its Cube Records subsidiary However he is best known for his No 8 UK hit single Gonna Make You an Offer You Can t Refuse in 1973 6 Later releases such as I ll Take Good Care of You and Jack Horner s Holiday did not repeat the commercial success Gonna Make You an Offer You Can t Refuse was written and produced by John Worth Helms sang Elmer Bernstein and Don Black s title song for the 1974 adventure film Gold starring Roger Moore In 1974 he worked on Roger Glover s concept album The Butterfly Ball and the Grasshopper s Feast performing Waiting The album also featured Ronnie James Dio Glenn Hughes David Coverdale Tony Ashton and John Lawton 7 In 1976 Helms performed on two songs for Eddie Hardin s Wizard s Convention album Loose Ends and She s a Woman Helms released a single and soundtrack album for the film Black Joy with producer Biddu in 1977 8 1980s and 1990s Edit Helms worked on the soundtrack of the 1985 movie Water and performed some songs on the album release of the 1980s stage musical Time He worked as a session musician with Topper Headon Deacon Blue Madness and other groups in this period 2 Helms was often heard singing vocals on many radio jingles on Independent Local Radio stations in the United Kingdom His voice was particularly prominent on the Alfasound produced ident packages for Pennine Radio Radio Hallam and the Yorkshire Radio Network 9 Helms also voiced sang the part of the Cilician pirate Isoricus on the track Trust Me on Jeff Wayne s Musical Version of Spartacus released in 1992 Londonbeat Edit Main article Londonbeat In 1988 Helms along with band members George Chandler ex The Olympic Runners Jimmy Chambers and William Henshall formed the band Londonbeat The band reached initial success in the Netherlands but quickly found a broader audience The group s hits include I ve Been Thinking About You A Better Love and 9 A M The Comfort Zone all written by William Henshall The song I ve Been Thinking About You written by Helms produced his highest ever profile reaching No 2 on the UK Singles Chart in September 1990 and No 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in February 1991 It stayed on this chart for nearly five months 10 Londonbeat went on hiatus in 1995 but in 2003 it re formed as New Londonbeat with a line up consisting of Jimmy Helms Jimmy Chambers Myles Kayne and Marc Goldschmitz Signed to the German record label Coconut they released an album called Back in the Hi Life which featured re recordings of A Better Love I ve Been Thinking About You and with new tracks added 10 Discography EditAlbums Edit Jimmy Helms Oracle Records 1969 Gonna Make You an Offer Cube Records 1975 Songs I Sing Pye Records 1975 Singles Edit Year Title Peak chart positionsUS R amp B 11 UK 6 1969 If You Let Me 1972 So Long Love 1973 Gonna Make You an Offer You Can t Refuse 93 8 Jack Horner s Holiday 51 I ll Take Good Care of You 1974 When Can Brown Begin Ragtime Girl Gold 1975 Don t Pull Your Love 1977 Black Joy Putting It Down To the Way I Feel About You denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory See also EditOne hit wonders in the UK List of number one hits United States References Edit a b Jimmy Helms Short Biography Jimmyhelms co uk Retrieved April 5 2015 a b Hanson Amy Jimmy Helms Biography AllMusic Retrieved April 5 2016 Hair Cast Members Orlok com Retrieved April 5 2016 1970 Press Photo Soul Singer Jimmy Helms in Broadway Musical Hair Outlet historicalimnages com Retrieved April 5 2016 Talent in Action Billboard March 27 1971 p 28 Retrieved April 5 2016 a b Roberts David 2006 British Hit Singles amp Albums 19th ed London Guinness World Records Limited p 250 ISBN 1 904994 10 5 The Butterfly Ball and the Grasshopper s Feast AllMusic Retrieved April 5 2016 Jimmy Helms Credits AllMusic Retrieved April 5 2016 Jimmy Helms Lyricsvault net Retrieved April 6 2016 a b Wellman Arthur Londonbeat Biography AllMusic Retrieved April 5 2016 Jimmy Helms Top Songs Chart Singles Discography Music VF Retrieved October 16 2022 External links EditJimmy Helms discography at Discogs Official website YouTube site Jimmy Helms Gonna Make You an Offer You Can t Refuse from YouTube Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Jimmy Helms amp oldid 1116476890, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
