Norman Washington "Junior" Giscombe (born 6 June 1957)[1] is an English singer-songwriter often known as Junior who was one of the first British R&B artists to be successful in the United States. He is best known for his 1982 hit single, "Mama Used to Say".[2]
Giscombe was born in Wandsworth, London, England,[3] and was a backing vocalist with Linx between 1980 and 1982.
When turning towards a solo career, he was first billed simply as Junior. He scored a No. 7hit in the UK Singles Chart in 1982, with "Mama Used to Say".[4] His follow-up single, "Too Late" also made the top 20 in the UK.[4] "Mama Used to Say" was also a top 40 Pop and top 5 R&B hit in the United States, earning him a "Best Newcomer" award from Billboard magazine.[5]
Sometime (most likely) around 1984 and 1985, Giscombe recorded (and very possibly co-wrote) an unknown number of songs with Phil Lynott, the former leader, vocalist and bass player of hard rock band Thin Lizzy. Lynott died in January 1986 and the songs were never officially released. Most remain as demos, but one of the songs, "Lady Loves to Dance", was mastered and nearly released before being pulled by the record company. Some of the songs are available on YouTube, including "What's the Matter Baby" (Giscombe provides backing vocals) and "Time (and Again)" (Giscombe shares vocals with Lynott).
In 2014, Giscombe formed "The British Collective" with fellow British artists Don-E, Noel McKoy and Omar.[6][7]
Personal life
Junior Giscombe was raised as the youngest of eight children.
He met his childhood sweetheart Nardia when he was 19 and she was 17 and remained together until her death. At the age of 24, Nardia was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and died of complications from the condition in 2008 aged 50. Junior and Nardia had two children. Their second child, Jenique, was also diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2008 (six months before her mother's death) and she died in May 2017.[8] Giscombe dedicated his 2020 album "Everyting Set" to his daughter's memory.[9]
Giscombe is the uncle of British comedian Richard Blackwood, who sampled "Mama Used to Say" on his single "Mama – Who Da Man" in June 2000.
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Norman Washington Junior Giscombe born 6 June 1957 1 is an English singer songwriter often known as Junior who was one of the first British R amp B artists to be successful in the United States He is best known for his 1982 hit single Mama Used to Say 2 Junior GiscombeJunior performing in 2019 Background informationBirth nameNorman Washington GiscombeAlso known asJuniorBorn 1957 06 06 6 June 1957 age 65 Wandsworth London EnglandOriginLondon EnglandGenresR amp B soul funk popOccupation s Singer songwriterYears active1981 presentLabelsMercury RecordsWebsitejuniorgiscombe wbr co wbr uk Contents 1 Career 2 Personal life 3 Discography 3 1 Albums 3 2 Singles 4 References 5 External linksCareer EditGiscombe was born in Wandsworth London England 3 and was a backing vocalist with Linx between 1980 and 1982 When turning towards a solo career he was first billed simply as Junior He scored a No 7 hit in the UK Singles Chart in 1982 with Mama Used to Say 4 His follow up single Too Late also made the top 20 in the UK 4 Mama Used to Say was also a top 40 Pop and top 5 R amp B hit in the United States earning him a Best Newcomer award from Billboard magazine 5 Sometime most likely around 1984 and 1985 Giscombe recorded and very possibly co wrote an unknown number of songs with Phil Lynott the former leader vocalist and bass player of hard rock band Thin Lizzy Lynott died in January 1986 and the songs were never officially released Most remain as demos but one of the songs Lady Loves to Dance was mastered and nearly released before being pulled by the record company Some of the songs are available on YouTube including What s the Matter Baby Giscombe provides backing vocals and Time and Again Giscombe shares vocals with Lynott After a period outside the charts he made a brief return to the top 10 in 1987 when he sang a duet with Kim Wilde on Another Step Closer to You 3 He also became involved with the formation of Red Wedge in 1986 with Billy Bragg Jimmy Somerville and Paul Weller and had been a part of the Council Collective with the Style Council Jimmy Ruffin and others for the 1984 fundraising single Soul Deep 3 In 1992 Junior appeared on stage at the 1992 Labour rally in Sheffield singing Curtis Mayfield s Move On Up Later Giscombe became better known as a songwriter for artists such as Sheena Easton 3 In 2014 Giscombe formed The British Collective with fellow British artists Don E Noel McKoy and Omar 6 7 Personal life EditJunior Giscombe was raised as the youngest of eight children He met his childhood sweetheart Nardia when he was 19 and she was 17 and remained together until her death At the age of 24 Nardia was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and died of complications from the condition in 2008 aged 50 Junior and Nardia had two children Their second child Jenique was also diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2008 six months before her mother s death and she died in May 2017 8 Giscombe dedicated his 2020 album Everyting Set to his daughter s memory 9 Giscombe is the uncle of British comedian Richard Blackwood who sampled Mama Used to Say on his single Mama Who Da Man in June 2000 Discography EditAlbums Edit Year Album Label Peak chart positionsUS 10 US R amp B 11 UK 12 1982 Ji Mercury Records 71 15 281983 Inside Lookin Out 177 54 1985 Acquired Taste London Records 34 1988 Sophisticated Street 56 1990 Stand Strong MCA Records 1992 Renewal 1995 Honesty Provocative Records 2005 Oceans N A 2011 Prisoner of Hope 2020 Everyting Set denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory Singles Edit Year Song Peak chart positions CertificationsUS Pop 13 US R amp B 14 US Dance 15 UK 12 16 1981 Get Up and Dance as Norman Giscombe Jr Mama Used to Say 30 2 4 7 BPI Silver 17 1982 Too Late 8 67 20 I Can t Help It Let Me Know 531983 Communication Breakdown 40 57 Runnin 92 Baby I Want You Back 72 Unison 44 16 1984 Somebody 47 28 641985 Do You Really Want My Love 47 Not Tonight 1985 reissue Oh Louise 741986 Come on Over 87 Not Tonight 74 Oh Louise 1986 reissue 14 831987 Yes If You Want Me 24 Another Step Closer to You with Kim Wilde 61988 High Life Say That You Care 1990 Step Off 631991 Morning Will Come 81 Better Part of Me 51 1992 Then Came You 32 All Over the World 741993 Lysander s Theme with Ruby Turner 1995 I Like It 2011 Mama Used to Say 2011 Version with Mumzy Stranger Prisoner of Hope 2021 Can You Feel It with Sinitta and Kym Mazelle 18 denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory References Edit Happy Birthday to Junior Soul Tracks 10 October 2012 Retrieved 24 October 2021 Hogan Ed Artist Biography AllMusic Retrieved 24 October 2021 a b c d Colin Larkin ed 2003 The Virgin Encyclopedia of Eighties Music Third ed Virgin Books p 218 ISBN 1 85227 969 9 a b Roberts David 2006 British Hit Singles amp Albums 19th ed London Guinness World Records Limited p 293 ISBN 1 904994 10 5 Junior Giscombe Juniorgiscombe co uk Junior Giscombe interview part 2 UKVibe The British Collective The British Collective Junior Giscombe They will find something for progressive MS MS Society charity This album is dedicated to and in memory of my beloved daughter Juniorgiscombe co uk Chart History Junior BILLBOARD 200 Billboard Retrieved 24 October 2021 Chart History Junior TOP R amp B HIP HOP ALBUMS Billboard Retrieved 24 October 2021 a b JUNIOR full Official Chart History Official Charts Company Chart History Junior HOT 100 Billboard Retrieved 24 October 2021 Chart History Junior HOT R amp B HIP HOP SONGS Billboard Retrieved 24 October 2021 Chart History Junior DANCE CLUB SONGS Billboard Retrieved 24 October 2021 JUNIOR GISCOMBE full Official Chart History Official Charts Company Junior Mama Used to Say bpi co uk Retrieved 15 January 2022 Can You Feel It single Apple Music 16 September 2021 Retrieved 7 November 2021 External links EditJunior Giscombe s website Junior Giscombe discography at Discogs Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Junior Giscombe amp oldid 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