Ivory Joe Hunter

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For the Motown producer-songwriter, see Ivy Joe Hunter.

Ivory Joe Hunter made his network television debut on You Asked for It in April, 1951.

Ivory Joe Hunter (born October 10, 1914 in Kirbyville, Texas - died November 8, 1974 in Memphis, Tennessee) was an African American R&B singer, songwriter and pianist, best known for his hit recording, "Since I Met You, Baby" (1956). Billed as The Baron of the Boogie, he was also known as The Happiest Man Alive. He is sometimes confused with Motown producer-songwriter Ivy Joe Hunter.

In Kirbyville, Texas, he was christened Ivory Joe as an infant. Developing an early interest in music from his father, Dave Hunter, who played guitar, and his gospel singing mother, he was a talented pianist by the age of 13. As a teenager, Hunter made his first recording in Texas for Alan Lomax and the Library of Congress in 1933. ^[1]

1 Radio and recordings
2 Country comeback
3 Listen to
4 Notes
5 External links

[edit] Radio and recordings

In the early 1940s, Hunter had his own radio show in Beaumont, Texas on KFDM, where he eventually became program manager, and in 1942, he moved to Los Angeles, joining Johnny Moore's Three Blazers in the mid-1940s. When he wrote and recorded his first song, "Blues at Sunrise," with the Three Blazers for his own label, Ivory Records, it became a regional hit. ^[2]

In the late 1940s, Hunter founded Pacific Records, and in 1947, he recorded for Four Star and King Records. Two years later, he recorded his first R&B hits; on "I Quit My Pretty Mama" and "Guess Who" he was backed by members of Duke Ellington's band. ^[3]

After signing with MGM, he recorded "I Almost Lost My Mind," which topped the 1950 R&B charts and would later (in the wake of Hunter's success with "Since I Met You Baby") be recorded by Pat Boone. "I Need You" was a number two R&B hit that same year. With his smooth delivery, Ivory Joe Hunter became a hot R&B commodity, and he also began to be noticed in the country-Western music community. In April, 1951, he made his network TV debut on You Asked For It.

By 1954, he had recorded more than a hundred songs and moved to the Atlantic label. His first song to cross over to the pop charts was "Since I Met You Baby" (1956). It was to be his only top 40 pop song, climbing to the number 12 position. While visiting Memphis in the spring of 1957, Hunter was invited by Elvis Presley to visit Graceland. The two spent the day together, singing "I Almost Lost My Mind" and other songs together. Hunter commented, "He showed me every courtesy, and I think he's one of the greatest."

[edit] Country comeback

Hunter's "Empty Arms" and "Yes, I Want You" also made the pop charts, and he had a minor hit with "City Lights" in 1959 just before his popularity began to decline. Hunter came back as a country singer in the late 1960s, making regular Grand Ole Opry appearances and recording an album titled "I've Always Been Country." ^[4]

During the 1950s, white artists recorded covers of top R&B tunes. When Pat Boone recorded Joe's smash 1950 R&B hit, "I Almost Lost My Mind," it became a number one hit in 1956. Sonny James issued a version of "Since I Met You, Baby," and it topped the country charts in 1970, paving the way for the album The Return of Ivory Joe Hunter and Hunter’s appearance at the Monterey Jazz Festival. He was a prolific songwriter, and some estimate he wrote more than 7,000 songs. Among them are two that Elvis Presley put in the top 20: "My Wish Came True" and "Ain't That Loving You, Baby." In 1974, lung cancer led to his death in Memphis, and he was buried in Kirbyville.