Roosevelt Jamison

Roosevelt Jamison (July 15, 1936 – March 27, 2013) was a music manager, publicist and songwriter in Memphis, Tennessee, during the 1960s. His first and most notable composition was "That's How Strong My Love Is", first recorded by O.V. Wright and released on Quinton Claunch's Goldwax record label in 1964.

Biography

Jamison was born in Olive Branch, Mississippi. He was always interested in music and was an important figure on the Memphis scene, managing local groups and rehearsing them at the back of the Interstate Blood Bank he ran on Beale Street. It was through these groups that he discovered O.V. Wright and James Carr, who were both with the gospel group The Harmony Echoes.^[1]

Jamison began writing his own songs, resulting in the hugely successful "That's How Strong My Love Is", which was originally released by O.V. Wright. "That's How Strong My Love Is" was much covered, most notably by Otis Redding, appearing on his 1965 album The Great Otis Redding Sings Soul Ballads, and on Out of Our Heads by The Rolling Stones, also in 1965. In 1973 Humble Pie included it on their album Eat It. The song has also been covered on albums by Taj Mahal, Candi Staton, Percy Sledge and Buddy Miller, as well as by Roland Gift on the Beautiful Girls movie soundtrack and by Battlefield Band on their 2011 album, Line Up.

After a contract dispute between Wright and Don Robey, the duo parted company and Jamison focused all his attention on mentoring James Carr, who was a gifted soul belter. From a young age, Carr was shy and withdrawn and never really possessed the right temperament to become the big star his talent suggested and he ended up suffering from manic depression. For most of the rest of Carr's life, Jamison served as his manager, mentor, publicist, composer and confidante. With Jamison pushing the naturally withdrawn Carr, the singer managed to score several hits for the Goldwax label, including the legendary "The Dark End of the Street". Jamison remained committed to Carr long after Goldwax folded in 1969. In 1977 Jamison mortgaged his home to finance a James Carr comeback on Jamison's own Rivercity Records label, featuring "Let Me Be Right", which saw marginal success. Carr later decided to leave the R&B music business and returned to his gospel church roots instead.

Aside from his music interests, Jamison spent early years in sickle cell research under Dr. L.W. Diggs at the University of Tennessee. He taught Anatomy and Physiology at Draughn's Business College for several years. He also continued his employment as an assistant supervisor of the hematology lab at City of Memphis Hospital (The Med), until his retirement.

Roosevelt Jamison died at his home in Memphis, Tennessee on March 27, 2013 at the age of 76.

References

External links

• Tribute to Jamison by Peter Guralnick
• Song lyrics
• Song Facts: "That's How Strong My Love Is"
• Ace Records