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Rock `n roll fans worldwide know Jimmy Clanton for solid gold hits such
as "Just a Dream," "Go Jimmy Go," and "Venus in Blue Jeans," as well as
his memorable films, Go Johnny Go (1959), starring with Alan Freed,
Chuck Berry, Richie Valens, Jo-Ann Campbell and Eddie Cochran, as well
as Teenage Millionaire (1961), starring with Rocky Graziano, Zazu Pitts,
Chubby Checker, Dion and Jackie Wilson.
What has contributed to his longevity as a solid gold entertainer is much
more than the early fame. He was more complex than most of the teen
idols which whom he is usually grouped, standing head and shoulders
musically above them. One of the main reasons was that Jimmy was
always a dedicated Rhythm and Blues enthusiast. His songs were always
build on his one-of-a-kind voice that reflected a genuine feel for New
Orleans music. In addition, he wrote most of the songs that he recorded,
another rarity during those "instant" teenage one-hit wonder days.
Clanton was born in Baton Rouge on September 2, 1940. He reached his
teen years just as R&B was starting to find an wider audience. By 1956
when he formed his first band, the Dixie Cats, he was greatly influenced
by Louisana's Southern-fried sounds of Fats Domino, Little Richard and
Elvis Presley and Johnny Ace. Local music rivals in those days included a
young John Fred, more than a decade away from his chart-topping "Judy
in Disguise (With Glasses)" and Johnny Ramistella, later known as Johnny
Rivers and still eight years from his big break. Clanton joined forces with
a rival band leader, pianist Dick Holler (later the author of "Abraham,
Martin and John"), in The Rockets, a combo that was hot enough to justify
a 1957 trip to New Orleans and a visit to Cosimo Matassa, who owned the
only recording studio in the city.
Matassa was taken with Clanton's easygoing charm and his way with a
tune as he sang R&B from deep inside his soul. Jimmy's outgoing, likable
personality made him even more attractive. Matassa signed both Clanton
and Holler under his management, recorded each one fronting The
Rockets and then got them both recording deals with Mississippi-based
Ace Records in September 1957.
Jimmy Clanton's first record, "Just a Dream" began to gain airplay and
sales, starting in the South and then building elsewhere. Eventually, the
record reached number four on the Billboard Pop chart and topped the
R&B charts in 1958. Suddenly Clanton was one of Ace's hottest properties.
Appearances on Dick Clark's American Bandstand followed, along with his
first bookings outside of the South.
There were engagements at
the Hollywood Bowl and
performances on Freed's
package tours which, in turn,
led to Clanton's starring
role as "Johnny Melody" in
Alan Freed's rock ` roll film,
Go Johnny Go (which co-
starred Chuck Berry, Sandy
Stewart, Jackie Wilson, The
Cadillacs, Eddie Cochran,
Jo-ann Campbell, Richie
Valens and The Flamingos.
Clanton's next chart hits include "Letter to an Angel" and "A Part of Me."
In 1960 he again reached the Top Ten, with "Go Jimmy Go" By that time,
the teen idol boom was going full-force and Clanton was perfectly cast in
the role with his good looks and easygoing personality.
That flick was followed by Teenage Millionaire, starring Jimmy as "Bobby
Chalmers" and co-starring ZaZu Pitts, Rocky Graziano, Chubby Checker,
Dion DiMucci and Jackie Wilson.
In early 1961, Clanton was drafted and spent the next two years in the U.S.
Army, continuing to have chart successes with "Don't Look at Me" and
"Because I Do." His next major hit, "Venus in Blue Jeans," peaked at
number seven in mid-1962. His return to civilian life, however, was
marked by the British Invasion, which marked the end of an era for many
great performers in the rock `n roll era.
Jimmy Clanton, realizing the gigantic shift in the music world, dedicated
himself more than ever to being a consummate entertainer. His shows
through the years around the globe have always been marked with
powerful musicianship and a heartfelt connection with audiences.
"One of the things that has always worked in my favor," Clanton says
today, "is that my first hit came during the Fifties. I was literally schooled
by the amazing entertainers who had paid their dues the hard way. I got to
travel and hang around the likes of Ray Charles, La Vern Baker and Fats
Domino. I gained such an appreciation for the way they knew how to play
to an audience. Then my later hits came during the early Sixties, which
was an entirely different audience. Just a few years made such a
difference in the way people remember those songs. Even today, when I
sing `Just a Dream' and `Venus in Blue Jeans,' I find a whole different
reaction among certain people in the crowd. I love doing what I'm doing.
It's such a great privilege and honor to continue to play and sing music
that touches a very special part of people's heart because of what was
going on in their lives when those songs were popular."
Top-tier entertainers who share Jimmy Clanton's history in both the Fifties
and Sixties are rare, indeed. A genuine, solid-gold Teen Idol with his first
hits such as "Just a Dream" and "Go Jimmy Go" fifty years ago, he was
also part of the new sound emerging in the Sixties with "Venus in Blue
Jeans" and more.
The people who grew to love the hits from those two distinct eras both
claim Jimmy Clanton as their own.
Both Fifties and Sixties (and 2007!) audiences agree, Jimmy is a genuine
golden icon!
as "Just a Dream," "Go Jimmy Go," and "Venus in Blue Jeans," as well as
his memorable films, Go Johnny Go (1959), starring with Alan Freed,
Chuck Berry, Richie Valens, Jo-Ann Campbell and Eddie Cochran, as well
as Teenage Millionaire (1961), starring with Rocky Graziano, Zazu Pitts,
Chubby Checker, Dion and Jackie Wilson.
What has contributed to his longevity as a solid gold entertainer is much
more than the early fame. He was more complex than most of the teen
idols which whom he is usually grouped, standing head and shoulders
musically above them. One of the main reasons was that Jimmy was
always a dedicated Rhythm and Blues enthusiast. His songs were always
build on his one-of-a-kind voice that reflected a genuine feel for New
Orleans music. In addition, he wrote most of the songs that he recorded,
another rarity during those "instant" teenage one-hit wonder days.
Clanton was born in Baton Rouge on September 2, 1940. He reached his
teen years just as R&B was starting to find an wider audience. By 1956
when he formed his first band, the Dixie Cats, he was greatly influenced
by Louisana's Southern-fried sounds of Fats Domino, Little Richard and
Elvis Presley and Johnny Ace. Local music rivals in those days included a
young John Fred, more than a decade away from his chart-topping "Judy
in Disguise (With Glasses)" and Johnny Ramistella, later known as Johnny
Rivers and still eight years from his big break. Clanton joined forces with
a rival band leader, pianist Dick Holler (later the author of "Abraham,
Martin and John"), in The Rockets, a combo that was hot enough to justify
a 1957 trip to New Orleans and a visit to Cosimo Matassa, who owned the
only recording studio in the city.
Matassa was taken with Clanton's easygoing charm and his way with a
tune as he sang R&B from deep inside his soul. Jimmy's outgoing, likable
personality made him even more attractive. Matassa signed both Clanton
and Holler under his management, recorded each one fronting The
Rockets and then got them both recording deals with Mississippi-based
Ace Records in September 1957.
Jimmy Clanton's first record, "Just a Dream" began to gain airplay and
sales, starting in the South and then building elsewhere. Eventually, the
record reached number four on the Billboard Pop chart and topped the
R&B charts in 1958. Suddenly Clanton was one of Ace's hottest properties.
Appearances on Dick Clark's American Bandstand followed, along with his
first bookings outside of the South.
There were engagements at
the Hollywood Bowl and
performances on Freed's
package tours which, in turn,
led to Clanton's starring
role as "Johnny Melody" in
Alan Freed's rock ` roll film,
Go Johnny Go (which co-
starred Chuck Berry, Sandy
Stewart, Jackie Wilson, The
Cadillacs, Eddie Cochran,
Jo-ann Campbell, Richie
Valens and The Flamingos.
Clanton's next chart hits include "Letter to an Angel" and "A Part of Me."
In 1960 he again reached the Top Ten, with "Go Jimmy Go" By that time,
the teen idol boom was going full-force and Clanton was perfectly cast in
the role with his good looks and easygoing personality.
That flick was followed by Teenage Millionaire, starring Jimmy as "Bobby
Chalmers" and co-starring ZaZu Pitts, Rocky Graziano, Chubby Checker,
Dion DiMucci and Jackie Wilson.
In early 1961, Clanton was drafted and spent the next two years in the U.S.
Army, continuing to have chart successes with "Don't Look at Me" and
"Because I Do." His next major hit, "Venus in Blue Jeans," peaked at
number seven in mid-1962. His return to civilian life, however, was
marked by the British Invasion, which marked the end of an era for many
great performers in the rock `n roll era.
Jimmy Clanton, realizing the gigantic shift in the music world, dedicated
himself more than ever to being a consummate entertainer. His shows
through the years around the globe have always been marked with
powerful musicianship and a heartfelt connection with audiences.
"One of the things that has always worked in my favor," Clanton says
today, "is that my first hit came during the Fifties. I was literally schooled
by the amazing entertainers who had paid their dues the hard way. I got to
travel and hang around the likes of Ray Charles, La Vern Baker and Fats
Domino. I gained such an appreciation for the way they knew how to play
to an audience. Then my later hits came during the early Sixties, which
was an entirely different audience. Just a few years made such a
difference in the way people remember those songs. Even today, when I
sing `Just a Dream' and `Venus in Blue Jeans,' I find a whole different
reaction among certain people in the crowd. I love doing what I'm doing.
It's such a great privilege and honor to continue to play and sing music
that touches a very special part of people's heart because of what was
going on in their lives when those songs were popular."
Top-tier entertainers who share Jimmy Clanton's history in both the Fifties
and Sixties are rare, indeed. A genuine, solid-gold Teen Idol with his first
hits such as "Just a Dream" and "Go Jimmy Go" fifty years ago, he was
also part of the new sound emerging in the Sixties with "Venus in Blue
Jeans" and more.
The people who grew to love the hits from those two distinct eras both
claim Jimmy Clanton as their own.
Both Fifties and Sixties (and 2007!) audiences agree, Jimmy is a genuine
golden icon!
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Chuck Berry, Sandy Stewart, Alan Freed and Jimmy
| "Jimmy Clanton Day" in Baton Rouge, Louisiana (1958) |
| (1960s) |
| Jimmy Clanton Today |
