Jan. 8, 1943-June 10, 2012. Jimmy Elledge was born in Nashville, TN, living there until his mother passed away when he was 9 years old. He was sent to live with his aunt and grandmother in Philadelphia, MS., and three he grew up. Jimmy went to high school in nearby Meridian, MS. attending Meridian High School. Jimmy Elledge crashed the charts in the early ‘60s with his Chet Atkins-produced rendition of Willie Nelson’s “Funny How Time Slips Away.” Jimmy started out singing and playing piano in the Future Farmers of America Hillbilly Band during his early teens. While most of the group’s repertoire consisted of the country songs of the day, Elledge handled the rock ‘n’ roll segment of the set, often performing his specialty, Jerry Lee Lewis numbers. When he was 18 years old, Jimmy Elledge sent a demo tape to famed country producer Chet Atkins, who signed him to RCA - Victor Records. Elledge’s debut single, the country ballad ‘Funny How Time Slips Away’ - produced by Atkins and written by soon-to-be country superstar Willie Nelson - reached the US Top 30 in early 1962 and earned him a gold disc for selling over a million copies. Jimmy signed with the Hickory label in the mid-60s. He would later immortalize his rockin’ piano style on one of his first discs, “Swanee River Rocket.” Besides his Atkins-produced RCA sides, Elledge made the Nashville Record Row rounds throughout the ‘60s, waxing sides for Spur, Hickory and, most impressively, Aubrey Mayhew’s Little Darlin’ label, where he recorded alongside a young Johnny Paycheck. Little Darlin’ released an LP on Jimmy, complete with a cover portrait of him standing in front of the Fontainebleau Motor Hotel, located catty corner from the Rock ‘n’ Bowl! Long a Bourbon Street favorite, Elledge swapped sets with the Meters at their first-ever gig at the Ivanhoe around the same time.
Although he’s always prided himself for his ability to sing and play in virtually any style—and his earth-shattering falsetto can lend feeling to any song that he lays his hands on—country soul is his unintended specialty. His renditions of Roger’s Miller’s “A Golden Tear” and Margaret Lewis’s “Reconsider Me” are the stuff of legend, taking on lives of their own when Jimmy belts them out. Elledge also happens to be the torch bearer of the great Floyd Cramer “Last Date” style of piano playing. All this and more have been earning him accolades in the South—and in particular, the New Orleans area—for over four decades. In 1961 Jimmy signed with RCA Records producer Chet Atkins and in 1962 released "Funny How Times Slips Away," which up to now has sold six (6) million copies.
In 1962, Jimmy was introduced to Bourbon St in New Orleans while playing the famed "Dream Room" during the middle 60s. He also wrote songs which were recorded by the "0smonds" and good friend "Ronnie Dove." During the 70's, Jimmy played many clubs on the Westbank such as: the "Ces Si Bon," the "Travel Lodge," the "Fox & Hound," the "Golden Pagoda," and "Cabe's Corral." At that time, Jimmy also entertained in his own nightclub, the "Jimmy Elledge Club" in Gretna and released a country hit with "One by One." From the late 70's thru the 80's and 90's, Jimmy has entertained in many spots nationally and internationally, as a piano-bar entertainer, as well with trios and quartets. Locally he has played the "Fairmont & Monteleone" hotels in New Orleans, "Holiday Inn" in Kenner, "Goodfiellas" and "Salvatores' Restaurant & Lounge," both in Metairie. Most recently (2004), Jimmy just completed a fourteen (14) month engagement at the "Red Maple" Restaurant in Gretna. And has just come back from a tour with Johnny Tillitson and Billy Joe Royal. Presently, Jimmy is in the studio recording a new CD, which will feature duets with his good friend, Billy Joe Royal.
Hear Jimmy's Recordings Link
Jimmy Elledge Links
Ponderosa Stomp
Jimmy Elledge-WikiPedia.Org
Jimmy Elledge Discography
Jimmy was an important Nashville music artists who contributed much to music in Mississippi late '50 and '60 and his recording discography is expansive. His style is country- rock and could sing and play piano better than almost anyone I've ever heard. It was a pleasure playing and working with Jimmy in 1967 & 1966.
By Praguefrank, Bernard Seibel, Michel Ruppli, Kurt Rokitta
Jimmy Elledge Sessions & Recording Credits
Unknown details (probably early masters or demos) – Jimmy Elledge
00001 GOTTA RIGHT TO WANT TO LOVE YOU White Label WLP-8889
00002 ROCK AND ROLL THUNDERBIRD [w. Burt Sisters] White Label WLP-8899
White Label WLP-8889 ROCKIN' IN LOUISIANA. VOL. 1 ; White Label WLP-8899 MORE RARE ROCKING GIRLS
ca 6 January 1961 RCA Victor Studio, 1611 Hawkins St., Nashville, TN – Jimmy Elledge (Producer: Chet Atkins)
001 M2-WW-0503 SEND ME A LETTER RCA 47-7910
002 M2-WW-0504 SWANEE RIVER ROCKET 47-7910
003 M2-WW-0505 I’D HAVE TO GETR A LITTLE BETTER TO DIE
004 M2-WW-0506 THE GREAT BELIEVER
ca February 1961 RCA Victor Studio, 1611 Hawkins St., Nashville, TN – Jimmy Elledge (Producer: Chet Atkins)
005 M2-WW-0557 SEND ME A LETTER LSP-
006 M2-WW-0558 SAFARI
7 September 1961 RCA Victor Studio, 1611 Hawkins St., Nashville, TN – Jimmy Elledge (Producer: Chet Atkins)
007 M2-WW-0949 HEY JIMMY JOE JOHN JIM JACK 47-7946
008 M2-WW-0950 POODLE DOG
009 M2-WW-0951 FUNNY HOW TIME SLIPS AWAY 47-7946/LSP-
Early February 1962 RCA Victor Studio, 1611 Hawkins St., Nashville, TN – Jimmy Elledge (Producer: Chet Atkins)
010 N2-WW-0551 A GOLDEN TEAR 47-8081
011 N2-WW-0552 CANT YOU SEE IT IN MY EYES 47-8012
012 N2-WW-0553 WHAT A LAUGH 47-8012
013 N2-WW-0554 DIAMONDS 47-8042
ca early May 1962 [2 sessions] RCA Victor Studio, 1611 Hawkins St., Nashville, TN – Jimmy Elledge (Producer: Chet Atkins)
014 N2-WW-0717 SINCE I MET YOU BABY LSP
015 N2-WW-0718 PLEASE LOVE ME FOREVER 47-8191
016 N2-WW-0719 SINCERELY LSP-?
017 N2-WW-0720 IT’S ALL IN THE GAME LSP-
018 N2-WW-0721 O COME ALL YE FAITHFUL LSP-2579 ACL1-0256
019 N2-WW-0722 BLUE MOON LSP-?
020 N2-WW-0723 BO DIDLEY 47-8042/LSP-?
021 N2-WW-0724 PENNY'S WORTH OF HAPPINESS 47-8191
022 N2-WW-0725 I'LL GET BY (DON'T WORRY) 47-8081
RCA Victor LSP-2579 NASHVILLE CHRISTMAS PARTY (1962); RCA Camden ACL1-0256 CHRISTMAS IN THE COUNTRY (1973)November 1962 RCA Victor Studio, 1611 Hawkins St. Nashville, TN – Jimmy Elledge (Producer: Chet Atkins)
023 N2-WW-5112 PLEASE LOVE ME FOREVER
024 N2-WW-5113 I MISS YOU ALREADY 47-8136
025 N2-WW-5114 PERHAPS
026 N2-WW-5115 YOU CAN HAVE HER 47-8136
August 1963 RCA Victor Studio, 1611 Hawkins St. Nashville, TN – Jimmy Elledge (Producer: Chet Atkins)
027 PPA4-0366 SAILING ON THE SHIP OF FOOLS unissued
028 PPA4-0367 I HAD TO RUN AWAY 47-8241
029 PPA4-0368 THERE'S NOTHING THERE FOR ME 47-8241
030 PPA4-0369 I’M GOING SINGLE
February 1964 RCA Victor Studio, 1611 Hawkins St. Nashville, TN – Jimmy Elledge (Producer: Chet Atkins)
031 RPA4-1110 GONNA TURN MY VOO DOO 47-8355
032 RPA4-1111 DREAM OF THE YEAR 47-8355
033 RPA4-1112 I WAITED TOO LONG unissued
ca September 1964 Nashville, TN – Jimmy Elledge
034 ZTSB-99052 I GOTTA LIVE HERE Sims 204
035 HOLD MY HEART FOR AWHILE Sims 204
early April 1965 Nashville, TN - Jimmy Elledge (Producer: Wesley Rose)
036 F-759 A GOOD WOMAN'S LOVE 45-1341
037 F-760 I JUST WALKED IN Hickory 45-1313 45-1393
038 F-761 FOLLOW EVERY RAINBOW 45-1313
ca. August 1965 Nashville, TN - Jimmy Elledge (Producer: Wesley Rose)
039 F-805 TIME'S A THIEF 45-1393
040 F-806 A LEGEND IN MY TIME 45-1363
041 F-807 THE WORLD OF LAVANDER LACE 45-1341
042 F-808 PINK DALLY RUE 45-1363
ca. July 1966 poss. Nashville, TN - Jimmy Elledge (Producer: Wesley Rose)
043 F-1004 SHE SHOULD SAVE SOME LOVING 45-K-1452
044 F-1005 LET ME LOVE YOU A LITTLE (SO I CAN LOVE YOU A LOT) 45-K-1420
045 F-1006 THE DARKEST PART OF NIGHT (IS DAWN) 45-K-1452
046 F-1007? SHE SHOULD SAVE LOVIN' 45-1420
around 1967 Nashville, TN - Jimmy Elledge (Producer: Aubrey Mayhew)
047 none YOUR FUNNY WAY OF LOVING ME Big A 104
048 none TOUCH MY HEART Big A 104/Little Darlin SLD-8013
Summer 1968 poss. RCA Victor Studio, 1611 Hawkins St. Nashville, TN – Jimmy Elledge (Producer: Aubrey Mayhew)
049 none FLORENCE JEAN Little Darlin LD-0047/SLD-8013
050 none NO ONE EVER LOST MORE Little Darlin LD-0047/SLD-8013
1968 poss. RCA Victor Studio, 1611 Hawkins St. Nashville, TN – Jimmy Elledge (Producer: Aubrey Mayhew)
051 FUNNY HOW TIME SLIPS AWAY Little Darlin SLD-8013
052 YOU'VE STILL GOT A PLACE IN MY HEART Little Darlin SLD-8013
053 HURT Little Darlin SLD-8013
054 OR IS IT LOVE Little Darlin SLD-8013
055 THESE THINGS I'M NOT Little Darlin SLD-8013
056 I CAN'T PROMISE YOU WON'T GET LONELY Little Darlin SLD-8013
057 I BECOME A HUSBAND AGAIN Little Darlin SLD-8013
058 HONEY Little Darlin SLD-8013
1968 unknown - Jimmy Elledge
059 SAD TOWN Sound Town 73168
060 I'VE TAKEN A LIKING TO THE GIRL NEXT DOOR Sound Town 73168
1969 [2 or 3 sessions] Nashville, TN – Jimmy Elledge (arranged by Dick Powell. Producer: Wm. Beasley)
061 none KAY Spar 30004
062 none I CAN'T PROMISE YOU WON'T GET LONELY Spar 30004
063 I BECOME A HUSBAND AGAIN Spar 30008
064 I DON'T KNOW WHEN THAT WILL BE - Spar 30008
065 HURT Spar 30015
066 FUNNY HOW TIME SLIPS AWAY Spar 30015
Summer 1973 Nashville, TN – Jimmy Elledge
067 (LONESOME THEY CALL ME) LONESOME I AM Tender 81973
068 LET ME COME OVER Tender 81973
ca February 1975 Nashville, TN – Jimmy Elledge (Producer: Joe Johnson)
069 ONE BY ONE 4-Star 5-1003/4S-SP-104
070 AFTER YOU 4-Star 5-1003/4S-SP-105
4 Star 4S-SP-104 TEN FROM TENNESSEE (1977) 4 Star 4S-SP-105 CLASSIC COUNTRY (1977)1975 Nashville, TN – Jimmy Elledge (arr. And conducted By Bill Justis. Producer: Joe Johnson) 071 JJ-052 LADY LOVER 5-1015
072 AM I THAT EASY TO FORGET 5-1015
ca 1975 Nashville, TN – Jimmy Elledge (Producer: Joe Johnson)
073 HER COURT OF MAKE BELIEVE 4 Star 4S-SP-111
074 GOD AND OTHER FIRST THAN ME 4 Star 4S-SP-110
4 Star 4S-SP-110 LOVING COUNTRY (1977); 4 Star 4S-SP-111 MUSIC ROW GREATS (1977)
ALBUMS
RCA Victor LPM/LSP ? Meet Jimmy Elledge: Funny How Time Slips Away; Since I Met You, Baby; Blue Moon; Bo Diddley; Send Me A Letter; Sincerely; It’s All In The Game; + 5 unknown tracks - 09-62 (MX: (mono)N2PP-0629/30; ad Bb September 23, more details unknown; Australian issue L 10384)
Little Darlin’ SLD-8013 Funny How Time Slips Away: Funny How Time Slips Away; You've Still Got A Place In My Heart; No One Ever Lost More; Florence Jean; Touch Of My Heart; Hurt; Or Is It Love; These Things I'm Not; I Can't Promise You Won't Get Lonely; I Become A Husband Again; Honey - 69
