Search - Jewel Akens :: Very B.O.

One Big Hit

09/09/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Born in 1940 in Houston, Jewel Akens began his singing career with The Four Tunes [of "Marie" fame], although not on any of their hit records, He then briefly led his own group, The Four Dots [Don't Wake Up The Kids - a regional hit on Liberty in 1960], and also recorded for the small Silver label in 1960 as one half of the duo Jewel & Eddie [Daniels] - with no chart success.



In 1965, however, he hit it big as a solo act with the novelty hit The Birds And The Bees [# 3 Biullboard Pop Hot 100/# 21 R&B in March] b/w Tic Tac Toe. He then barely avoided the dreaded "one-hit wonder" tag when Georgie Porgie, another novelty tune in the same vein [heck, almost the same arrangement] struggled to # 68 Hot 100 in May, b/w Around The Corner [From My House]. Both hits, and the B-sides, had the backing of Don Ralke & His Orchestra, both hits were written by Herb Newman of Era Records, and all four sides are here.



He had a pleasant-sounding voice bordering on Country, but that obviously wasn't enough to stem the tide of the British Invasion which swept aside all but the most outstanding North American talent from 1964 through to the end of the decade."