Post by Rob Durkee on Aug 19, 2008 9:11:37 GMT -5
By ROCKIN' ROBIN
Pervis Jackson, the bass singer of the Spinners who gave us the unforgettable lyric line "12:45" in the group's 1975 hit, "Games People Play," died early Monday (August 18, 2007) morning at Detroit's Sinai-Grace Hospital. He was 70. He'd been diagnosed with having brain and liver cancer only about a week earlier.
Claudreen Jackson, Pervis' wife for over 40 years, told the news media that he died "quietly and peacefully." Mrs. Jackson added, "I don't know how many people get to live their lives the way they want...but he was one of them."
Pervis Jackson was one of the original Spinner members. He'd last performed with them on July 19 in La Habra, California. He had planned to perform with the group later on this month in South Africa and next month in Wales. He was so associated with that "12:45" line in the #2 Cash Box hit song, "They Just Can't Stop It the (Games People Play)" that he was known as "Mr. 12:45".
He also was popular for mingling with Spinners' fans to shake hands and sign autographs. Claudreen Jackson recalled, "He always said, 'When the people come to see you, they've done their part. It's up to you to keep them.' "
The Spinners were truly a rags-to-riches pop and R&B success. They first cracked the Cash Box pop top 40 in the summer of 1961, reaching #39 with the doo-wop ballad, “That’s What Girls Are Made For,” on the Tri-Phil label. It took the group another nine years to chalk up another major hit, but they did it in the late summer-early fall of 1970 with the #15-peaking “It’s A Shame” on the V.I.P. label.
Once the Spinners landed a contract with Atlantic Records, they became international stars. They chalked up three #1 Cash Box pop chart #1's with "I'll Be Around," (1972) "Could It Be I'm Falling In Love" (1972) and the duet with Dionne Warwick, "Then Came You" (1974). The Spinners had five other top 10 Cash Box chart hits with "One Of A Kind (Love Affair)(#8, 1973), "Games People Play," (#2, 1975) "The Rubberband Man," (#3, 1976) "Working My Way Back To You/Forgive Me Girl" (#3, 1979) and "Cupid/I've Loved You For A Long Time" (#3, 1980).
Pervis Jackson is survived by two Spinners original members, Henry Fambrough and Bobbie Smith. Billy Henderson, a founding member, died in February of last year. Earlier this year, the group's long-time manager, Buddy Allen, died at his New York home. And this past weekend, legendary Atlanta Records producer Jerry Wexler was 91 when he passed away. Spinners tenor singer Felippe Wynne was 43 when he died of a heart attack in 1984.
Steve Allen, Buddy's son and the Spinners' road manager for many years, told writer Brian McCollum of the Detroit Free Press, "Pervis was the classiest, nicest, most perfect gentlemen. He never let the fame and the glory years go to his head."
Michael Fuqua, the son of Harvey Fuqua, who groomed the group in its early years, added, "Every Motown group tried to have its own sound to stand out. Pervis was a big part of that for the Spinners. If you listen to his parts, you hear how well his voice carried, how unique it was, without being overbearing."
Pervis Jackson is survived by two sons, two daughters and eight grandchildren.
Pervis Jackson, the bass singer of the Spinners who gave us the unforgettable lyric line "12:45" in the group's 1975 hit, "Games People Play," died early Monday (August 18, 2007) morning at Detroit's Sinai-Grace Hospital. He was 70. He'd been diagnosed with having brain and liver cancer only about a week earlier.
Claudreen Jackson, Pervis' wife for over 40 years, told the news media that he died "quietly and peacefully." Mrs. Jackson added, "I don't know how many people get to live their lives the way they want...but he was one of them."
Pervis Jackson was one of the original Spinner members. He'd last performed with them on July 19 in La Habra, California. He had planned to perform with the group later on this month in South Africa and next month in Wales. He was so associated with that "12:45" line in the #2 Cash Box hit song, "They Just Can't Stop It the (Games People Play)" that he was known as "Mr. 12:45".
He also was popular for mingling with Spinners' fans to shake hands and sign autographs. Claudreen Jackson recalled, "He always said, 'When the people come to see you, they've done their part. It's up to you to keep them.' "
The Spinners were truly a rags-to-riches pop and R&B success. They first cracked the Cash Box pop top 40 in the summer of 1961, reaching #39 with the doo-wop ballad, “That’s What Girls Are Made For,” on the Tri-Phil label. It took the group another nine years to chalk up another major hit, but they did it in the late summer-early fall of 1970 with the #15-peaking “It’s A Shame” on the V.I.P. label.
Once the Spinners landed a contract with Atlantic Records, they became international stars. They chalked up three #1 Cash Box pop chart #1's with "I'll Be Around," (1972) "Could It Be I'm Falling In Love" (1972) and the duet with Dionne Warwick, "Then Came You" (1974). The Spinners had five other top 10 Cash Box chart hits with "One Of A Kind (Love Affair)(#8, 1973), "Games People Play," (#2, 1975) "The Rubberband Man," (#3, 1976) "Working My Way Back To You/Forgive Me Girl" (#3, 1979) and "Cupid/I've Loved You For A Long Time" (#3, 1980).
Pervis Jackson is survived by two Spinners original members, Henry Fambrough and Bobbie Smith. Billy Henderson, a founding member, died in February of last year. Earlier this year, the group's long-time manager, Buddy Allen, died at his New York home. And this past weekend, legendary Atlanta Records producer Jerry Wexler was 91 when he passed away. Spinners tenor singer Felippe Wynne was 43 when he died of a heart attack in 1984.
Steve Allen, Buddy's son and the Spinners' road manager for many years, told writer Brian McCollum of the Detroit Free Press, "Pervis was the classiest, nicest, most perfect gentlemen. He never let the fame and the glory years go to his head."
Michael Fuqua, the son of Harvey Fuqua, who groomed the group in its early years, added, "Every Motown group tried to have its own sound to stand out. Pervis was a big part of that for the Spinners. If you listen to his parts, you hear how well his voice carried, how unique it was, without being overbearing."
Pervis Jackson is survived by two sons, two daughters and eight grandchildren.
