Music
J. J. Barnes
1943–2022 · singer, songwriter
Detroit soul singer whose Ric-Tic and Groovesville records, including "Baby Please Come Back Home", became northern soul favorites.
- Born
Detroit, Michigan- Died
aged 79- Birth name
- James Jay Barnes
- Also known as
- James Jay Barnes
- Detroit years
- 1943–1970s
- Field
- Music
01 / The Detroit story
The Detroit story
Barnes, born in Detroit, began recording in 1960 for small local labels such as Mickay and Ric-Tic; singles like "Just One More Time", "Please Let Me In" and "Real Humdinger" sold modestly at home but later became treasured on Britain's northern soul scene. With Edwin Starr and Steve Mancha he sang in the Holidays, whose "I'll Love You Forever" reached the R&B Top 10 in 1966. His biggest hit, "Baby Please Come Back Home" (1967), on Don Davis's Groovesville label, reached No. 9 R&B; its B-side "Chains of Love" was later covered by Detroit's Dirtbombs. He signed with Motown as a writer, though his vocal recordings stayed in the vaults until later compilations. On Starr's advice he moved to England in the 1970s, recorded for Contempo and became a fixture of the northern soul circuit. His sister, Ortheia Barnes, was also a Detroit singer. He died in 2022.
Highlights
- "Baby Please Come Back Home" (1967): R&B No. 9
- Member of the Holidays with Edwin Starr ("I'll Love You Forever", 1966)
- Early Ric-Tic singles became northern soul classics
- "Chains of Love" covered by the Dirtbombs (2001)