Jimmy began playing guitar very early and was an accomplished guitarist by age 17, playing local gigs in his hometown of Baton Rouge, Louisian. At 18, he jointly headed up a band called “The Rockets”, arguably one of the top rhythm and blues bands on the Gulf Coast.
After making a demo early in 1958, Jimmy was signed by the Ace Record Company. Jimmy made a guest appearance on American Bandstand In April of 1958, singing “Just A Dream.” The song became a national hit and Jimmy became a huge star almost overnight. Many popular recordings soon followed: “Another Sleepless Night,” “Go, Jimmy, Go,” and his huge smash hit, “Venus In Blue Jeans.”
In between the hits, Jimmy constantly toured appearing in big shows all over the world including places like the Hollywood Bowl and Lincoln Center in the United States and in huge arenas in the Philippines and Australia.
The ultimate honor for Jimmy was when he was asked by Alan Freed to star in the iconic Rock n Roll movie, “Go Johnny, Go” (1959). In it, he played Johnny Melody. Another starring role followed in the 1961 movie, “Teenage Millionaire.” Throughout his career, Jimmy has been honored in many cities and inducted into several Halls of Fame. Jimmy has had the name recognition from his very first hit, “Just A Dream” to the present, as he continues to draw rave reviews throughout the nation for his talent as a singer.
His creative talent as a musician, singer/songwriter is definitely showcased in his 2012 LEGACY CD, “Everybody Needs Love” This CD, no doubt his greatest musical accomplishment, is getting phenomenal reviews. Jimmy Clanton is the consummate performer!
