James Albert Abraham (10 April 1936, Trinidad and Tobago – 21 March 2000, Wiekevorst, Belgium), known as Jimmy James Ross or Mel Turner, was a singer and composer mostly known for his 1981 disco hit in England, "First True Love Affair".

He joined the US Navy at a young age as a cook. Later in life, he changed his last name to Ross, the last name of his mother. During his teenage years in the navy, he quickly became known for his singing capabilities on board of the ship. Making extra money in local bars and clubs whenever they went ashore, Ross quickly got recognition for his talent.

Not long after leaving the navy, he made his way to Europe. Having lived in the U.K. and Germany, where he got married, he finally settled down in Belgium, where he lived for the rest of his life.

While living in Kasterlee-Lichtaart, he became friends with the singer-songwriter and amusement park owner Bobbejaan Schoepen and his family. He started to perform and record as "Mel Turner". He lived for many years in Bobbejaanland where he and Bobbejaan Schoepen worked together.

In April 1968, after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., Ross and Schoepen wrote the song "They Killed the King". It was intended to be a tribute to all peaceful defenders of equality, humanity, and freedom.[1] The song was first released on Bobbejaan Records, on 14 May 1968, less than six weeks after King was murdered. Turner and Schoepen passed each other daily backstage and were in shock when King was murdered; they immediately composed this tribute to him.[2][3] Later, it became also the opening track of Mel Turner's album, A Portrait of Mel Turner (1970).

His biggest breakthrough was "First True Love Affair" (Luciano Ninzatti / Stefano Pulga / Mel Turner), a song that reached number 7 on the dance music chart, and the song reached number 90 on the US Billboard.[4] Another notable song was "Fall into a Trance" which had similar success.[5][6]

During the 1980s and 1990s, he moved back to Bobbejaanland to perform there most of the time.[7]

In 1993, Ross was diagnosed with emphysema. After a long battle with the disease, he died on 21 March 2000 at the age of 63.

Beginning in April 2014, "They Killed A King" was released in Europe and across the US by Sam Moore.[8][9][10][11][12]

References

  1. ↑ 'They Killed the King' - Bobbejaan Records - B.S. 111-A - May 14, 1968.
  2. ↑ Bobbejaan - Publisher Kannibaal and Bobbejaan Records, 2011 - ISBN 978 90 8162 376 6
  3. ↑ — "They Killed a King" by Sam Moore - Headline News Belgium, April 4, 2014 – 19:00
  4. ↑ 7. Ross, Jimmy "First True Love Affair" - Vol. 4 Issue 19 Sep 26 - Oct 9, 1981
  5. ↑
  6. ↑ #90 Hot Soul Singles - 3 October 1981, Billboard
  7. ↑ Bobbejaan - Publisher Kannibaal and Bobbejaan Records, 2011 - ISBN 978 90 8162 376 6
  8. ↑ NYC, Here He Comes! Sam Moore Gears Up for Big Week in the Big Apple — Apr 1, 14 by EurPublisher
  9. ↑ They Killed a King - Headline News Belgium, Het VRT-Journaal, April 4, 2014 – 19:00
  10. ↑ Remembering the Dream with Sam Moore on msnbc, April 7, 2014
  11. ↑ 'They Killed a King', cover by Sam Moore, written by Bobbejaan Schoepen and Jimmy James Ross
  12. ↑ Sam Moore's "They Killed a King" remembers the murder of MLK and its legacy - Backstreets.com, April 8, 2014
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