Jim Lowe
Lowe in 1957
Lowe in 1957
Background information
Birth nameJames Ellsworth Lowe
Born(1923-05-07)May 7, 1923
Springfield, Missouri, U.S.
DiedDecember 12, 2016(2016-12-12) (aged 93)
East Hampton, New York, U.S.
Genresrock and roll, pop
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter
Years active1953–2004
LabelsDot, London

James Ellsworth Lowe (May 7, 1923 – December 12, 2016) was an American singer-songwriter, best known for his 1956 number-one hit song, "The Green Door". He also served as a disc jockey and radio host and personality and was considered an expert on the popular music of the 1940s and 1950s.[1]

Biography

Born in Springfield, Missouri,[2] Lowe graduated from the University of Missouri in Columbia in 1948. He worked for several radio stations in Springfield, Indianapolis and Chicago, before moving to WCBS in New York City in 1956.[1]

A million-seller and gold record recipient, Lowe's 1956 hit "The Green Door" was written by Marvin Moore and Bob Davie.[2] The song reached No. 8 in the UK Singles Chart in November 1956.[3]

Lowe earlier wrote "Gambler's Guitar", a million-selling hit for Rusty Draper in 1953.[4] His most notable run as a disc jockey was with WNEW AM in New York, from 1964. Lowe also worked at WNBC AM in New York where he was heard both locally and on the coast-to-coast NBC Radio weekend program Monitor.[1]

He retired in 2004 at the age of 81, and lived in Southampton, New York.[5] For contributions to the music industry, Lowe was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6341 Hollywood Boulevard.[6]

Lowe died on December 12, 2016, at his home in East Hampton, Long Island, after a long illness.[1]

Discography

Singles

Year Single (A-side, B-side)
Both sides from same album except where indicated		 US R&B US Country Album
1953 "Gambler's Guitar"
b/w "The Martins and The Coys"		 - - - The Door Of Fame
"Look In Both Directions"
b/w "Santa Claus Rides A Strawberry Roan" (Non-album track)		 - - -
1954 "Pretty Fickle Darlin'"
b/w "Go and Leave Me"		 - - -
"River Boat"
b/w "Goodbye Little Sweetheart"		 - - -
1955 "Close The Door"
b/w "Nuevo Laredo" (Non-album track)		 27 - - Songs They Sing Behind The Green Door
"Maybellene"
b/w "Rene LaRue" (from Wicked Women)		 - 13 - Non-album tracks
"John Jacob Jingleheimer Smith"
b/w "St. James Avenue"		 - - -
1956 "Blue Suede Shoes"
b/w "(Love Is) The $64,000 Question"		 - - -
"The Green Door"
b/w "(The Story Of) The Little Man In Chinatown" (Non-album track)		 1 5 - Songs They Sing Behind The Green Door
"Prince Of Peace"
b/w "Santa Claus Rides A Strawberry Roan" (Non-album track)		 - - - The Door Of Fame
"The Martins and The Coys"
b/w "The Golden Goose Is Dead"		 - - -
1957 "By You, By You, By You" / 43 - - Non-album tracks
"I Feel The Beat" 84 - -
"Four Walls" / 15 - -
"Talkin' To The Blues" 15 - 8
"From A Jack To A King"
b/w "Slow Train"		 - - -
"The Bright Light"
b/w "Rock-A-Chicka"		 - - -
1958 "The Lady From Johannesburg"
b/w "Kewpie Doll"		 - - -
"Take Us To Your President"
b/w "Later On Tonight"		 - - -
"Ja Ja Ja"
b/w "Chapel Bells On Chapel Hill"		 - - -
"Play Number Theven"
b/w "Come Away From His Arms"		 - - -
1959 "Without You"
b/w "I'm Movin' On"		 - - -
1960 "He'll Have to Go"
b/w "(This Life Is Just A) Dress Rehearsal"		 - - -
"The Midnight Ride Of Paul Revere"
b/w "The Tomorrow That Never Came"		 - - -
"Man Of The Cloth"
b/w "Someone Else's Arms"		 - - -
1961 "That Do Make It Nice"
b/w "Two Sides To Every Story"		 - - -
1963 "Hootenanny Granny"
b/w "These Bones Gonna Rise Again"		 103 - -
1964 "Addis Ababa"
b/w "Have You Ever Been Lonely"		 - - -
1965 "Mr. Moses"
b/w "Make Your Back Strong"		 - - -
1967 "Blotsen Botten"
b/w "Gambler's Guitar"		 - - -
1968 "Michael J. Pollard For President"
b/w "The Ol' Race Track"		 - - -
1973 "Green Door" (Re-recorded version)
b/w "San Francisco Bay"
Featuring Teresa Brewer on background vocals		 - - -

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Steve Grant, "Famous radio host, native Springfieldian, Jim Lowe dies at age 93", Ky3.com, December 13, 2016
  2. 1 2 Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 83. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
  3. ↑ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London, UK: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 332. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  4. ↑ Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London, UK: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 64. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
  5. ↑ Notable Ridgefielders, published by The Ridgefield Press, December 2000
  6. ↑ "Hollywood Walk of Fame database". HWOF.com.
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