Johnny Ross Explained

Johnny Ross
Birth Name:John W. Ross Jr
Birth Date:May 28, 1942
Birth Place:Miller, Indiana, United States
Death Place:Hobart, Indiana, United States
Instrument:Vocals
Genre:Soul, R&B, blues
Occupation:Singer
Years Active:c.1960 – 2006
Associated Acts:Baby Huey & the Babysitters, Melvyn "Deacon" Jones, Curtis Mayfield, Johnny Ross & The Soul Explosion

Johnny Ross (May 28, 1942 – February 9, 2006)[1] was an American multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter and founding member of Baby Huey & the Babysitters, who died in 2006 as a result of appendicitis.[2] He also hosted his own cable television show.

Biography

John W. Ross Jr was born in Miller, Indiana, United States.[1] Along with Melvyn "Deacon" Jones and James Ramey aka Baby Huey, Ross was a founding member of Baby Huey & the Babysitters.[3] He stayed with the Babysitters for nearly a decade and during that time he wrote two of their songs, "Monkey Man" and "Just Being Careful".[4] "Monkey Man" appears on numerous 1960s various artists compilations including Pittsburghs Greatest Hits,[5] Teenage Shutdown: Jump, Jive and Harmonize,[6] Mad Mike's Monstors Vol 3[7]

After he left the Babysitters he went solo and recorded some soul singles including, "I Can't Help Myself", which appeared on a Northern soul dance compilation.[8]

In later years

From the early 1990s until the time of his death Ross and his wife managed Ross Music and Video Productions.[9] He scored music for television shows and commercials for brands such as Sears and Mattel toys.[3]

He had a cable television show Creating Music that ran for ten years.[9] Among the guests were Mo' Beat Blues,[10] members of Michael Jackson's extended family, Gary Mayor Scott King who played bass, and members of The Spaniels.[11]

From the early 2000s he composed movie soundtracks including two for Fred "The Hammer" Williamson.[12] They were Down 'n Dirty and On The Edge.[2]

Ross also managed security for many municipal events and personally handled security for Coretta Scott King, the widow of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.[9]

Death

He died on February 9, 2006, as a result of heart failure after appendicitis, at the age of 63.

Television

Soundtrack

Discography

Singles

Compilation albums

Notes and References

  1. Web site: John W. Ross Jr. Obituary: View John Ross's Obituary by Post Tribune . Legacy.com . July 9, 2017.
  2. Web site: Doc Rock . The Dead Rock Stars Club 2006 January To June . Thedeadrockstarsclub.com . July 9, 2017.
  3. Web site: Johnny Ross a region music resource | Uncategorized . Nwitimes.com . July 14, 2001 . July 9, 2017.
  4. Web site: Chris Bishop . Baby Huey and the Baby Sitters . Garage Hangover . June 2, 2005 . July 9, 2017.
  5. Web site: Itzy 101 . December 27, 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20101103002722/http://www.4ddai.com/itzy/i.html . November 3, 2010 .
  6. Web site: Teenage Shutdown Jump Jive and Harmonize @ ARTISTdirect.com - Shop, Listen, Download . December 28, 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20121022124009/http://www.artistdirect.com/nad/store/artist/album/0,,374193,00.html . October 22, 2012 .
  7. Web site: Marmotta Rammler . Marmotta Rammler: Mad Mike Monsters Vol. 3 . Marmottarammler.blogspot.com . February 26, 2004 . July 9, 2017.
  8. Web site: Northern Soul Dance Party by Various Artists (Compilation, Northern Soul): Reviews, Ratings, Credits, Song list . . July 9, 2017.
  9. Web site: Johnny Ross, Jr. was a musician and mentor to fledgling artists | Obituaries . Nwitimes.com . February 14, 2006 . July 9, 2017.
  10. Web site: Press . December 28, 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110619031247/http://www.mobeatblues.com/press.html . June 19, 2011. www.mobeatblues.com.
  11. Web site: Media help expose local musicians | Uncategorized . Nwitimes.com . August 17, 2001 . July 9, 2017.
  12. Web site: Johnny Ross gets lofty praise from notable filmmaker - Post-Tribune (IN) | HighBeam Research . December 27, 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20121105070035/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1N1-11080B8408AEF238.html . November 5, 2012 .
  13. Web site: Full cast and crew for Down 'n Dirty. IMDb. July 10, 2017.
  14. Web site: Electric City (3) Featuring Johnny Ross (2) – Gemini / We're Gonna Make It (Vinyl) . 1977 . discogs . July 9, 2017.
  15. Web site: Various – The Northern Soul Story 4 (Vinyl, LP) . 1987 . discogs . July 9, 2017.
  16. Web site: Northern Soul Dance Party. https://web.archive.org/web/20011128060607/http://www.localdial.com/users/jsyedu133/Soulreview/CDpages/dance.htm. January 21, 2020. November 28, 2001.

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