Sparks Of Rhythm

When Jimmy Jones was around twelve years old he moved from his native Birmingham, Alabama, to New York City. At that time he was already an accomplished tap dancer, but singing was equally important to him. Role models were Louis Jordan and the Ink Spots and later especially Clyde McPhatter and Jackie Wilson. Early in 1955 he joined a vocal group, the Sparks of Rhythm (originally the Berliners), who landed a recording contract with Apollo Records in July 1955. Four songs were recorded at their first session, three of them led by Jimmy. When the two resulting singles went nowhere, Jones left the Sparks of Rhythm to form his own group, the Savoys, soon renamed the Pretenders. The Sparks Of Rhythm, now without Jimmy, recorded four songs for Apollo, among them Jones's composition "Handy Man".