Jackey Beavers (June 19, 1937 – October 28, 2008) – Lover Come Back (1968)
This heartfelt, ultra-rare soul masterpiece was released on Johnny Bristol's former singing partner's own Jaber Records label.
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Jackey Beavers was a talented but unsung soul singer/songwriter and producer, best known for co-writing “Someday We’ll Be Together,” the Supremes’ final song with Diana Ross.
Born and raised in a town on the outskirts of Atlanta, Georgia, Robert Lewis “Jackey” Beavers left high school and joined the U.S. Air Force. He was stationed at Fort Custer in Michigan, where he won a talent show, and became friends with another contestant named Johnny Bristol. They formed the duo Johnny and Jackey, and started regularly performing at the El Grotto Lounge in nearby Battle Creek, where Junior Walker led the house band.
After signing to Anna Records, owned by Berry Gordy’s sister, his other sister Gwen started managing them. They then moved to Tri-Phi Records, co-owned by Gwen and her husband Harvey Fuqua. In 1961, Beavers, Bristol, and Fuqua co-wrote what was was destined to be a classic when the Supremes recorded it eight years later, although their own version of “Someday We'll Be Together” was not a hit.
The duo split up in the early sixties, and Bristol became a Motown staff writer before launching his solo career. Beavers went solo and recorded for several small Detroit and Chicago labels. In the late sixties, he and drummer Jerome Teasley formed the group The Soul Continentals. Their second and final single, the pair of funky instrumentals “Goobah (African Twist)” b/w “Bowlegs” was released in 1968 on Sound Stage 7 Records. Both sides were co-written and produced by Beavers.
See our earlier post on Teasley for more on their collaborations.
In 1967, Beavers founded his own Battle Creek-based label Jaber Records. He put out the Soul Continentals’ debut single that same year, and in 1968 released his own ultra-rare single “Lover Come Back,” which he wrote and produced.
This heartfelt masterpiece was released twice on Jaber, first backed with the upbeat, rockin’ jam Gee You're A Pretty Thing” (credited to The Jackey Beavers Show), and later with “I Hate To See A Man Cry.”
Three years later in 1971, it was re-recorded as the B-side to Beavers’ version of “Someday We’ll Be Together” on Sound Stage 7 Records.
Beavers produced a number of singles for artists on Sound Stage 7 and other labels. He also put out more of his own singles, like the funky jam “Mr. Bump Man (Give Me a Hand) Part II” (1974) b/w the stellar funk bomb “Somebody Help The Beggar Man.”
In the mid-seventies, he began recording gospel, eventually releasing several albums, and was later ordained as a minister.
Happy Heavenly Birthday to the great Jackey Beavers.
Further info:
“Jackey Beavers: From Cartersville To Detroit And Back,” Soulful Kinda Music.
#soul #funk #JackeyBeavers