Artist:Jimmy Clanton
Song:Just a Dream
Album:Go Jimmy Go: The Very Best of Jimmy Clanton
Though he is usually lumped in with the Teen Idols of the late 50s, Jimmy Clanton was a Louisiana swamp rocker who was handsome enough to be a Teen Idol. Clanton wrote his own songs including his biggest hit Just a Dream. He was born Sept. 2, 1938 in Cut Off, LA which is near Baton Rouge. He led a band in high school. Clanton's big influences were Fats Domino and Johnny Ace. His big rivals on the local music scene were John Fred who went on to lead John Fred and the Playboys and Johnny Ramistella who would become Johnny Rivers. Clanton formed Jimmy Clanton and the Rockets with pianist Dick Holler and they went to New Orleans to see Ace Records owner Cosimo Matassa. Just a Dream was Clanton's second single in 1958 and it reached #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and it topped the R&B Singles chart. Clanton wrote all his own songs. His other top ten hits were Go, Jimmy, Go in 1959 and Venus in Blue Jeans in 1962. Clanton also appeared in the 1958 film Go, Johnny Go!. Clanton cooled off for two reasons. He was drafted into the US Army in 1961. Upon his return, Beatlemania was upon us. So that was it for any of the Teen Idols from that era. You can get all of Clanton's hits on this budget comp from the British label Westbound. After leaving Ace in 1962, Clanton recorded for Philips, Imperial and Laurie. He became a DJ in the 70s and started touring the oldies circuit. Today he is a minister. Here's Jimmy Clanton performing Just a Dream on the TV show Country Music Reunion 1991.
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