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Jimmie Spheeris (November 5, 1949 – July 4, 1984) was an American singer-songwriter who released four albums in the 1970s on the Columbia Records and Epic Records labels. He was of Greek descent. He was brother of film director and producer Penelope Spheeris, and cousin of musician Chris Spheeris and film director Costa Gavras. == Biography == Jimmie (James) Spheeris was born in Phenix City, Alabama, to Juanita 'Gypsy' and Andrew Spheeris, who owned and operated a traveling carnival called the Majick Empire.〔Various sources, including personal conversations with Jimmie Spheeris.〕 These childhood years of colorful transience were a major influence on later work, as evidenced in songs such as "Lost in the Midway" and "Decatur Street," among others. Spheeris had two sisters, Penelope and Linda, and a brother, Andy. After his father was murdered by a "belligerent carnival-goer,"〔"Remembering Jimmie Spheeris," Pat Alston, ''Santa Monica Evening Outlook'', page A-4, August 18, 1986.〕 Gypsy Spheeris moved the family to San Diego, California. The family eventually settled in Venice, California. Gypsy Spheeris tended bar at an establishment on Main Street called The Circle. Spheeris moved to New York City in the late 1960s to pursue and develop his songwriting career.〔"Remembering Jimmie Spheeris," Pat Alston, Santa Monica Evening Outlook, page A-4, August 18, 1986.〕 The liner notes on his debut album credit friend and fellow songwriter Richie Havens,〔Liner notes in the "Thank You" section of ''Isle of View,'' Columbia Records catalog number C30988〕 who introduced Spheeris to Columbia Records executive Clive Davis. Davis signed Spheeris to a four album recording contract and his debut album was released on the Columbia label. Spheeris' 1971 debut album, ''Isle of View,'' garnered a devoted following and FM radio airplay, most notably for the song "I am the Mercury." His 1973 album, ''The Original Tap Dancing Kid,'' was followed by a period of extensive concert touring. Spheeris returned to the recording studio in 1975 with ''The Dragon is Dancing'' and released ''Ports of the Heart'' in 1976. After ''Ports of the Heart,'' Spheeris had no recording contract. Except for a 1980 single, "Hold Tight," Spheeris released no new material through a major record label. Spheeris died at the age of 34 in Santa Monica, California, when his motorcycle collided with a van at 2 a.m. on the morning of July 4, 1984. The driver of the van, Bruce Burnside, was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and felony vehicular manslaughter.〔"Five deaths mar Westside's July Fourth", Will Thorne and Rick Cziment, ''Santa Monica Evening Outlook'', page 1, July 5, 1984.〕 Hours before his death, Spheeris finished the self-titled album, ''Spheeris'', which was produced by Paul Delph. This final album was not publicly released for 16 years. Delph would later record two of Spheeris' songs for his final album ''A God That Can Dance''. A track on Spheeris' final album entitled "You Must Be Laughing Somewhere" is based on the life of his friend, author John Kennedy Toole (whose novel, ''A Confederacy of Dunces'', was posthumously awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1981). In 1998, independent record label Rain Records began re-releasing Spheeris' catalog on CD, but stopped production in 2001 following the cancellation of a music licensing contract with Sony Music Special Products (owner of Spheeris’ catalog as of this entry). 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Jimmie Spheeris」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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