Jessie Hill

Jessie Hill – born December 9, 1932 in New Orleans, Louisiana – was a Louisiana blues and R&B singer/songwriter who is best known for the song “Ooh Poo Pah Doo”. While a teenager, he played drums with local band, forming his own band – The House Rockers – in 1951. He set his own career aside to play drums for Professor Longhair and Huey ‘Piano’ Smith, but reformed a new version of the House Rockers in 1958, placing himself out in front as the vocalist. He signed to Minit Records and released four singles in 1960: “Scoop Scoobie Doobie”, “Whip It on Me”, “Oh Me Oh My”, and “Ooh Poo Pah Doo”. While the other singles did fairly well, it was “Ooh Poo Pah Doo” was an enormous hit, climbing to Number 3 on the Billboard R&B Singles chat and Number 28 on the Hot 100. Hill eventually moved to California and worked with fellow New Orleans expatriates Mac Rebennack (Dr. John) and Harold Battiste. He also wrote songs that were recorded by a variety of artists including Sonny & Cher, Ike & Tina Turner, and Willie Nelson. He released his debut album, Naturally, in 1971. The album was not a great success and Hill, who was dealing with financial difficulties, ended up moving back to New Orleans in 1977. Jessie Hill died on September 17, 1996 at the age of 63. One of his grandsons is Troy ‘Trombone Shorty’ Andrews.

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