American Pop/Country singer and songwriter (b. Nov. 14, 1936 Clay County, Mississippi, d. Sept. 7, 2003).
James started his musical career with a local band from Tupelo, Miss : The Nite-Liters also featuring . They had an instrumental single issued first on the Tennessee-based label (# 0001/0002). The label also released Gilreath's first solo single "I Need It / Time Hasn't Helped - Vee-Eight # 1002)
James reached the one-hit wonder status with his self-penned single "Little Band of Gold" (Statue Records # 600 / Joy # 274) hitting #21 for Joy on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart and R&B #19 in the spring of 1963.
Affter three other releases as-by Jimmy or James Gilreath on the Joy label and its closure in 1965, he decided to focus on writing songs.
His "Why Not Tonight?" reached R&B # 5 (and Pop #90 only) for
Gilreath died at the age of 66 in a tractor accident at his farm in Saltillo, Miss
Name Vars
- Gilreath
- Gilrieth
- J. Gilreath
- J.Gilreat
- J.Gilreath
- James Gilraeth
- James Gilreach
- Jimmy Gilreath
Shout out to all you service men who helped keep the Soviets out of Europe in those days !!
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It’s become an obscure evergreen and when it pops up, it still grabs and brings us back!!!