A master of novelty/disco funk, saxophonist Jimmy Castor started as a doo wop singer in New York. He wrote and recorded “I Promise to Remember” for Wing With the Juniors in 1956, a group whose roster included Al Casey Jr., Orton Graves, and Johnny Williams. Castor replaced Frankie Lymon in the Teenagers in 1957 before switching to sax in 1960. He appeared on several soul-jazz and Afro-Latin sessions and had a solo hit with “Hey Leroy, Your Mama’s Callin’ You” on Smash in 1966. Castor also played sax on Dave “Baby” Cortez’s hit “Rinky Dink.” He formed the Jimmy Castor Bunch in 1972 and signed with RCA. Their first release, It’s Just Begun, launched Castor’s next phase with the song “Troglodyte (Cave Man).” It was a Top Ten R&B and pop smash. Castor continued the trend in 1975 with “The Bertha Butt Boogie” and later recorded “E-Man Boogie,” “King Kong,” “Bom Bom,” and “Amazon.” The Castor band included keyboardist/trumpeter Gerry Thomas, bassist Doug Gibson, guitarist Harry Jensen, conga player Lenny Fridle Jr., and drummer Bobby Manigault. Thomas left to join the Fatback band. Castor recorded as a solo performer from 1976 until 1988. He had one of his bigger hits in many years with a 1988 revival of “Love Makes a Woman,” which paired him with disco diva Joyce Sims. Castor had his own label, Long Distance, in the ’80s. ~ Ron Wynn, All Music Guide.
Discography
Most Popular albums
1972 It’s Just Begun |1995 The Everything Man: The Best of the Jimmy Castor Bunch
Album
1981Remembers Yesterday |1980C |1977Maximum Stimulation |1976E Man Groovin’ |1975Super Sound |1975Butt of Course |1973The Everything Man |1973Dimension III |1972Phase Two |1972It’s Just Begun |1967Hey Leroy
Box Set/Compilation
It’s Just Begun/Phase Two |200216 Slabs of Funk |2000Jimmy Castor Bunch |1995The Everything Man: The Best of the Jimmy Castor Bunch |1995Hey Leroy, Your Mama’s Calling |1976Best of the Jimmy Castor Bunch |Single/EP|2002It’s Just Begun/Troglodyte Cave Man |1972Luther the Anthropoid/Party Life
Also Appears On
Original Solid Gold Hits, Vol. 2 |2006Soul Power Instrumentals |2005Salsoul Presents: Latin Funk Flavas |2004Salsoul Presents: The Definitive 12” Masters, Vol. 2 |2004Salsoul Presents: The Salsoul Acappellas |2002Doo Wop Underground | |
