Jimmy Ricks: Too Soon (1952)

Too Soon
written by Sonny Skylar & Bob Harris
performed by Jimmy Ricks with Nook Schreier & His Orchestra
recorded in June 1952
issued as Mercury 8296 in August 1952

Two years after his efforts with Benny Goodman for Columbia, this was Jimmy Rick's second release independent of The Ravens.

With the exception of Lee Gaines, I can not think of any other bass singers, of that era, that had the range that Ricks had, not only musically but vocally. He could sing any style. The more I listen to these solo recording, the more I realize just how talented a singer Jimmy Ricks really was. If you need further proof, list him along with Jimmy Rushing and Joe Williams as one of Count Basie's band singers, singing with Basie for a few years before his death on 2 July 1974.