JERRY L

Born in Memphis Tennessee, Jerry Minnis, aka, "Jerry L" is cut from the Deep Southern Soul cloth with a raspy voice not far removed from the great Otis Clay. Although mainly a "Chitlin' Circuit" favorite, Jerry has toured all over the United States and even abroad, performing with many southern soul artists like Johnnie Taylor, Tyrone Davis, Marvin Sease, Bobby Rush, Willie Clayton, Little Milton, Albert King, to name a few.

His first record was released in 1997 on E & J Records entitled, "Something Special", which was followed four years later with the mini-masterpiece "Last Word In Lonesome", produced by the great Quinton Claunch on SoulTrax Records. This LP has ranked in Blues Critic Magazine's Top 100 Soul Blues/Southern Soul Albums 1980-2005 list. Minnis next turned to the "modern Southern Soul"-sounds of programmed "party blues" with his followup project "Nasty", which also gave him his signature hit "Do The Nasty". Following the obscure release, “After Tha Party" for Ryan Records, Minnis returned with "Daily Love" in 2006.

Album Discography

"Something Special" (E & J 1997)

*** A Tyrone Davis-styled set of smooth slowies, shuffle bumpers and a lil' Downhome Blues somewhere between Muscle Shoals and Davis' Chicago Soul. The familiar cheating on the down low theme is found on the opening "Backstreet", revealing L's classic soul voice. "Ain't Nothing Wrong" is a strong midtempo jam and "Some Kind Of Friend" an effective dramatic ballad.  The ZZ Hill/Bobby Bland-inspired "I'm So Tired" is a standout as is "Good To The Last Drop" with L dipping to a sexy baritone and riding the midpaced rhythm to a headbobbin' groove. There's even a great duet with Bernadette Prince to close the disc ("For All These Years"). An auspicious beginning.

"Last Word In Lonesome" (Soultrax 2001)

**** 1/2 Quinton Claunch signed Minnis to his SoulTrax label for this terrific Soul Blues outing, producing four cuts including the Country Soul gem "That's How Strong My Woman's Love Is", which proves they don't make 'em like they used to! Claunch's arrangement next of "Put Love First (written by Ecko's John Ward & George Jackson and also previously recorded by Vernis Rucker) is a career maker for Jerry L! Downhome sax leads and a powerful vocal by Minnis in the league of Otis Clay. Fantastic Soul. There's also fantastic Blues on "Loneseome": Sample lyric from "Too Poor To Die" (written by James Shaw): "Last night I dreamed that I die/Undertaker came to take me for a ride/Couldn't afford a casket/Embalment was so high/Had to get up off of my sick bed 'cuz I was too poor to die!". Aside from Claunch, however, Minnis and Mike Lowe fill out the set with their career best productions as well. While "Do Me" and "I Wanna Make Love" portend the less inspired compositions that followed this record, the percolating bumper "Ease It To Me", breezy Bobby Womack-styled "That's My Woman" and funky "Half Lovin' Me" all hit their mark. This album is the best Jerry L Minnis.

"Nasty" (Mi-Jay/Susie Q 2002)

** Minnis goes the programmed "Southern Soul" route on this appropriately-titled set of upbeat bumpers and slow jams. The catchy "I'll Bump A Big Fat Woman" answers the Joe Tex classic and "Do The Nasty" was a regional hit but mostly these cuts are typical horny declarations over synthesized soul backing. There's even a number titled "Joy To Have Good Sex" just in case you didn't get the point. And therein lies a problem- it's gratuitous and lyrically unimaginative. It's not profane like Blowfly or "Gangsta Rap" but it's tediously simple minded. Clever double entendre is one thing but too many "I wanna do ya"-isms make one cringe. During "Let's Get Freaky" Minnis sings "When I'm with you I can't maintain/You make it hard for me to restrain. My anatomy, all my body parts. I can't hold back- it's so hard..." Yes he actually said "body parts". This is followed by songs named "Do The Nasty", "...Good Sex", "Do Me" & "I Wanna Make Love". AS far as machines go it's quality programming and Jerry L does get his Marvin Gaye on vocally at times but it's a letdown following the SoulTrax sessions from a year earlier.

"After The Party" (Ryan 2004)

** 1/2 This independent set was produced by Ronnie "Rude" Perkins and features a consistent set of dancers and slowies. The title track is an effective swing out jam and Isadore McGhee's great shuffle bumper "Eat Up Your Love" should've been a hit. Other notables include a cover of Bobby Womack's "No Matter How How I Get", the electro-funk "Work It" and a remix of L's hit "Do The Nasty".

"Daily Love" (Mi-Jay 2006) LISTEN

** 1/2 "Mr. Nasty" keeps pace with today's Southern Soul world with a fair cache of bumpers and sexy slow jams. Top heavy in terms of quality, the set saves the best for first. "Girls In Tha Hood" is a shuffle bumpin' ditty praising a certain type of Southern gal. "Country raised/Cornbread fed/Gold teeth in her mouth/Blonde wig on her head/Walking tall/Talking loud...". Perhaps Jerry L's written an anthem for these gals like Sir Mix-A-Lot did for women gifted in the buttocks region? Time will tell. Other notable dancers include "Oops That's My Bad", "Let Me See You Work It", a remixed version of "Do The Nasty" & "I'll Bump A Big Fat Woman", one of two songs snatched from the "Nasty" disc (the other being "Lil' Willie"). On the slow tip comes the faithful "Daily Love" & the philandering "In The Backstreets". On the latter L's vocal is surprisingly weak- too breathy, less powerful than he's capable of. But for the closer, "Show Me", he goes off with that raspy power he's known for. Whie "Daily Love" fails to live up to his true potential but it's on par for the genre. I'd love to hear him work with Claunch or another gifted producer with an ear for Deep Soul.

"Collector's Piece" (MiJay 2007)