Translate

Tuesday, January 28, 2020

Bo Diddley's Song "Bring It To Jerome", Musician Jerome Green, & The Perception In The USA Of "Jerome" As A Black Name

Edited by Azizi Powell

This is Part IV of a five part pancocojams series on the male name "Jerome".

Part IV provides information about musician Jerome Green, showcases Bo Diddley's 1955 song "Bring It To Jerome" and provides my speculation that that song contributed to the perception in the United States that Jerome/is was a "Black Name".

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2020/01/the-origin-meaning-of-name-jerome.html for Part I of this pancocojams series. Part I provides information about the origin and meaning of the name "Jerome".

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2020/01/the-perception-of-jerome-as-black-name.html for Part II of this pancocojams series. Part II provides information and comments about the perception of "Jerome" as a "Black name" in the USA even though there are more White people named "Jerome" in the USA than there are Black people with that name.

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2020/01/united-states-mass-media-examples-that.html for Part III of this pancocojams series. Part III presents some United States mass media examples that include the name "Jerome" that may have contributed to "Jerome" being considered a Black name.

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2020/01/will-lizzos-2019-song-jerome-add-to.html for Part V of this pancocojams post. Part V showcased the 2019 Pop/R&B Lizzo song "Jerome".

****
The content of this post is presented for cultural, entertainment, aesthetic, and onomastic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to Bo Diddley and Jerome Green for their musical legacies. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publisher of this sound file on YouTube.

****
INFORMATION ABOUT MUSICIAN JEROME GREEN
From https://www.allmusic.com/artist/jerome-green-mn0000325428/biography Artist Biography by Bruce Eder
"Jerome Green was a mainstay of the Chess Records label from the mid-'50s onward -- best known for playing maracas on the recordings of Bo Diddley, he also played on the records of Chuck Berry, Billy Boy Arnold, Billy Stewart, and Willie Dixon, among others. Green was, according to some sources, a tuba player who preferred jazz, but when he and Bo Diddley ended up in their first group -- the Langley Avenue Jive Cats -- at the start of the 1950s, he switched to percussion. He didn't want the hassle of moving a drum kit to their performances, however, and so chose the maracas as his instrument, and he developed a mean and distinctive sound with them. His work with Bo Diddley included a shared vocal appearance on the latter's biggest-selling pop single, "Say Man," as well as performances as a member of Bo's touring band. He was sufficiently well-known to earn a place in the narrative of the Animals single "The Story of Bo Diddley."* Jerome Green's work with Bo Diddley ended in 1964 when Green married and decided to get off the road. He passed away sometime during or around 1973."
-snip-
*An excerpt of (UK Rock band) the Animals' song "The Story of Bo Diddley" which includes a mention of Jerome Green is provided in the comment section of this pancocojams post.

****
INFORMATION ABOUT THE SONG "BRING IT TO JEROME"
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pretty_Thing
"Pretty Thing" was recorded by Bo Diddley on July 14, 1955 in Chicago, Illinois – the same day as "Bring It to Jerome". Producing the session were the Chess brothers – Leonard and Phil – and Bo Diddley. The performers on the song were Bo Diddley (vocals, guitar), Jerome Green (maracas), Lester Davenport (harmonica), and Clifton James (drums).[2]
-snip-
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bo_Diddley_(1958_album) indicates that Jerome Green was also the co-lead (with Bo Diddley) on the song "Bring It To Jerome".

****
SHOWCASE SONG FILE - Bo Diddley-Bring It To Jerome (High Quality)



Carlos Rasool, Oct 23, 2010

****
LYRICS - BRING IT TO JEROME
(Bob Diddley, Jerome Green)

[Verse 1]
Well (Bring it to Jerome, bring it to Jerome)
Everyday I work (Bring it to Jerome)
Bringing home my pay (Bring it to Jerome)
Come to find out, baby (Bring it to Jerome)
You're giving my money away (Bring it to Jerome)

(Bring it to Jerome)
(Bring it to Jerome)
(Bring it to Jerome)

[Verse 2]
Tell me, baby (Bring it to Jerome)
What you trying to do? (Bring it to Jerome)
You ain't treating me mama (Bring it to Jerome)
Like you used to do (Bring it to Jerome)

(Bring it to Jerome)
(Bring it to Jerome)
(Bring it to Jerome)
(Bring it to Jerome)

[Verse 3]
Tell me, mama (Bring it to Jerome)
Whats wrong with you? (Bring it to Jerome)
You know, pretty baby (Bring it to Jerome)
I'm so crazy about you (Bring it to Jerome)
(Bring it to Jerome)
(Bring it to Jerome)

[Bridge]
All you pretty women
Bring it to my home
You don't have to worry

I won't do you no wrong

[Chorus]
Bring it on home
Bring it to Jerome
Bring it on home
Bring it to Jerome

[Verse 3]
Looka here, pretty baby
This mess I won't stand
All the other women
Say you got another man

[Chorus]
Bring it on home
Bring it to Jerome
Bring it on home
Bring it to Jerome

[Harmonica solo]

Source: https://genius.com/Bo-diddley-bring-it-to-jerome-lyrics

****
HOW THE URBAN DICTIONARY ENTRIES' PERCEPTIONS OF THE NAME "JEROME" COINCIDES WITH THE CHARACTERIZATION OF "JEROME" IN THE SONG "BRING IT TO JEROME"
Here's an entry for the name "Jerome" from https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Jerome

"Jerome
He is the most amazing guy in the world! The ONLY amazing guy in the world! No other guy can compare to him! He is beyond your wildest dreams. He is incredibly gorgeous with a lightening smile and strong arms to carry you through life (like on auto cruise). He is sexy, sweet and a passionate kisser, very passionate. He is desired so many girls because he's incredible. he's the best bestfriend and perfect boyfriend. I love him and really i think i love him more than love it self (is that possible? Most definitely because it Jerome). He is my true love. He's a guy who is lovable, trustworthy and someone who you know will always love you and who you can love through the fabulous, freaky, low, high, awesome, incredible times. He's a guy who will be there 24/7 always there. Light hearted who can make you smile every moment of the day. He's someone to love and treat with passion and respect. He's a once in a life time guy. If you find your Jerome treasure him.
girl 1: is that your Jerome?
girl 2: oh honey, he is and my gosh! he is amazing!
girl 1: you are a lucky thing you better take good care of him! he's TREASUREFUL!


#gorgeous#amazing#sexy#love#omnipresent#funny"
by bottleofbubbly119 June 29, 2010

-snip-
Notice how that entry coincides rather well with how Jerome is depicted in that Bo Diddley song.

A similar urban dictionary entry for Jerome is given in Part III of this series.

My position is that the 1955 song "Bring It To Jerome" influenced the name "Jerome" being associated with Black males and also positively influenced how the name "Jerome" was perceived.

I think that Lizzo's 2019 song entitled "Jerome" may reinforce the [mistaken] belief in the United States that "Jerome" is a Black name. However, in contrast to Bo Diddley's and Jerome Green's song "Bring It To Jerome", Lizzo's song negatively characterizes males with the name Jerome.

****
This concludes Part IV of this pancocojams series.

Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

2 comments:

  1. Here's some information about the [United Kingdom Rock Band] the Animals' 1964 song “Story Of Bo Diddley", along with an excerpt of that song that mentions musician Jerome Green:

    From https://genius.com/The-animals-story-of-bo-diddley-lyrics

    se73en 9-12-2019
    “This song, in a talking blues format, is a short retrospective of the history of Rock and Roll starting with Bo Diddly and ending with The Animals.

    The Animals claim in the song that they met Bo Diddly while performing a set in a club, alongside other bands such as The Rolling Stones, covering Bo Diddly. Bo Diddly was allegedly not impressed but found it funny.

    The entire song is a semi-satirical take on the history of Bo Diddly.

    The song has a writing credit to Ellis McDaniels, Bo Diddley’s real name.”

    ...“About, ah, one year later in a place called Liverpool in England
    Four young guys with mop haircuts began to sing stuff like, ah
    "It's been a hard days night and I've been workin' like a dog", and so on

    ... Now we've doin' this number, Bo Diddley, for quite some time now
    Bo Diddley visited this country last year
    We were playin' at the club a Gogo in Newcastle, our home town

    And the doors opened one night and to our surprise
    Walked in the man himself, Bo Diddley
    Along with him was Jerome Green, his Maraca man
    And the Duchess, his gorgeous sister”...

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hope you are still flourishing. Long time fan of Bo from the mid 60's. Not sure how i found his music, but i did love it from the beginning. I'm also from Pittsburgh and lived all over the city at different times. I post poetry on youtube as "apa's plainjane". (I tried signing in with google acct. but it did not like my pw.)
    Hope to read a lot more of your blogs. Thank you kindly.

    ReplyDelete