Jimmy Wisner

Jimmy Wisner
Birth nameJames Joseph Wisner
Also known asKokomo
Born(1931-12-08)December 8, 1931
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
DiedMarch 13, 2018(2018-03-13) (aged 86)
GenresJazz, pop
Occupation(s)Pianist, songwriter
Instrument(s)Piano, harpsichord
Years active1959–2018

James Joseph Wisner (December 8, 1931 – March 13, 2018) was an American pianist, arranger, songwriter, and producer. He is best known for his 1961 hit single "Asia Minor", released under the name Kokomo.

Biography

Born in Philadelphia, Wisner received classical training as a youngster, and attended Temple University as a psychology student in the late 1950s. He formed the Jimmy Wisner Trio in 1959 with Chick Kinney on drums and Ace Tesone on bass. This ensemble backed musicians who toured through Philadelphia, including Mel Tormé, Carmen McRae, Dakota Staton, and the Hi-Lo's.[1]

He released several full-length albums as a jazz musician, but in 1961 recorded a rock & roll adaptation of Edvard Grieg's Piano Concerto in A Minor, using shellac on the hammers of a cheap piano so as to effect a honky tonk sound.[2] So as not to alienate his jazz fans, he released the tune, titled "Asia Minor", under the name Kokomo; he was turned down by 10 labels and had to release the track on his own label Future Records.[1] The song became a hit, reaching #8 on the Billboard Hot 100,[3] and #35 on the UK Singles Chart[4] despite having been banned by the BBC.[1] Wisner released further singles as Kokomo on his prior label, Felsted, but did not have another hit.

Following the success of "Asia Minor", Wisner launched a successful career as a songwriter, producer, and composer for film and television. With Billy Jackson, a frequent songwriting collaborator,[5][6] he wrote "Don't Throw Your Love Away", a #1 UK hit for the Searchers in 1964, as well as the Tymes' "Somewhere", written with Norma Mendoza,[7] which went Top 20 in the UK. As a producer and arranger Wisner worked with Bobby Rydell ("The Joker", by Newley-Bricusse from Roar of the Greasepaint) as well as numerous others including Cab Calloway, Freddy Cannon, Neil Sedaka, Bobby Vinton, Herbie Mann, Len Barry ("1 - 2 - 3"[8]), Miriam Makeba, Judy Collins, Paul Evans, Spanky and Our Gang, Tony Bennett, the Cowsills, Carly Simon, Al Kooper, Iggy Pop, Barbra Streisand, Tommy James, Brigitte Bardot, and Roberto Carlos as well as Randy & the Rainbows. He also headed Columbia Records' A&R department from 1968 to 1969, where he recorded several songs, including Paul Levinson's "Sunshine Mind," with Donna Marie,[9] who went on to perform with the Archies.[10] In 1977, Wisner released "Music from Star Wars[11]" on the Musicor label, featuring synthesizer arrangements of some of John Williams' Star Wars soundtrack, under the name Electric Moog Orchestra.[12]

Wisner died on March 13, 2018, at age 86.[13]

Discography

As Jimmy Wisner
As Jimmy Wisner Orchestra
As Kokomo


As Electric Moog Orchestra

As sideman

With Herbie Mann

References

  1. ^ a b c Jimmy Wisner at Rockabilly.nl
  2. ^ Review of Asia Minor. Allmusic
  3. ^ Billboard, Allmusic
  4. ^ Search for "Kokomo" performed on Everyhit.com Archived 2008-10-12 at the Wayback Machine database on August 15, 2008.
  5. ^ Wisner-Jackson composer credits, discographical search result at 45cat.com. Retrieved July 5, 2019
  6. ^ Billy Jackson profile and credits at discogs.com. Retrieved July 5, 2019
  7. ^ "Somewhere": discographical details at discogs.com. Retrieved July 5, 2019
  8. ^ Len Barry: 1 - 2 - 3 at Discogs (list of releases)
  9. ^ "Donna Marie". Discogs. 1968. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  10. ^ Pinto, Laura (November 2002). "The Donna Marie Interview". Donna Marie Fan Page. Retrieved August 4, 2012.
  11. ^ "The Electric Moog Orchestra – Music From Star Wars". Discogs. Retrieved March 3, 2024.
  12. ^ "The Electric Moog Orchestra". Discogs. Retrieved March 3, 2024.
  13. ^ Passings: Jimmy Wisner (aka Kokomo), Hitmaker, Songwriter & Producer (1931 - 2018) Archived 2018-03-16 at the Wayback Machine accessdate March 16, 2018