Bob B. Soxx & the Blue Jeans
| Company type | Vocal ensemble |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | early 1960s |
| Founder | Phil Spector (producer) |
Key people | Bobby Sheen (Bob B. Soxx), Darlene Love, Fanita James |
| Products | Music recordings, singles, album |
Bob B. Soxx & the Blue Jeans was a vocal ensemble from the early 1960s, produced by Phil Spector and formed to highlight lead singer Bobby Sheen, who performed under the stage name Bob B. Soxx. The Blue Jeans consisted of backing vocalists Darlene Love and Fanita James, both of whom were members of the girl group the Blossoms.
Career
While Sheen served as the group's frontman, Spector frequently placed Love in the spotlight as the main vocalist during recording sessions. The group's debut hit, 1962's "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah" (originally from the 1946 Disney movie Song of the South), featured Sheen on lead vocals. The subsequent single released in 1963, "Why Do Lovers Break Each Other's Heart", showcased Love as the lead singer, whereas their final single, "Not Too Young to Get Married", presented shared lead vocals by both Sheen and Love.
The only album by the group, Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah (1963), featured both Sheen and Love sharing lead vocal duties.
Sheen took the lead on their last recordings, "The Bells of St. Mary's" and "Here Comes Santa Claus", which appeared on Spector’s holiday compilation A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector (1963). Love also contributed as a solo performer on this album. The album cover displays Sheen alongside two Blue Jeans vocalists—session singers Lillian Washington and Carolyn Willis, who later joined Honey Cone—who accompanied Sheen on tour, while Love and James remained studio contributors as part of the Blue Jeans.
Following 1963, Philles Records discontinued support for the group, bringing its activities to a close. Subsequently, Sheen reverted to his birth name and recorded for Capitol Records during the mid-1960s before joining a touring version of the Coasters alongside original bass vocalist Bobby Nunn. Prior to this, Sheen had been affiliated with the Robins since 1957. Meanwhile, Love pursued a solo career with several hits and was notably featured as lead vocalist on at least two tracks by the Crystals. It is also confirmed that Sheen, Love, and James (as part of the Blossoms) provided backing vocals on Crystals’ hits "He's a Rebel" and "He's Sure the Boy I Love".
Albums
- Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah (1963)
Singles
| Year | Title | Peak chart positions | Label | B-side | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Pop | US R&B | |||||
| 1962 | "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah" | 8 | 7 | Philles | "Flip and Nitty" | Zip-a-Dee Doo Dah |
| 1963 | "Why Do Lovers Break Each Other's Heart?" | 38 | — | "Dr. Kaplan's Office" | ||
| 1963 | "Not Too Young to Get Married" | 63 | — | "Annette" | ||