Jumpin' Gene Simmons: Biography

• Overview
• Discography
• Biography
• Related Artists

• Dale Hawkins
• Roy Head
• Bruce Channel

Born:

Jul 10, 1933 in Tupelo, MS

Died:

Aug 29, 2006 in Tupelo, MS

Genres:

Rock Music, Folk & Country Rock Music

Decades Active:

1950's|1960's|1970's|1980's

Artistic Quality

Low

Ratings Guide

Gene Simmons (not the Kiss guy) had a number 11 hit in 1964 with the novelty "Haunted House," but his heart was actually in the rich and rootsy rock, soul, and country traditions of his home base of Memphis. Born in Tupelo, MS, Simmons relocated to Memphis after recording some rockabilly for Sun Records, who actually only got around to issuing one single from his sessions. Moving to the Hi label in the early '60s, he recorded several singles and an album, but "Haunted House" was the only one that met with success before his last single for the company in 1966. With his white Southern RB, Simmons echoed such fellow travelers as Roy Head, Bruce Channel, and post-rockabilly Dale Hawkins, although he was not as gritty as any of them. He was a likable performer, though, and gave the Hi label some of their first tastes of success.

- Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide