Garnet Mimms - Biography
Garnet Mimm's is best known for his pleading soul hit, "Cry Baby." Although he was never able to to match its commercial success, his impassioned uptown soul is well-known and highly regarded by soul aficionados.
Mimms was born Garrett Mimms in Ashland, WV, on November 26th, 1933. However, he grew up in Philadelphia, where he began singing as a young boy in church. In his teens, he sang in several gospel groups, The Evening Stars, The Harmonizing Four, and The Norfolk Four, with whom he cut his first record in 1953. After several years in the military, in 1958, Mimms briefly sang with The Deltones before forming a doo-wop group, The Gainors, with Sam Bell, Willie Combo, John Jefferson and Howard Tate. The Gainors recorded singles for several labels over the next three years, including Red Top, Mercury (from 1959-1960), and Tally Ho (1961).
Mimms left The Gainors and formed Garnet Mimms & the Enchanters in 1961 with Charles Boyer, Zola Pearnell and The Gainors' Bell. In 1963, they relocated to New York where they met songwriter/producer Bert Berns, who signed them to United Artists and teamed them with songwriter/producer, Jerry Ragovoy. The first result of their union, "Cry Baby," approached the top of the charts shortly after. "For Your Precious Love," and the B-side, "Baby Don't You Weep," both reached the Top 40 afterward. Then, following their string of successes, Mimms and The Enchanters parted ways. The Enchanters continued for a time, without measurable success. Mimms, meanwhile, released As Long as I Have You (1964 United Artists), which was also less successful than his work with The Enchanters.
Although Ragovoy's productions became increasingly polished, Mimms' vocals remained expressive and grounded in gospel and returned to the charts with "It Was Easier to Hurt Her," a minor hit that appeared on Warm and Soulful (1965). 1966's "I'll Take Good Care of You" was Mimms's last Top 40 hit. After I'll Take Good Care of You (1966 United Artists), United Artists moved Mimms to Veep in 1967 where "My Baby" flopped. After working with Jimi Hendrix in the UK, Mimms became aware of his popularity in England's Northern Soul scene and perfumed a series of dates across the Atlantic.
Following Ragovoy to Verve, Mimms went on to release four singles to littler response; "Can You Top This" b/w "We Can Find this Love," "Sad Song" b/w "Get it While You Can," "Happy Landing" b/w "Take Me" and "Stop and Think it Over" b/w "I Can Hear My Baby Crying." Garnet made one last return to the charts in 1977, as Garnet Mimms & the Truckin' Company, who released the disco-funk hit "What it Is," produced by Brass Construction's Randy Muller. Has It All (1977 Arista) followed. Mimms quit the music business in the 1980s after becoming born-again, after which he began ministering to prisoners. After many years of retirement, Mimms returned to recording in 2007 and released a gospel album mostly penned by Jon Tiven, Is Anybody Out There? (2009 Evidence).
