Jessie's father was a cook but had no musical background. His mother, Malinda (née Harris) was very musical, playing piano and other instruments; she had a brief musical career under the name Plunky Harris. On his mother's side of the family, Jessie was also kin to blues musician Blind Lemon Jefferson.
In 1946, he moved with his family to Los Angeles, where he began studying music, and formed a vocal group, The Debonaires, which also included Richard Berry. The group recorded Jessie's song, "I Had A Love", in 1953, and the single was released under the name of The Hollywood Blue Jays. They then renamed themselves as The Flairs, and won a recording contract with Modern Records. However, in 1954 Jessie signed a solo contract with producers Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, and began recording as "Young Jessie". He said: "[The name] came about because I sounded like I was forty, like ancient for a boy of 17. I had this deep baritone voice and the Biharis wanted me to get close to the rock 'n' roll market. I could have called myself Obie Jessie but I didn't want people to think I was old."
In 1955 he wrote and recorded the single "Mary Lou," later covered by Ronnie Hawkins in 1959, Steve Miller Band in 1973, Bob Seger in 1976, Gene Clark in 1977 and The Oblivians in 1997. In 1956, he released "Hit Git And Split", co-written with Buck Ram and recorded in New York City with guitarist Mickey Baker. He also briefly recorded with The Coasters in 1957 (including harmony vocals on "Searchin'" and "Young Blood"), and appeared on records by The Crescendos and Johnny Morisette, as well as being a writer for other artists' recordings, including The Chargers and Jimmy Norman. He released the single "Shuffle In the Gravel"/"Make Believe", again produced by Leiber and Stoller, on the Atco label in 1957.
Jessie then moved on to record jazz for the Capitol label, novelty records for Mercury in the early 1960s, and soul ballads for the Vanessa label in 1963, but with little commercial success. He recorded some unreleased material for Jake Porter in the 1960s. He also did an album's worth of songs owned by Harvey Fuqua in the 1970s that never got released. In 1972, he recorded a single as Obe Jessie & The Seeds Of Freedom for Stone Dogg Records.
He also formed a jazz group, the Obie Jessie Combo, which played club dates, and in 1976 became musical director for Esther Phillips. In 1982 he toured in Europe and recorded jazz in Germany, and in 1983 performed at an "R & B Jamboree" in London, where he reportedly "astonished the audience with a charismatic performance." He has also performed with Leon Hughes' group of The Coasters. As Obie Jessie, he later released several jazz albums, including What Happened To Jr. (1995), Here's To Life (2002), and New Atmosphere (2009). He also recorded with Atlanta based saxophonist Bob Miles, and performed on the song "People The Time Has Come" with lyrics by Nadim Sulaiman Ali.
His younger brother DeWayne Jessie became an actor, and became well known as Otis Day in the film National Lampoon's Animal House. Two of Young Jessie's four children sang in a group called Wizdom in the 1980s.
Hit
Young Jessie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hit, git and split, I'm coming back home to you
There's nobody here gonna take the place of you
I got the blues, my baby's not here with me
I got the blues, my baby's not here with me
She's a little bitty chick and I'm never gonna let her be
Hit, git and split, I'm coming back home to you
There's nobody here gonna take the place of you
Clean the house woman, this time I'm on my way
Clean the house woman, this time I'm on my way
Don't make no plans for I'm coming back home to stay
The lyrics to the song "Hit, Git and Split" by Young Jessie describe a man's journey back to his lover. The first verse repeats the phrase "hit, git and split" twice, followed by the line "I'm coming back home to you." The singer emphasizes his devotion to his lover by stating that no one can take her place. He then goes on to say that he is feeling blue without her by his side, but that he will never let her go. The second verse reiterates his desire to return to his lover and stay with her. He urges his partner to prepare their home for his arrival, essentially announcing that he is going to stay for good.
The song's title, "Hit, Git and Split," is a colloquialism for leaving or hitting the road. The phrase was popular throughout the 1940s and the 1950s and was often used to describe the demeanor of musicians who were always on the road. The song was recorded in 1957, during the heyday of rock and roll, when numerous artists emerged, making it difficult for some musicians to break into the industry. Nonetheless, the song was well received and remains a classic rock and roll hit.
This track was performed by Young Jessie, the stage name of Samuel Charters. He began his music career in the mid-1940s as part of a singing group called the Flairs. He later wrote a song that Little Richard recorded called "Slippin' and Slidin'," which became a top hit. In the 1950s, he began his solo career on a label called Modern, which eventually became Kent Records. Young Jessie contributed multiple tracks to the label, "Hit, Git and Split" being one of the most notable.
The song has been covered by various artists over the years, including Buddy Holly and His Crickets, who included it in their 1961 album "Reminiscing." The song has also been frequently used in movie soundtracks, including "The Falcon and the Snowman," "Great Balls of Fire!," and "Hairspray."
Line by Line Meaning
Hit, git and split, I'm coming back home to you
I'm leaving where I am and returning to you ASAP, fast and without delay.
There's nobody here gonna take the place of you
No one exists who can compare with our relationship, you have a unique place in my heart.
I got the blues, my baby's not here with me
I'm feeling low and sad because my baby, my love, is not here with me.
She's a little bitty chick and I'm never gonna let her be
My baby is young, small and delicate, and I vow to always protect her and keep our relationship strong.
Clean the house woman, this time I'm on my way
Prepare for my arrival, my love, for I am definitely coming home.
Don't make no plans for I'm coming back home to stay
Don't bother making any other arrangements because I'm returning for good and never leaving again.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: LYNN PAUL, NICK PAUL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Kracker615
I got a record player in 1958 & my mother got me some 45's for Christmas. One was Young Jesse singing Hooche Coochie . 65 years later here I am. I love YouTube!
@markowee
Wow, thank you for sharing your nice memory. It's really great that you still love this wonderful old music.
@Kracker615
@markowee You know, YouTube really is a time machine.
@Richard0470
You never stop learning & discovering....thats the sheer joy with music. Heard this for the first time today & its already a favourite! Now to search for a compilation on which it features....
@raymondlang
Go get the Mickey Baker (on guitar here) HIT, GIT AND SPLIT album, and see how many classics he played on in the 50s.
@LOKJazz
My old boss from years ago. Rest In Paradise Obie
@biancabagnolet5948
c'est fantastique c'est trop géniale c'est magnifique 👍
@bellgardens53
Great rocker by Young Jessie. Thanks posting it.
@1958Shemp
Real, REAL gone!
@larrynealwaxmuseum
If this doesn't make you to want to get out on the dance floor and get with it, I don't know what record will. Good Post. Larry N.Boyington, aka Larry Neal, former curator of the Wax Museum on the big 1520 KOMA