Obediah Donnell "Obie" Jessie (December 28, 1936 – April 27, 2020)[1] was an American R&B, rock and roll and jazz singer and songwriter.
[2] 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.
"[4] In 1955, he wrote and recorded the single "Mary Lou", later covered by Ronnie Hawkins in 1959,[3] Steve Miller Band in 1973, Bob Seger in 1976, Gene Clark in 1977, Frank Zappa in 1983 and The Oblivians in 1997.
In 1956, he released "Hit, Git and Split",[3] co-written with Buck Ram and recorded in New York City with guitarist Mickey Baker.
[7] He also formed a jazz group, the Obie Jessie Combo, which played club dates, and in 1976 became musical director for Esther Phillips.
[4] 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.