The “Golden Hits Of The 60s” 

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JIMMY CHARLES 

“A Million To One“

(Phil Medley)

Promo 1002

No. 5    September 26. 1960

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 Jimmy Charles was born in Paterson, New Jersey, in 1942.  As a pre-teen he complied with requests and

sang at church  and civic affairs.  When 16  he entered a talent contest at the famed Apollo Theatre and

won. not once, but for four straight weeks.  Jimmy’s uncle was impressed with the kids abilities and

took him to Phil Medley, a songwriter. producer. arranger and obscure recording artist.

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Phil had a teen tune called “A Million to One,” that he was looking to get waxed.  When he heard

Jimmy’s rendition a demo was cut and presented to Bill Lasley, the main cheese at Promo Records.

In the vein of a favorable fairy tale, Lasley liked the demo and signed Jim to cut the dirge for his small

label.  With odds something a kin to a million to one, Charles’ first outing on the hitless Promo label

rose to the top of the charts.  The follow-up. “The Age of Love” charted (#47) fairly well,  but nothing

the angst-ridden, ballad-belter successive sides ever recorded gathered more than a one-off listen.  In

1961, when he released “Just Whistle for Me,” no one did.