Jimmy Donley

Jimmy Donley (August 17, 1929 – March 20, 1963) was an American singer-songwriter.

James Kenneth Donley, a native of Gulfport, Mississippi, began his musical career playing in local bars. He served briefly in the Army before being discharged on psychological grounds, then revived his musical career.

Donley wrote many songs, such as "Born To Be A Loser", that went on to be hits by other artists, including Fats Domino and Jerry Lee Lewis. Some of his songs were credited to Rev. J. Charles Jessup, a preacher to whom Donley sold the rights to his output.

Married six times, and prone to bouts of both heavy drinking and domestic violence, Donley saw his musical career decline in the early 1960s. At the age of 33, he committed suicide, by asphyxiating himself with his car's exhaust fumes.

At the time of his death, he was married to Lillie Mae Ugas Donley, who has since died. They are laid to rest next to each other in Saucier, Mississippi.

Birth and Death Data: Born August 17, 1929, Died March 20, 1963

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1957 - 1960

Roles Represented in DAHR: vocalist

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Decca NA 9700 2/26/1957 Child love Jimmy Donley vocalist  
Decca NA 9701 2/26/1957 Baby how long-1, 2 Jimmy Donley vocalist  
Decca NA 9702 2/26/1957 Kickin' my hound around-2 Jimmy Donley vocalist  
Decca NA 9703 2/26/1957 Come along Jimmy Donley vocalist  
Decca NA 9856 6/26/1957 South of the border Jimmy Donley vocalist  
Decca NA 9857 6/26/1957 The trail of the lonesome pine Jimmy Donley vocalist  
Decca NA 9858 6/26/1957 I gotta go Jimmy Donley vocalist  
Decca NA 10011 11/21/1957 Born to be a loser-1 Jimmy Donley vocalist  
Decca NA 10012 11/21/1957 Please baby come home Jimmy Donley vocalist  
Decca NA 10013 11/21/1957 Child love Jimmy Donley vocalist  
Decca NA 10365 8/12/1958 I'm alone-1 Jimmy Donley vocalist  
Decca NA 10366 8/12/1958 Radio, jukebox and T.V.-2 Jimmy Donley vocalist  
Decca NA 10664 3/27/1959 Arleeta Jimmy Donley vocalist  
Decca NA 10665 3/27/1959 The shape you left me in Jimmy Donley vocalist  
Decca NA 10666 3/27/1959 What must I do Jimmy Donley vocalist  
Decca NA 10804 7/30/1959 Give me my freedom Jimmy Donley vocalist  
Decca NA 10805 7/30/1959 Now I know Jimmy Donley vocalist  
Decca NA 10806 7/30/1959 I can't love you Jimmy Donley vocalist  
Decca NA 11096 4/14/1960 Our love Jimmy Donley vocalist  
Decca NA 11097 4/14/1960 I've been there Jimmy Donley vocalist  
Decca NA 11098 4/14/1960 My baby's gone Jimmy Donley vocalist  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Donley, Jimmy," accessed November 8, 2024, https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/312618.

Donley, Jimmy. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 8, 2024, from https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/312618.

"Donley, Jimmy." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 8 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/312618

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