Although known mostly by soul aficionados, James Ramey aka. Baby Huey has been a crucial personality for hip-hop since Eric B. & Rakim sampled his funky proto-break Listen To Me in their late 80's hit Follow The Leader

Born as James Ramey in Richmond, Indiana, he moved to Chicago when he was 19, where he shaped his talent in a few local soul bands before he started Baby Huey & The Babysitters in 1963.

By that time he already weighted around 350 lbs or 160 kg due to glandular disorder, which he made fun of by adopting his stage name.

While in the beginning singing mostly Motown and James Brown covers with his outfit, in the next couple of years Baby Huey adopted psychedelic soul flare, inspired by Sly & The Family Stone.

His career peaked in 1969, when he was discovered in Thumbs Up club by Donny Hathaway, who brought Curtis Mayfield with him the night after.

Mayfield decided to sign him up, and cut a record straight away... but it never materialised, cause the singer od'd on heroin by the end of October 1970 in the middle of the recording sessions, which were completed with a studio band, and released posthumously as The Baby Huey Story: The Living Legend a few months later!

He's still treated as a genius though due to unforgettable soul smashers such as Hard Times, which keep his name alive!

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