Jimmy Holiday

For the American football player, see Jimmy Holiday (American football).

Jimmy Holiday (July 24, 1934 – February 15, 1987) was an American R&B singer and songwriter.^[1]

Holiday was born in Sallis, Mississippi, United States. He recorded for Everest Records in the 1960s and later moved to the New Orleans label Minit Records.^[2] His first recording "How Can I Forget" reached the top ten on the US Billboard R&B chart in 1963.^[2] His debut album Turning Point peaked at No. 25 on the Billboard R&B albums chart in 1966.^[3]

Holiday's best-known composition is "Put a Little Love in Your Heart," co-written with Jackie DeShannon and Randy Myers.^[2][4] In the United States, it was DeShannon's highest-charting hit, reaching No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 in August 1969 and No. 2 on the Adult Contemporary chart.^[5] In late 1969, the song reached No. 1 on South Africa's hit parade.

Holiday died in 1987 in Iowa City of heart failure.^[2][4]

Discography

Albums

• 1966: Turning Point (Minit Records)^[1]
• 1970: Spread Your Love (Minit Records)^[1]
• 1975: United Artists Music Publishing Group Present Songs of Jackie DeShannon, Jimmy Holiday, Eddie Reeves (United Artists Records)

Singles

Title	Year	US [3]	US R&B [3]
"How Can I Forget"	1963	57	8
"Baby I Love You"	1966	98	21
"Everybody Needs Help"	1967		36
"Spread Your Love"	1968		35

Notable compositions

• "Put a Little Love in Your Heart" (Jackie DeShannon, 1969)
• "All I Ever Need Is You" (Ray Charles, 1971)