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Maelen, Jimmy (1940-14th January 1988)

He was a percussionist and occasional backing vocalist whose work with the remixers John Luongo and Michael Barbiero led him to working on dance versions of songs such as “Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)” and “Blame It On the Boogie” by The Jacksons, “I Haven’t Stopped Dancin’ Yet” by Gonzales and “Vertigo” by Dan Hartman and he was also a performer on the hit singles “Worn Down Piano” by the Mark & Clark Band and “More Than This” and “Avalon” by Roxy Music.

Artists and groups he worked with as a percussionist are numerous and include Eric Carmen, Alice Cooper, Cutting Crew, Dire Straits, Bryan Ferry, Peter Gabriel, Gloria Gaynor, Jimi Hendrix, Earl Klugh, Gladys Knight & The Pips, John Lennon, Barry Manilow, Meat Loaf, Odyssey, Tony Orlando, Roxy Music, Marlena Shaw, Southside Johnny and James Taylor.

Albums he appeared on during the course of his career include his own Beats Workin’, You Want It You Got It by Bryan Adams, Best of the Atlantic Years by Herbie Mann, Brothers in Arms by Dire Straits, Dreams by Grace Slick, Greatest Hits by Air Supply, Emergency by Kool & The Gang, Coming Around Again by Carly Simon, Crash Landing by Jimi Hendrix, Milk and Honey by John Lennon & Yoko Ono, Rock ‘n’ Roll Lullaby by B.J. Thomas, That Girl from Ipanema by Astrud Gilberto, Emotion by Barbra Streisand, If I Were Your Woman by Stephanie Mills, Fire and Passion by Gato Barbieri, Live USA/Live at the Roxy by Peter Gabriel, Chrome Collection by The Spinners, Seven & The Ragged Tiger and Notorious by Duran Duran, More, More, More by Andrea True Connection, That’s Why I’m Here by James Taylor, Simplicity by Tim Curry, Night Cruiser by Deodato. Sharing Your Love by Change, Private Eyes by Hall & Oates, Smile by Laura Nyro, Song by Neil Sedaka, Pursuit of Happiness by Rupert Holmes, Onobox and Walking on Thin Ice by Yoko Ono, Avalon by Roxy Music, Lace and Whiskey by Alice Cooper, Even Now by Barry Manilow, Boys and Girls by Bryan Ferry, Up Escalator by Graham Parker & The Rumour, Some People by Belouis Some and the soundtrack of Fame.

Suffering from leukaemia he sadly passed away in 1987.  The Manny Music/Jimmy Maelen Memorial Golf Tournament was held in 1992, which raised thousands of dollars for leukaemia research.

Belouis Some recordings
Aware of You (Belouis Some)
Some People (Belouis Some)

Sources:

  1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy_Maelen
  2. http://www.amazon.com/thousands-leukemia-Memorial-Tournament-Retailer/dp/B00092NCMM
  3. https://www.discogs.com/artist/292812-Jimmy-Maelen
  4. http://home.cogeco.ca/~mansion1/jimmymaelen.html