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Junior Giscombe
Junior performing in 2019.
Background information
Birth name	Norman Washington Giscombe
Also known as	Junior
Born	(1957-06-06) 6 June 1957 (age 67) Wandsworth, London, England
Origin	London, England
Genres	R&B, soul, funk, pop, disco, jazz, new jack swing
Occupation(s)	Singer, songwriter, music producer
Years active	1971/72–present
Labels	Mercury Records
Website	juniorgiscombe.co.uk

Norman Washington "Junior" Giscombe (born 6 June 1957) is an English singer-songwriter often known as Junior who was one of the first British R&B artists to be successful in the United States. He is best known for his 1982 hit single, "Mama Used to Say".

Career

Giscombe was born in Wandsworth, London, England, and was a backing vocalist with Linx between 1980 and 1982.

"In the early to mid 70s, Junior collaborated with classmates to establish a record label in Balham, South London. They released a record titled Nice and Slow, which Junior later said it had reached number one in Australia."

"In 1978 or 1979, Get Up And Dance/Hot Up And Heated was recorded and later released in 1980. According to Junior, it reached number one in France as well as number one on the Billboard Breakout Chart."

When turning towards a solo career, he was first billed simply as Junior. He scored a No. 7 hit in the UK Singles Chart in 1982, with "Mama Used to Say Junior has claimed that the song was number one on US Cashbox." His follow-up single, "Too Late" also made the top 20 in the UK. "Mama Used to Say" was also a top 40 Pop and top 5 R&B hit in the United States, earning him a "Best Newcomer" award from Billboard magazine.

"Junior's single Unison was released in 1983 and achieved some commercial success, particularly on the U.S. Dance Charts. While Junior has claimed that the song reached the number one position, official chart records indicate that it peaked at number 16.

Sometime (most likely) around 1984 and 1985, Giscombe recorded (and very possibly co-wrote) an unknown number of songs with Phil Lynott, the former leader, vocalist and bass player of hard rock band Thin Lizzy. Lynott died in January 1986 and the songs were never officially released. Most remain as demos, but one of the songs, "Lady Loves to Dance", was mastered and nearly released before being pulled by the record company. Some of the songs are available on YouTube, including "What's the Matter Baby" (Giscombe provides backing vocals) and "Time (and Again)" and the unreleased track of Breakdown (Giscombe shares vocals with Lynott).

After a period outside the charts, he made a brief return to the top 10 in 1987 when he sang a duet with Kim Wilde on "Another Step (Closer to You)". He also became involved with the formation of Red Wedge in 1986 with Billy Bragg, Jimmy Somerville and Paul Weller, and had been a part of the Council Collective with The Style Council, Jimmy Ruffin and others for the 1984 fundraising single, "Soul Deep". In 1992, Junior appeared on stage at the 1992 Labour rally in Sheffield singing Curtis Mayfield's "Move On Up". Later, Giscombe became better known as a songwriter for artists such as Sheena Easton.

In 2008 Junior Giscombe sang "A Change Is Gonna Come" which was originally sang by Sam Cooke and Junior gave a performance with the Virtual Jazz Band which was later released presumably using the same vocals in 2011.

On 15 April 2010, Giscombe performed his classic hit "Mama Used to Say" with the Virtual Jazz Band at London's Jazz Cafe.

In 2014, Giscombe formed "The British Collective" with fellow British artists Don-E, Noel McKoy and Omar. In 2017, Giscombe appeared on Mike City's album The Feel Good Agenda, Vol. 1 on the song "Sang and Dance".

Sweet Tender Love is a song by Junior Giscombe that peaked at #15 on the UK Heritage Chart. It was released in 2024.

Personal life

Junior Giscombe was raised as the youngest of eight children.

He met his childhood sweetheart Nardia when he was 19 and she was 17 and remained together until her death. At the age of 24, Nardia was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and died of complications from the condition in 2008 aged 50. Junior and Nardia had two children. Their second child, Jenique, was also diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2008 (six months before her mother's death) and she died in May 2017. Giscombe dedicated his 2020 album "Everyting Set" to his daughter's memory.

Giscombe is the uncle of British comedian Richard Blackwood, who sampled "Mama Used to Say" on his single "Mama – Who Da Man" in June 2000.

Discography

Albums

Singles

References

1. "Happy Birthday to Junior!". Soul Tracks. 10 October 2012. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
2. Hogan, Ed. "Artist Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
3. ^ Colin Larkin, ed. (2003). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Eighties Music (Third ed.). Virgin Books. p. 218. ISBN 1-85227-969-9.
4. Edwards, Michael J. (2016). "Junior Giscombe Pt. 1". UK Vibe. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
5. "Junior Giscombe Pt. 1". UK Vibe. 2016. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
6. Anthony, Mark (21 January 2020). "Junior Giscombe - A Global British Hit Maker..." Future Topic. Retrieved 11 January 2025.
7. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 293. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
8. "Junior Giscombe". Juniorgiscombe.co.uk.
9. "Junior Giscombe - A Global British Hit Maker..." Future Topic. 21 January 2020. Retrieved 11 January 2025.
10. "Junior Giscombe interview part 2". UKVibe.
11. "The British Collective". The British Collective.
12. UK Heritage Chart Archive
13. "Junior Giscombe - They will find something for progressive MS". MS Society charity. 8 October 2019.
14. "This album is dedicated to and in memory of my beloved daughter..." Juniorgiscombe.co.uk.
15. "Chart History - Junior: BILLBOARD 200". Billboard. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
16. "Chart History - Junior: TOP R&B/HIP-HOP ALBUMS". Billboard. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
17. ^ "JUNIOR | full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company.
18. "Chart History - Junior: HOT 100". Billboard. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
19. "Chart History - Junior: HOT R&B/HIP-HOP SONGS". Billboard. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
20. "Chart History - Junior: DANCE CLUB SONGS". Billboard. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
21. "JUNIOR GISCOMBE | full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company.
22. "Junior - Mama Used to Say". bpi.co.uk. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
23. "Can You Feel It - single". Apple Music. 16 September 2021. Retrieved 7 November 2021.

External links

• Junior Giscombe's website
• Junior Giscombe discography at Discogs

• 1957 births
• Living people
• English people of Jamaican descent
• 20th-century Black British male singers
• 20th-century British male singers
• People from Wandsworth
• Singers from the London Borough of Wandsworth
• English contemporary R&B singers
• Mercury Records artists
• British male songwriters