Jazz group featuring James Perry (sax), Johnny Osborne (bass), James McKnight (piano), and Thomas Williams (drums). Seen in the early ‘50s as house band at the Wilton Nite Club. Also played the Biltmore, Club 511 on Fremont Avenue, and Lee’s Musical Bar.
In the late ‘50s the group held the position of house band at the Carnival Club on Poplar Grove and Belmont Streets where WEBB radio celebrity Eddie Morrison (of “The Madison” fame) appeared on Tuesday nights. The Mellow Jacks recorded in Baltimore under the direction of Jack Gale. A single was released on the Tune label (a subsidiary of Gale’s Triple A Records) after Jack moved to Cleveland. The record (released in both 78 and 45rpm formats) featured the song “Sax Maniac” (a high energy rocking instrumental featuring wild honking saxophone) b/w “Taylor’s Tale” featuring vocals by Slim Taylor.
Osborne owned a gas station in Baltimore. Williams went on to join the Tune Makers…
The group apparently continued on, seen in the early ’70s with a line-up of Jimmy McNight (organ), with Ken Berry (sax), Jimmy Bruce (drums), and Joe (guitar). They were featured as a Fri-Sat-Sun house band at the Club Al-Ho “where every day is a holiday” on Frederick Avenue in 1972.
McNight passed away June 17, 1994.
Single release as by Johnny Osborne & the Mello Jacks:
195* Tune 1002 Sax Maniac / Taylor’s Tale
