Jamie Coe 1936-2007
Posted by Chuck Benjamin on February 28, 2007
To his family, he was always George Colovas. But to Michigan music lovers, he was Jamie Coe. Mr. Colovas, 71, of Plymouth Michigan, died from a heart attack while driving home from his Garden City nightclub, Jamie’s. According to his brother, Tony Colovas, of Parma, Ohio, George Colovas loved to sing and perform. Born and raised in Highland Park, he was also an outstanding basketball player who played at Wayne State University for two years. Mr. Colovas sang with a few bands in the Detroit area, catching the eye of Bobby Darin in the late 1950s. Darin signed Mr. Colovas to his record label and renamed him Jamie Coe and provided him with a band, the Gigolos. Mr. Colovas appeared a few times on Dick Clark’s American Bandstand and enjoyed strong Regional success in the Great Lakes area. Jamie Coe & the Gigolos were fixtures on Detroit’s budding rock scene in the early 1960s. Performing at area teen clubs and nightspots, Coe and his band played their own regional hits like “The Fool” and “Black & Blue” as well as great cover versions of rock ’n’ roll standards. He released 45’s on many labels including Addison, ABC-Paramount, Big Top, Reprise, Cameo and Enterprise.
Listen for “I’ll Go On Loving You”, “I’m Getting Married”, “The Fool” and “I Was The One” on TUNEDEX MEMORIES!
mike retz said
sorry to hear of mr. coes passing. i remember his hit the fool being played on wknr and cklw in detroit in the early 60s. this was a big hit in detroit, i dont know why but is unheard of outside this area. only sanford clarks version is known. to bad this would have been a n0,1 record nationwide had it been for more airplay. just a thought. he will be missed. mike retz
jeffreybolton said
Hi, I’m a record collector from England…Jamie Coe was known in the UK…I have his record, ‘The Fool’ in my collection….Jamie has now joined the other great Rock’N'Roll singers that have left us….Sadly far too many ..I miss them all…..Jeff Bolton,England
Rocco Schettini said
God, what a shame. What would it have been like to grow up in the Detroit/Dearborn area without the sounds of “The Fool” playing on the radio. It was such a great time and Jamie Coe contributed great music and an innocence that all of us in that time period will never forget.
“Gather around me buddies…..”
wawerka said
Oh, poor Jamie, we’ll never forget You, The Fool, especially,
Elvis sang too, not anybody. In Your Hungarian fan’s eyes tear-
drops… God with You… (Petz Nándor, Budapest, Hungary)
Patti O'Brien-Geipel said
I worked for Jamie for many years (bartender) Everybody Loved him and he will be missed by all the lifes that he has touched. I love and miss you Jamie.
All my love, Patti
Lisa Wagner said
Hi , Patty
Yes , Jamie was the best Boss ever.. I had great times working for him. I will Miss Him Dearly… He will alway’s hold a special place in My Heart.
karen collins schaffer said
I met Jamie in 1968. From that day forward he had a huge impact on my life. He was the kindest and wisest man I have ever known. Always avilable for his friends and sometimes even strangers. I was honored to hear him call me his “dear friend”. Jamie, I love you and miss you. Thank you for always being my dear friend.
With heart felt love,
Karen
Ake Roos said
As a Swedish record collector, Jamie Coe´s “There´s Never Been A Night” has always been well-known to me. I know at least three cover versions of it. In Sweden it was recorded by The Father of Scandinavian Rock´n Roll Rock-Reggae, His Four Comets (EP “Romantic Rock”) in 1959. It was also recorded by Siw Malmqvist and by Bob Ellis. These three versions must mean that Jamie Coe and his song did make an impact.
john Willemse said
Jamie,
I am sad to have learned of your passing. I knew you well and your brothers; Bill, Tony and Danny as well from our school days at the Greenfield Schools.
so long my old friend
John
Sandi Bilokury said
Just learned of Jamie’s passing.
Jamie and I shared rides and worked together at Westside 6, Pompei’s in Dearborn and the Funny Farm. I first heard him sing at Dunrovan when I was only 17 years old.
Oh, George…my dear friend…you are definitely missed and my heart is saddened.
May you Rest in Peace my dear friend.
Sandi
Inkster, Michigan
Rick Richards said
As a former Detroiter now living in Australia, I am saddened by news of Jamie’s passing last year. I just saw reference to it in the Soulful Detroit web site. I remember seeing Jamie sing The Fool in 1964 when I was a Detroit high schooler, and later in the ’90’s at his clubs in suburban Detroit. One night while exercising at the Plymouth Vic Tanny’s, I ran into Jamie there and we reminisced about the old days. Del Shannon had just passed away and we talked about how sad that was. Jamie – I have your CD and will always remember what great music you made.
Rick Richards, Sydney, Australia (via Detroit, Michigan)
robert westfall said
I have been trying for sometime to get the Jamie Coe cd “a Long Time Ago”. The email listed marilyn bond does not reply. Does anyone know where I can obtain this?
Bob Westfall
Brian Young said
Robert,
Marilyn Bond passed away recently, which is why you are not receiving a reply in regards to a Jamie Coe CD. You can find it from time to time on eBay, or sometimes locally at Detroit Records Shows.
Mark Flanary said
We had a great time at all of Jamies Bars, the one on ford rd, back in the late 70’s and 80’s 7 mile rd, 2 floors of fun, then at the windjammer, in livonia
The one on ford my good friend Jake the snake Brown was a bouncer there, and big Jim , I know Patti the Bartender Hey Patti,
Just a great place to go and meet a lot of good people, all thu the years , and Jamies Band is Great.
I used to talk to Jamie on his breaks, he is missed,
Dean Clouse said
Jamie, You were a true artist. I will miss you but we still have your great music! Dean
John Sullivan said
I just returned home to Michigan last week for a visit and his name came up. I was saddened to hear of his passing. I remember seeing Jamie at the Dairy Workers Union Hall in Highland Park, MI. He had just recently released “How Low Is Low”.
He was a great performer and will be greatly missed!
teri williamson said
I spent many a youthful night @ either Jamie’s on & or the Ford Rd. place. He was always sweet and kind and friendly. I ran into him a couple of years ago @ the Windjammer and he remembered me from over 20yrs. ago. Jamie, you will be sadly missed.
madeline rebeschini hall said
Many of my friends and I would go the Gay Haven to dance. We loved Jamie and the Gigolos.
Such good times there. So sorry to hear of his passing.
Greg Smith said
For anybody interested I am the now 45 year old son of Grant Smith who was the bass player for the Gigolos, Jamie Coe’s band. I still have the Association’s Greatest Hits album Coe (that’s what we called him) gave me for my 10th birthday.
I have put on my server a collection of MP3 files of their songs: http://gregnmary.gotdns.com/gigolos.zip . It’s a zip file of about 77 megabytes.
Lisa Wagner said
I will always Love and Miss Jamie.
Jamie and his Family was a part of my life for many years. When I got the call Jamie pasted away all I could do was cry. There will Never be another Jamie. He had a Heart Of Gold . LOL Everytime I hear a Neal Diamond song I think of him and the old day’s . He will be Dearly Missed .
Thank You Jamie and Family for being a part of My Life.
Love Always , Lisa