Jimmy Holiday

Jimmy Holiday (b. July 24, 1934, Sallis, Mississippi, d. February 15, 1987, Iowa City) was an American R&B singer and songwriter.

Holiday recorded for Everest Records in the 1960s and later moved to the New Orleans label Minit Records.[1] His first recording "How Can I Forget" reached the top ten on the R&B charts in 1963.[1] His debut album Turning Point peaked at No. 25 on the Billboard R&B albums chart in 1966.[2]

Holiday's best-known composition is "Put a Little Love in Your Heart," co-written with Jackie DeShannon and Randy Myers.[1][3] In the United States, it was DeShannon's highest-charting hit, reaching No. 4 on the Hot 100 in August 1969 and No. 2 on the Adult Contemporary charts.[4] In late 1969, the song reached No. 1 on South Africa's hit parade.

Holiday died in 1987 in Iowa City of heart failure.[1][3] He is survived by three daughters: singer-songwriter and performer Debby Holiday, poet Harmony Holiday, and Sara Holiday.