Jim Stafford

b. 16 January 1944, Eloise, Florida, USA. Stafford had a series of novelty hits in the mid-70s, but his career began as a member of the Legends, which also included Gram Parsons and Lobo (Kent Lavoie). Working with Miami producer Phil Gernhard, Stafford signed to MGM Records as a solo singer, releasing "Swamp Witch" in 1973. A minor hit, it was followed by the million-selling "Spiders And Snakes", which used a swamp-rock sound reminiscent of Tony Joe White to tell a humorous tale. The song was composed by David Bellamy of the Bellamy Brothers. In 1974, Stafford tried a soft ballad with a twist, "My Girl Bill" (his biggest UK hit) and another zany number, "Wildwood Weed", which reached the US Top 10. Both were co-produced by Lobo. The same strand of humour ran through Stafford's 1975 singles "Your Bulldog Drinks Champagne" and "I Got Drunk And Missed It". By now a minor celebrity, Stafford hosted a networked summer variety show from Los Angeles, where he met and married Bobbie Gentry. Such later records as "Jasper" (Polydor 1976), co-written with Dave Loggins, and "Turns Loose Of My Leg" (Curb/Warner Brothers Records 1977) were only minor hits, but Stafford continued to record into the 80s for labels such as Elektra Records, Town House and CBS Records.