Arthur Simms was an American singer and actor who acted in three French films, including Luc Besson's 1985 film Subway. ^[1], and also released several albums in the United States.

Simms largest screen role was in performing Eric Serra's songs It's Only Mystery ( 1985) and Guns And People in the French film Subway (1985). He also acts in the film, as a singer. Later, he would apply his talents as a singer and sound engineer at the service of other artists including Tony Curtis, Nana Mouskouri and Eric Serra.

He and his brother John formed a duet of accompanying singers for Michel Jonasz, and Simms released several albums with John.

Biography

Youth

Born in Baltimore ^[2], Maryland on November 30, 1952 ^[3], Arthur was one of 14 children (nine sons and five daughters). His father Isaac Oliver Simms ^[2] was a very popular local singer between the late 1930s and the 1940s. His gospel group was called The Spiritual Chords. His mother Marie (1914-2015) was a clothing designer and seamstress ^[4].

Arthur, was a born singer that showed great promise to have a career as a classical pianist. He gave his first guitar lesson to his brother John at the age of 14. As a teenager, his voice already allowed him to be a soloist in a Gospel choir in a Catholic church. Although still very young, the two brothers played with one of their nephews, John on guitar, with Arthur on piano, and Larry on vocals. Later Arthur, Vance, Larry and Marvin Brown formed The Softones ^[3]. John would join the group shortly thereafter.

For six years, Arthur trained at the Peabody Conservatory of Music in Baltimore (United States), and held a scholarship whose award was based on his abilities. In 1970, a year before graduating as Valedictorian from Baltimore City College High School, he received the Renselaer Medal, awarded for his studies in science and mathematics.

An accomplished student, Arthur was awarded the Abex Achievement Scholarship in 1970 to study modern languages ​​at Oberlin College. He obtained the " Thomas J Watson Fellowship", a scholarship to do his doctorate in Franco-African literature after getting his degree in 1977, which pushed him to settle in France to continue his studies. In parallel, he worked in Paris, in many studio recording sessions, for French headliners.

Career

In 1979, Arthur invited his brother "Johnny" (who was in Germany) to join him in Paris. Once again, they played together and performed every night in the Les Halles neighborhood, and regularly at the Memphis Melodie, on the stage held by the legendary bluesman Memphis Slim.

During that year, their father fell seriously ill; they went back to the United States. Alec Constandinos got in touch with them and offered to record an album in the DawnBreaker studios in Southern California. Isaac Oliver Simms died before the end of the recording. The album, John and Arthur Simms ^[2] was released by Casablanca in 1980</ref> and was warmly welcomed by Billboard, and the disc was ranked number 36 in the top 100.

Arthur decided to return to Paris, joined some time later by John. They performed at the "Memphis Mélodie" and this time are quickly spotted for their talent. They began a career as backup singers for a large number of French artists.

Collaboration

During the course of their career, Arthur and Johnny worked with Dalida, Gabriel Yared, Cerrone, Michel Jonasz, Serge Gainsbourg, Éric Serra ^[2], Jacques Dutronc, Mireille Mathieu, Chagrin d'amour, Catherine Lara, Françoise Hardy, Nana Mouskouri, Yves Simon, Corine Marienneau, Louis Bertignac, and Saint-Preux.

They also participated in the films The Great Carnival by Alexandre Arcady, Urgence by Gilles Béhat and in Honeymoon ^[3] alongside Nathalie Baye, Paul Ives, Robert Charlebois, Boris Bergman, not to mention Arthur's appearance alongside Jean Reno and Christopher Lambert in Luc Besson's Subway, performing It's only mystery and Guns do not kill people, which were released as a vinyl single ^[5]

Death

Arthur Simms died from AIDS in 1987 ^[2], aged 34.

Filmography

• 1983 : Le Grand Carnaval
• 1985 : Subway
• 1985 : Urgence

In Popular Culture

After Arthur's death, Michel Jonasz wrote Simms a song, Arthur, on the album Où est la source ? (Where is the source?) ^[6], which he would play frequently on stage.

Chris of Christine and the Queens made a surprise cover performance of It's only mystery from Subway (1985) at the 41st César Award ceremonies in 2016 ^[7]

References

External Links

• Arthur Simms on Myspace
• Eric Shalov/drafts/Arthur Simms at IMDb
• Discographie on Discogs
• https://noted.blogs.com/westcoastmusic/2008/10/john-simms-pass.html

Category:1952 births Category:1987 deaths Category:20th-century American singers Category:20th-century American male actors Category:African-American male singers Category:American male film actors Category:American rhythm and blues singers Category:American soul singers Category:Deaths from AIDS-related illness Category:Male actors from Baltimore‎ Category:Musicians from Baltimore‎ Category:Place of death missing