Jimmy Castor

Jimmy Castor is known most for the boogaloo crossover hit "Hey Leroy, Your Mama's Calling You" (1966), the Top Ten pop single "Troglodyte (Cave Man)" (1972), and the crucial hip-hop building block "It's Just Begun" (also 1972), among other oft-sampled material. While animated funk was the musician's specialty, at least from a commercial perspective, Castor was no mere novelty act, with his roots in doo wop and jazz visible throughout his career. Moreover, John Pruitt, his songwriting and production partner, called him "the Everything Man," a nickname with merit. In addition to...