Earl Gaines

Earl Gaines is a kind of hard-luck case as a recording artist. His biggest hit, far and away, was "It's Love Baby (24 Hours a Day)." But that record wasn't credited to him, as it was the work of Louis Brooks & His Hi-Toppers, the group with which he was singing lead, and he was never able to duplicate its impact. Gaines was born August 19, 1935, in Decatur, AL, and early in life was singing in church. He left home at age 16 and headed for Nashville, hoping for a career as a blues singer. In order to survive, he also cultivated further musical skills as a drummer. His first p...