As we mark this Black History Month, Hoptown Chronicle is sharing stories from its archives highlighting pioneering Hopkinsville natives who have contributed to Hopkinsville’s unique and rich Black history. One such person was the highly regarded blues musician John Brim, who made his mark in the Chicago music scene alongside renowned artists like Muddy Waters and Bo Diddley.
Brim was born on April 10, 1922, in Hopkinsville.
”I grew up on Second Street … in a little shotgun house,” Brim said in a 2001 interview with my friend and former New Era colleague Scott Burnside.
I have Scott to thank for introducing me to Brim and his music. That interview occurred just two years before Brim’s death.
When I started looking into Brim’s career, I found a discography for him and his wife, Grace Brim, that lists more than 60 records on which they played or sang.
One of John Brim’s best known songs, “Ice Cream Man,” has a backstory worthy of the blues.
Brim said he recorded “Ice Cream Man” at Chess Records in 1953, but the song sat on a shelf for 16 years. Brim claimed he was being punished because he refused to let Chess send his wife, who played drums and harmonica, on tour with another musician.
Eventually Brim earned credit for the song and others also recorded it, including the rock band Van Halen.
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You can hear his music on a machine at the Pennyroyal Area Museum that features several songs by artists with ties to Hopkinsville.
And here are the lyrics to “Ice Cream Man:”
Dedicate one to the ladies…
Now summertime’s here babe, need somethin’ to keep you cool
Ah, now summertime’s here babe, need somethin’ to keep you cool
Better look out now though, Dave’s got somethin’ for you
Tell ya what it is
I’m your ice cream man, stop me when I’m passin’ by
Oh my, my, I’m your ice cream man, stop me when I’m passin’ by
See now all my flavors are guaranteed to satisfy
Hold on a second babyI got puddin’ pie, banana dixie cups
All flavors and pushups tooI’m your ice cream man baby, stop me when I’m passin’ by
See now all my flavors are guaranteed to satisfy
Hold on, one moreWell I’m usually passin’ by just about eleven o’clock
Uh huh, I never stop
I’m usually passin’ by just around eleven o’clock
And if you let cool you one time, you’ll be my regular stopAll right boys!
I got puddin’ pie, banana dixie cups
All flavors and pushups tooI’m your ice cream man, stop me when I’m passin’ by
See now all my flavors are guaranteed to satisfy, yes
I’m your ice cream man, stop me when I’m passin’ by
I’m your ice cream man, stop me when I’m passin’ by
They say all my flavors are guaranteed to satisfy Ah one timeI’m your ice cream man, stop me when I’m passin’ by
I’m your ice cream man, stop me when I’m passin’ by
They say all my flavors are guaranteed to satisfyOne time boys!
I’m your ice cream man
I’m your ice cream man
B-B-B-B-B-B-B-Baby!
Ah my my my
All my flavors are guaranteed… to satis-uh-fy
Ow!
Jennifer P. Brown is co-founder, publisher and editor of Hoptown Chronicle. You can reach her at editor@hoptownchronicle.org. Brown was a reporter and editor at the Kentucky New Era, where she worked for 30 years. She is a co-chair of the national advisory board to the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues, governing board past president for the Kentucky Historical Society, and co-founder of the Kentucky Open Government Coalition. She serves on the Hopkinsville History Foundation's board.
