Timmy Willis

Columbus, 1965-mid 1970s

Timmy Willis - according to the internet, his real name was Henry Lee Sapp, but there is nothing in available sources at the time (newspapers, rade magazines) to confirm that info. He was a Columbus resident as the time. 

Timmy recorded "Mr. Soul Satisfaction" sometime in the fall of 1967. The song was written by George McGregor, a Detroit producer, writer, and sessions musician. He said in an interview that the record was recorded at Fame studios in Muscle Shoals but there are other claims that it was recorded in Detroit (which seems more likely), The record was released on the local Sidra label and became a hit, it was released nationally by Veep, the soul music subsidiary of United Artists records. The record got Timmy a lot of gigs through 1968.

Timmy had his own backing band that he used for live gigs, they were called the Show Stoppers, or the Show Pushers, or maybe both. The ad here says Show Stoppers. Referring again to other online sources, the band included brothers named McMahan.

Timmy had another 45 on Veep, then he recorded two 45s for Jubilee records. The firsr 45 was "I Finally Found A Woman" which made it to the 40s in the R&B charts, the summer of 1969. The second Jubilee 45 was a deep soul song "Easy As Saying 1-2-3" which also made the 40s in the R&B charts  The record was a much bigger hit in Cleveland, reaching the teens. The two 45s were recorded in March 1969 at the Fame Studios using the legendary session players, the Swampers.

Timmy made one more 45 on Epic, which was produced by Tedrolee Productions in Detroit. The record was issued in December1972. Timmy had joined the Suspicious Can Openers, which were supposed to be a new version of the Show Pushers/Stoppers, back in Columbus. He is credited on the SCO 45 from Nov 1971 and was listed as the leader/lead singer in a 1972 ad. The 45 must have been a one off, or even recorded by the Can Openers and credited to him since he had the nationally known name.

The trail goes cold for Timmy's career after that, A 1979 obituary for Walter McMahan lists him is a brother-in-law, living in Detroit. The obit lists him as Timmy Willis. He has passed away but the circumstances are not clear.

Discography:
Mr. Soul Satisfaction / I'm Wondering - Sidra 9013/Veep 1279, Nov 1967
Gotta Get Back To Georgia / Don't Let Temptation (Come Between You And Me) - Veep 1288, June 1968
I Finally Found A Woman / Neveruary - Jubilee 5660, May 1969
Easy As Saying 1-2-3 / I'm A Man - Jubilee 5690, March 1970
Give Me A Little Sign / Don't Want To Set Me Free - Epic 10934, Dec 1972