Jackson, Mississippi native King Floyd was sitting at the top of the charts with his hit single “Groove Me” today (January 2, 1971).
King Floyd was born in New Orleans, but he was raised in Kenner, Louisiana where he sang on the street-corners beginning at the age of 11.
In 1963, King Floyd moved to New York City, where he landed a writing gig with the Shaw Booking Agency.
It was there, that he wrote the song “Groove Me” why was working in a Los Angeles box factory.
With the help of New Orleans native Harold Battiste, King Floyd landed a deal with Original Sound in 1965 and drop the album Walkin’ and Talkin’.
The album didn’t do well and by 1969 King Floyd was working at the Post Office in New Orleans.
In May of 1970, King Floyd went to the Malaco Studios in Jackson, Mississippi and cut his tune “Groove Me.”
As King Floyd was attempting to get to the studio, his car broke down and he almost had to cancel the session because of his job at the Post Office.
He arrived at the studio, and was forced to cut “Groove Me” in just one take.
“Groove Me” was released on the Chimneyville record label, as the B-side of the single “What Our Love Needs.”
When the record took off, Atlantic Records took over the distribution and helped push the song to #1.
It had also been certified gold a week earlier, in December.
King Floyd quit his Post Office job and hit the tour circuit.
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