Voting Station

James and Bobby Purify

Please vote to return to collections.

Vocalists

The Resume

    (1965-1983)
    Born in Pensacola, Florida
    James Purify (May 12, 1944-January 22, 2021)
    Robert Lee Dickey (September 2, 1939-December 29, 2011), ‘Bobby Purify’ from 1965-71
    Ben Moore (1941- ), ‘Bobby Purify’ from 1974-83
    Recorded the singles ‘I’m Your Puppet’ (1966), ‘Shake a Tailfeather’ (1967), and ‘Let Love Come Between Us’ (1967)

Why they might be annoying:

    The liner notes of their debut album claimed that the two were brothers, but James and the original Bobby were actually cousins.
    James and the second Bobby were not even related.
    Dickey admitted that he never liked ‘I’m Your Puppet,’ their biggest hit. (He might have been miffed that he started as the lead on the song, but after several unsuccessful takes in the studio, producer Papa Don Schroeder made James the lead singer and relegated Dickey to background vocals.)
    James Purify was arrested in Pensacola for having sex with a minor and had to register as a sex offender (1989).
    James spent two and a half years in prison for assault with a deadly weapon after a domestic dispute (2009-12).

Why they might not be annoying:

    They had tight vocal harmonies. (True regardless of which ‘Bobby’ was singing with James.)
    They were nominated for a Grammy for Best R&B Group Performance for ‘I’m Your Puppet.’
    Rock critic Dave Marsh wrote, ‘’I’m Your Puppet’ may be the coolest soul classic ever recorded.’
    Moore went blind from glaucoma (1998) and dropped out of the music industry.
    With the encouragement of Ray Charles, Moore returned to performing, recording gospel music and joining the Blind Boys of Alabama.
    James Purify died of complications from COVID-19.

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 3 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 26 Votes: 34.62% Annoying