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2007-01-31 13:50:15 UTC
BY KORIE WILKINS
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER
To his family, he was always George Colovas. But to rock music lovers,
he was Jamie Coe.
Mr. Colovas, 71, of Plymouth, died Saturday morning in Livonia after
he had a heart attack while driving home from his nightclub, Jamies,
in Garden City, said his brother, Tony Colovas. He had performed
earlier that night but wasnt feeling well, family members said.
Livonia police officials declined to comment Saturday.
He was a great, great man, said Sue Colovas, his wife.
According to Tony Colovas, of Parma, Ohio, Mr. Colovas loved to sing
and perform. Born and raised in Highland Park, he was also an
outstanding basketball player who played at Wayne State University for
two years.
He never graduated, though, Tony Colovas said. He went into music
instead, he said.
Mr. Colovas sang with a few bands in the Detroit area, catching the
eye of Bobby Darin in the late 1950s. Darin signed Mr. Colovas to his
record label and renamed him Jamie Coe. Coe also got a band, the
Gigolos.
After that, his career blossomed, Tony Colovas said.
Mr. Colovas appeared a few times on Dick Clarks American Bandstand
and had a couple of hits.
A fixture on Detroits budding rock scene in the early 1960s, Jamie
Coe & the Gigolos were a sharp-dressed band with a tightly
choreographed show. Performing at area teen clubs and nightspots such
as Dearborns Club Gay Haven, Coe and his band played their own
regional hits like The Fool and Black & Blue among slick cover
versions of rock n roll standards.
David Les, 55, of Lake Orion, played bass with the Gigolos in the
1970s. He said Mr. Colovas didnt have a mean bone in his body and had
a great voice.
He had a passion for music, Les said. We had a pretty large
following at the time and George loved it. He loved what he did.
In addition to his musical and athletic talent, Tony Colovas said his
brother was a giving family man who didnt hesitate to help out
strangers who were down on their luck.
Mr. Colovas is survived by his wife, four children and two
grandchildren. Funeral arrangements are still pending, but family
members say they expect services to be private.
.
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER
To his family, he was always George Colovas. But to rock music lovers,
he was Jamie Coe.
Mr. Colovas, 71, of Plymouth, died Saturday morning in Livonia after
he had a heart attack while driving home from his nightclub, Jamies,
in Garden City, said his brother, Tony Colovas. He had performed
earlier that night but wasnt feeling well, family members said.
Livonia police officials declined to comment Saturday.
He was a great, great man, said Sue Colovas, his wife.
According to Tony Colovas, of Parma, Ohio, Mr. Colovas loved to sing
and perform. Born and raised in Highland Park, he was also an
outstanding basketball player who played at Wayne State University for
two years.
He never graduated, though, Tony Colovas said. He went into music
instead, he said.
Mr. Colovas sang with a few bands in the Detroit area, catching the
eye of Bobby Darin in the late 1950s. Darin signed Mr. Colovas to his
record label and renamed him Jamie Coe. Coe also got a band, the
Gigolos.
After that, his career blossomed, Tony Colovas said.
Mr. Colovas appeared a few times on Dick Clarks American Bandstand
and had a couple of hits.
A fixture on Detroits budding rock scene in the early 1960s, Jamie
Coe & the Gigolos were a sharp-dressed band with a tightly
choreographed show. Performing at area teen clubs and nightspots such
as Dearborns Club Gay Haven, Coe and his band played their own
regional hits like The Fool and Black & Blue among slick cover
versions of rock n roll standards.
David Les, 55, of Lake Orion, played bass with the Gigolos in the
1970s. He said Mr. Colovas didnt have a mean bone in his body and had
a great voice.
He had a passion for music, Les said. We had a pretty large
following at the time and George loved it. He loved what he did.
In addition to his musical and athletic talent, Tony Colovas said his
brother was a giving family man who didnt hesitate to help out
strangers who were down on their luck.
Mr. Colovas is survived by his wife, four children and two
grandchildren. Funeral arrangements are still pending, but family
members say they expect services to be private.
.