Nitty-gritty, Nitty Gritty, etc. may refer to:
Glen Augustus Holness (1957–24 June 1991), otherwise known by his stage name Nitty Gritty, was a popular Reggae singer. Born in the August Town section of Kingston, Jamaica, he was the second of eleven children born to religious parents.
Holness formed The Soulites in the early 1970s and recorded his first solo single in the early 1980s for producer Sugar Minott. He worked on the Zodiac sound system and recorded further singles, working with George Phang before moving on to King Jammy in 1985, with whom he had his breakthrough success with "Hog inna Minty", a Jamaican folk song. Nitty Gritty was the first to record the song and was an instant success. He enjoyed further successful singles produced by Jammy, and his debut album, Turbo Charged was released in 1986, as was the split album with King Kong, Musical Confrontation. He moved to live in London before relocating to New York City, where he continued to record but less frequently. Further albums followed with General Penitentiary (1987), Nitty Gritty (1988), and Jah in the Family (1989).
"The Nitty Gritty" is a 1963 song written by Lincoln Chase and recorded by Shirley Ellis. Released by Congress Records, it reached #8 on the Billboard Hot 100 in early 1964.
Motown released a version of "The Nitty Gritty" by Gladys Knight & The Pips in mid-1969 on its Soul label. It went to #19 on Billboard's Hot 100 and #2 on its Soul chart.
The "Nitty Gritty" guitar instrumental by Doug Sahm was a theme in the film Idiocracy.
A different song, "Nitty Gritty", was a single by Scottish rock band Primal Scream, released in October 2006. It was the third single lifted from the band's album Riot City Blues.
Jamo Thomas is an American soul and funk singer, best remembered for his 1966 hit single, "I Spy (For the FBI)".
Born in either The Bahamas or Chicago, he recorded for several different record labels between 1965 and 1976. His billing sometimes included his name alongside backing musicians, known as his Party Brothers Orchestra, or simply as Mr. Jamo. His biggest successes were "Bahama Mama" and a cover version of "I Spy (For the FBI)".
After a spell as a percussionist with the Pennsylvania-based Bobby Peterson Quintet in the late 1950s, Thomas relocated to Chicago in the early 1960s. He recorded his debut single, "Stop the Baby", in 1965 for the small Conlo Records label, with the track produced by Jerry Butler. Thomas was working for the singer at the time, as his valet and driver, while also playing percussion in his support band.
His next recording, "I Spy (For the FBI)", produced by Monk Higgins and Burgess Gardner and released on the small Thomas label (owned by Eddie Thomas), peaked at #98 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in 1966. It was re-issued on Polydor in the UK in 1969, when it reached #44 in the UK Singles Chart. The track proved to be his only appearance in either chart. The song was written by Herman Kelley and Richard "Popcorn" Wylie, and was originally recorded by Luther Ingram a few months prior to Thomas' version.
I spy for the FBI
(I spy for the FBI)
I spy for the FBI
(I spy for the FBI)
I got an x-ray camera hidden in your house
That sees what I can't see
And that man you were kissin' last night
Definitely was not me, oh baby
I spy for the FBI
(I spy for the FBI)
I spy for the FBI
(I spy for the FBI)
Just because he was wearin' shades
You thought he didn't leave a clue
I got his name, I know his game
He's double-0 you know who, oh baby
I spy for the FBI
(I spy for the FBI)
I spy for the FBI
(I spy)
I've got the facts in the file
Baby I don't have to guess
I took that agent's fingerprints
Off of your new red dress, oh baby
I spy for the FBI
(I spy for the FBI)
I spy for the FBI
(I spy for the FBI)
I know when you're out
I know when you're in
I know where you come from
I know where you've been
I know when you're up
I know when you're down
I know when you're in
Baby or out on the town
I spy for the FBI
(I spy for the FBI)
Baby, I spy for the FBI
(I spy for the FBI)
Baby, I spy for the FBI