Introduction to Garland Green

Garland Green made his mark in the late 1960s with the unforgettable hit “Jealous Kind of Fella.” His warm, expressive voice and heartfelt delivery earned him a place in the golden era of soul and R&B. Though he never reached the same chart-topping success again, Green’s career spanned several decades and labels, showing resilience, passion, and a deep love for music.

From humble beginnings in Mississippi to a breakthrough in Chicago, Green’s journey reflects the story of many artists from the era—talent meeting opportunity, with twists of fate and the changing tides of the music industry shaping his path.

Garland Green
Full Name	Garfield Green Jr.
Born	June 14, 1942 – Dunleith, Mississippi, USA
Raised In	Chicago, Illinois
Genres	Soul, R&B
Main Instruments	Vocals, Piano
Biggest Hit	“Jealous Kind of Fella” (1969)
Labels	Gamma, Revue, Uni, Cotillion, Spring, RCA, Ocean-Front, Self-released
Major Collaborators	Joshie Jo Armstead, Mel Collins, Lamont Dozier
Comeback Album	*I Should’ve Been the One* (2012)

Early Life and Musical Education

Garland Green was born Garfield Green Jr. on June 14, 1942, in the small town of Dunleith, Mississippi. At age 16, he moved to Chicago, Illinois, where he balanced high school at Englewood High with weekend singing gigs to support himself.

His big break came through Argia B. Collins, a local BBQ chain owner who heard Green sing and was so impressed that he offered to sponsor his music education. Thanks to this generosity, Green studied voice and piano at the Chicago Conservatory of Music—a rare opportunity for many aspiring African American artists at the time.

The Talent Show That Launched a Career

Green’s first taste of real exposure came when he entered and won a local talent competition in 1967. His victory led to an opening performance for Lou Rawls and Earl Hines at Chicago’s Sutherland Lounge.

Among the audience that night were Mel Collins and Joshie Jo Armstead, a married duo with deep music industry ties. Armstead, formerly a background singer for Ike & Tina Turner and a songwriter for Ashford & Simpson, saw something in Green. Together, the couple arranged a recording session in Detroit for Garland’s debut single.

Early Success: “Girl I Love You”

That Detroit session produced “Girl I Love You,” released on the couple’s independent Gamma Records. The single became a local smash in Chicago and surrounding markets. Its success caught the attention of Revue Records, a subsidiary of MCA, which re-released the song nationwide.

Though the single didn’t chart nationally, it established Green as an artist to watch and opened the door to future label deals.

The Breakthrough: “Jealous Kind of Fella”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by BROOMDUSTER (@broomduster)

In 1969, Green signed to Uni Records, a major label under the MCA umbrella. That same year, he released “Jealous Kind of Fella,” co-written with Joshie Jo Armstead, R. Browner, and M. Hester. The song became his signature hit, peaking at:

• #5 on the Billboard R&B Chart

• #20 on the Billboard Hot 100

• #2 on the Cash Box R&B chart

By March 1971, it had sold over one million copies, earning a gold disc certification. The song’s bittersweet lyrics and Green’s emotional delivery resonated deeply with listeners, helping it remain a staple on soul radio for years.

Follow-Up Records and Label Moves

After the success of “Jealous Kind of Fella,” Uni released Green’s self-titled debut album. Unfortunately, follow-up singles failed to reach the same level of success. Disappointed with the results, Green left both Uni Records and Joshie Jo Armstead.

In 1970, he signed with Cotillion Records, a subsidiary of Atlantic. During his time there, he released several singles:

• “Plain and Simple Girl” – Reached #17 R&B

• “Just What the Doctor Ordered”

• “Let Me Be Your Pacifier”

While none of these tracks matched his earlier commercial success, they solidified his place in the soul genre as a consistent and soulful vocalist.

The 1970s and 1980s: Career Persistence

Green spent the 1970s moving between labels, including Spring Records and RCA. He recorded tracks like:

• “Bumpin’ and Stompin’”

• “Don’t Let Love Walk Out on Us”

• “Let’s Celebrate”

Despite moderate airplay and loyal fans, Green never recaptured the momentum of his 1969 hit. Still, he remained active in the music scene.

In the late 1970s, Green moved to California and signed with Ocean-Front Records, an indie label. His album Love Is What We Came Here For was co-produced by Lamont Dozier, formerly of the legendary Motown songwriting team Holland–Dozier–Holland.

During this time, Green met Arleen Schesel, a co-producer on the project. The two fell in love and later married, adding a personal milestone to this stage of his life.

Independent Work and 2012 Comeback

After Ocean-Front Records, Green launched his own label and began releasing music independently. He continued performing and recording on a smaller scale.

In February 2012, after nearly three decades without a full-length album, Green released I Should’ve Been the One, through Special Soul Music, a division of CDS Records. The album featured new material in the classic soul style, appealing to longtime fans and soul purists.

Tracks like “Heaven Only Knows,” “I Think I Love You Again,” and “Nothing But a Party” showed that Green still had the vocal chops and emotional power that made him a standout decades earlier.

Discography Highlights

Studio Albums

• Jealous Kind of Fella (1970) – Uni Records

• Love Is What We Came Here For (1977) – Ocean-Front Records

• I Should’ve Been the One (2012) – Special Soul Music

Notable Singles