Freddie Hughes

{{Short description|American gospel singer-songwriter (1943–2022)}}

{{About|the singer, who in the 1960s, recorded for Wand Records|the singer who recorded for Vee-Jay Records|Fred Hughes (singer)}}

Fred Willie Hughes Jr. (August 20, 1943 – January 18, 2022) was an American gospel, soul, and R&B singer, perhaps best known for his 1968 song, "Send My Baby Back".{{cite news|url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/Freddie-Hughes-Oakland-singer-with-talent-on-par-16829397.php|title=Freddie Hughes, Oakland singer with talent on par with the legends of soul, dies at 78|first=Sam|last=Whiting|date=February 3, 2022|newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle|accessdate=July 9, 2022}}

Hughes was born in Berkeley, California in 1943, and grew up in Oakland, California. As a singer, he began working professionally in vocal groups from Oakland in the mid-1950s.{{cite news|url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2022/01/21/he-should-have-been-a-superstar-freddie-hughes-oakland-soul-singer-dies-at-79/|title='He should have been a superstar': Freddie Hughes, Oakland soul singer, dies at 79|first=Andrew|last=Gilbert|date=January 21, 2022|publisher=The Mercury News|accessdate=July 9, 2020}} In his teens, he sang at the Ephesian Church of God in Christ in Berkeley.

The song "Send My Baby Back" (released through Wand Records) was written by Lonnie Hewitt and Ernest Marbray, and issued as a single in 1968, with "Where's My Baby" on the B-side. The single appeared on the U.S. Billboard R&B chart, peaking at No. 20 that year.{{cite book |title= Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942–2010|last=Whitburn |first=Joel |authorlink=Joel Whitburn |year=2010|publisher=Record Research Inc.|isbn=978-0-89820-186-4 |page=297}} It also charted on the Billboard Hot 100 peaking at No. 94.{{cite book|first=Joel|last=Whitburn|year=2013|title=Top Pop Singles 1955-2012|edition=14th|publisher=Record Research Inc.|location=Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin|isbn= 978-0-89820-205-2|page=398}}

In 1969, "Send My Baby Back" was recorded by jazz trumpeter Don Ellis, and appeared on his album The New Don Ellis Band Goes Underground.

"Send My Baby Back" was Hughes' only chart success, but he remained active and performed in numerous clubs right until his death.

In early January 2022, Hughes was hospitalized with pneumonia and COVID-19. He died on January 18, 2022, at age 78, from leukemia and COVID-19 complications at Kaiser Oakland Medical Center in Oakland, California.