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James Phelps was an American R&B and Soul singer born on April 2, 1932, in Shreveport, Louisiana. He grew up in the Deep South during the Jim Crow Era, facing a world filled with hate, abuse, and racism. This challenging upbringing instilled in him a strong desire to provide for his loved ones, much like his mother had done for him. In 1949, Phelps moved to Chicago, where he sang in the choir at The Greater Harvest Baptist Church alongside Lou Rawls before joining Rawls and The Holy Wonders. Later, Phelps founded a gospel group, writing and singing lead on two albums: "Baptized" in 1962 and "God’s Light" in 1963, released on the Tru Sound Record label. His single "Standing Where Jesus Is" reached number one on the Gospel Hit Parade. From 1964 to 1965, he left his group to join another ensemble, performing on The Jubilee Showcase TV Show and touring on the Sam Cooke Memorial Tour. In 1965, Phelps was signed to Chess Records, where he recorded the hit single "Love Is A Five Letter Word." He passed away on October 26, 2010, in Los Angeles, California.

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