Songs and names of Jimmy Mesene
(The song sheet covers reproduced here have been photo copied from worn originals and then scanned from those photo copies. All though far from perfect they give a good indication of what those originals looked like. The original artwork was crude by modern standards and some colours are slightly distorted.)


Known names used by Jimmy Mesene
Performing: Jimmy Mesene, Jimmy Messene, Jim Mesene, Jim Messene, Jimmy Messini
Songwriting: J Lester Smith, James Netson , Jimmy Mesene, and Jimmy Messini, J Mesene
Probable real name: The name that appears on his marriage certificate from 1943 is Demetre Mesene, otherwise Jimmy Mesene, his birth certificate says Dmitri Messinis. In all probability this is his real name.


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Song sheet cover


Song sheet cover


Song sheet cover


Song sheet cover


Song sheet cover

Songs written by Jimmy Mesene
Not only a stunning vocalist, Jimmy also wrote songs - some beautiful, some more comical. Below are the songs he is known to have written, if you know of others please let me know:

Adios, Little Girl From Sevilla, Blue Mediterranean
1927 (D.Messini)
Three songs written and published by Jimmy Mesene at the age of nineteen . Words and music by Jimmy Messini - we do not have a copy of any of these song sheets...

Petite Jeanette
1928 (D.Messini)
Written and published by Jimmy Mesene. Words and music by Jimmy Messini - we do not have a copy of this song sheet...

Carissima, A Love Song Of Old Valencia, Maria Consuelo, Must It End Like This
1931 (Publisher unknown)
Four songs written by Jimmy Mesene (...Valencia with Sid Bright) - we do not have a copies of any of these song sheets...

My Heart Sings A Broken Melody
1932 (Publisher unknown)
Words and music by Jimmy Messini - we do not have a copy of this song sheet...

Should You Ever Need a Pal
1932 (20th Century Songs)
Words and music by Jimmy Messini - a waltz, recorded in 1932 by Tanzoni & his Dance Orchestra (actually Harry Hudson & his Band) with vocal by Jenny Howard - we do not have a copy of this song sheet...

A Lonely Singing Fool
1934 (Irwin Dash Music Co)
Credited as Jimmy Messini (co-written with Raymond Wallace) - a foxtrot featured and broadcast by Henry Hall & the BBC Dance Orchestra...

The Greatest Mistake of My Life
1937 (Irwin Dash Music Co)
Credited as James Netson (one of Jimmy's names) and recorded by Jimmy in 1937 - featured by Carroll Levis and his 'Radio Discoveries... the sheet music has an additional chorus for piano accordian...

If I Live To Be A Hundred
1938 (Publisher unknown)
Words and music by Jimmy Messini - we do not have a copy of this song sheet...

The Sweetest Sweetheart of All
1938 (Irwin Dash Music Co)
Credited as Jimmy Messini (co-written with Harry Parr-Davies) recorded by Jimmy in 1938 - featured & broadcast by Herman & Constance at the Central Pier, Blackpool...

When Shall We Two Meet Again
1940 (Bradbury Wood)
Credited as J Lester Smith - one of Jimmy's other names (co-written with Stan Bradbury and Hamilton Kennedy) - featured and broadcast by Judy Shirley...

I'll Never Make The Same Mistake Again
1940 (Publisher unknown)
Credited as J Lester Smith - one of Jimmy's other names - we do not have a copy of this song sheet...

There's Another Little Smith
1941 (Publisher unknown)
Credited as J Lester Smith - one of Jimmy's other names - we do not have a copy of this song sheet...

We Both Told a Lie
1942 (The Sun Music Publishing Co)
Credited as Jimmy Mesene (co-written with Art Noel) - featured and broadcast by Vera Lynn...

It Costs So Little
1942 (Lawrence Wright)
Credited as J Lester Smith (co-written with Alf Ritter and Horatio Nicholls) - recorded by Jimmy with Billy Thorburn's Organ Dance band in 1942 - and also featured by "Hutch" (Leslie A. Hutchinson)...

When The Robin Sings his Song Again
1942 (20th Century Songs)
Credited as J Lester Smith (co-written with Art Noel) - we do not have a copy of this song sheet...

A Little Chappie Who's Always Happy
1942 (Publisher unknown)
Credited as J Lester Smith - one of Jimmy's other names (co-written with Alf Ritter and Horatio Nicholls - we do not have a copy of this song sheet...

The World Belongs To Me
1943 (Publisher unknown)
Credited as J Lester Smith - one of Jimmy's other names (co-written with Alf Ritter and Horatio Nicholls - we do not have a copy of this song sheet...

The Taxi Driver's Serenade
1943 (Publisher unknown)
Credited as J Lester Smith - one of Jimmy's other names - we do not have a copy of this song sheet...

Tell Me The Truth
1943 (Publisher unknown)
Credited as J Mesene (co-written with Art Noel) - we do not have a copy of this song sheet...

Nicky Papadopoulos Esquire
1944 (Keith Prowse & Co)
Credited as J Lester Smith - one of Jimmy's other names (co-written with Alf Ritter) - we do not have a copy of this song sheet...

Sincerity
1944 (Publisher unknown)
Credited as J Lester Smith - one of Jimmy's other names (co-written with Alf Ritter) - we do not have a copy of this song sheet...

Don Patrick Alphonso O'Toole
1947 (Publisher unknown)
Credited as J Lester Smith - one of Jimmy's other names (co-written with Desmond O'Connor) - we do not have a copy of this song sheet...

Bella Bella Mia
1950 (Publisher Al Hoffman)
This was co-written with Al Hoffman - we do not have a copy of this song sheet...





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Song sheet cover


Please have a look around the site and see whether you have any information that we might like to add:
Front page...
Biographical notes and recollections...
Book excerpts...
Memory Lane excerpts...
Discography - alphabetically...
Discography - chronologically...
What Jimmy means to me...
Gallery...
Contact us...

There is a suggestion that Jimmy wrote Nicky the Greek which was the 'flip side' of the last record made by Al Bowlly and Jimmy as a duet...

Jimmy Mesene does not appear on the covers of any of the published songs that he wrote, but he did get himself onto the covers of one written by Harry Saville, Art Noel and Jimmy Martin called All the way from Ireland and another by Art Noel called I try to say I love you. Pictures on the Gallery page...