Jimmy Soul - If You Wanna Be Happy “If You Wanna Be Happy” is a 1963 song recorded by Jimmy Soul, written by Rafael de Leon and adapted by Joseph Royster, Carmella Guida and Frank Guida. “If You Wanna Be Happy” is based on the song “Ugly Woman” by the Trinidadian calypsonian Roaring Lion (writing credited to his real name, Rafael de Leon), recorded in 1934. It hit #1 on the Hot 100 on May 18, 1963, as well as on the R&B singles chart.[1] It was issued on Frank Guida’s S.P.Q.R. label[2] and distr