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{{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Musicians -->
{{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Musicians -->
| name = Bob & Earl
| name = Bob & Earl
| image =
| image =
| caption =
| caption =
| image_size =
| image_size =
| background = group_or_band
| background = group_or_band
| alias =
| alias =
| origin = Los Angeles, California, United States
| origin = Los Angeles, California, United States
| genre = [[Soul music]]
| genre = [[Soul music]]
| years_active = 1960–1970s
| years_active = 1957–1970s
| label = Class<br>Marc<br>[[Warner Bros. Records]]<br>[[Uni Records]]
| label = Class<br>Marc<br>[[Warner Bros. Records]]<br>[[Uni Records]]
| associated_acts = [[The Hollywood Flames]]<br>[[Bobby Day]]<br>[[Barry White]]
| associated_acts = [[The Hollywood Flames]]<br>[[Bobby Day]]<br>[[Barry White]]
| website =
| website =
| current_members =
| current_members =
| past_members = Earl Nelson<br>Bobby Byrd (aka [[Bobby Day]])<br>Bobby Relf (aka Bobby Garrett and Bobby Valentino)
| past_members = [[Earl Nelson (singer)|Earl Nelson]]<br>Bobby Byrd (aka [[Bobby Day]])<br>Bobby Relf (aka Bobby Garrett and Bobby Valentino)
}}
}}


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==Career==
==Career==
The original duo were [[Bobby Day|Bobby Byrd]] and Earl Nelson (born Earl Lee Nelson, September 8, 1928, [[Lake Charles, Louisiana|Lake Charles]], Louisiana – July 12, 2008, Los Angeles) They had both been members of [[The Hollywood Flames]], a prolific [[doo-wop]] group in Los Angeles, California whose major [[chart-topper|hit]] was "[[Buzz-Buzz-Buzz]]" in 1958, on which Nelson sang lead.<ref name="Larkin"/>
The original duo were [[Bobby Day|Bobby Byrd]] (July 1, 1930 – July 27, 1990) and [[Earl Nelson (singer)|Earl Nelson]] (September 8, 1928 – July 12, 2008). They had both been members of [[The Hollywood Flames]], a prolific [[doo-wop]] group in Los Angeles, California whose major [[chart-topper|hit]] was "[[Buzz-Buzz-Buzz]]" in 1958, on which Nelson sang lead.<ref name="Larkin"/>


By 1957, Byrd had started a parallel solo career, writing and recording for contractual reasons as [[Bobby Day]].<ref name="Larkin"/> He wrote and recorded the original version of "[[Little Bitty Pretty One]]", and had a hit of his own with "[[Rockin' Robin (song)|Rockin' Robin]]" (1958).<ref name="Larkin"/> In 1960, Day/Byrd and Nelson began recording together as Bob & Earl, on the Class record label. However, these releases had relatively little success, and Day/Byrd restarted his solo career.
By 1957, Byrd had started a parallel solo career, writing and recording for contractual reasons as [[Bobby Day]].<ref name="Larkin"/> He wrote and recorded the original version of "[[Little Bitty Pretty One]]", and had a hit of his own with "[[Rockin' Robin (song)|Rockin' Robin]]" (1958).<ref name="Larkin"/> In 1957, Day/Byrd and Nelson began recording together as Bob & Earl, on the Class record label. However, these releases had relatively little success, and Day/Byrd restarted his solo career.


In 1962, Nelson then recruited a second "Bob", [[Bob Relf|Bobby Relf]] (January 10, 1937 – November 20, 2007), who also used the stage names of Bobby Garrett and Bobby Valentino. Relf had already led several Los Angeles based acts in his career, including the Laurels, the Upfronts, and Valentino and the Lovers. The latter two groups also featured the then pianist and [[bass (vocal range)|bass]] singer, [[Barry White]].
In 1962, Nelson then recruited a second "Bob", [[Bob Relf|Bobby Relf]] (January 10, 1937 – November 20, 2007), who also used the stage names of Bobby Garrett and Bobby Valentino. Relf had already led several Los Angeles based acts in his career, including the Laurels, the Upfronts, and Valentino and the Lovers. The latter two groups also featured the then pianist and [[bass (vocal range)|bass]] singer, [[Barry White]].


This duo of Relf and Nelson recorded several [[single (music)|singles]] for different labels, before "Harlem Shuffle" in 1963.<ref name="Larkin"/> The song was written by Relf and Nelson, [[arrangement|arranged]] by [[Gene Page]],<ref name=katz>White, Barry. [http://thekatztapes.com/barry-white/ "Telephone interview with Larry Katz."] June 1 or 2, 1995. ''The Katz Tapes''. Retrieved June 4, 2015.</ref><ref name=val>Nelson, Valerie J. [http://articles.latimes.com/2008/jul/25/local/me-nelson25 "'Harlem Shuffle' co-writer was part of the soul duo Bob & Earl."] ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'', July 25, 2008. Retrieved January 16, 2016.</ref> and produced by [[Fred Sledge Smith|Fred Smith]]. It was based on a number called "Slauson Shuffletime" (named after a boulevard in Los Angeles) by another Los Angeles singer, Round Robin.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article3047219.ece |title=The Times & The Sunday Times |website=The Times |date=August 27, 1979 |accessdate=June 15, 2017}}</ref> When released on the Marc label, "Harlem Shuffle" became a modest hit on the US ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|R&B]] [[record chart|chart]]. owever, its main success came as late as 1969, when it was re-released in the UK and became a [[Top 40|Top Ten]] hit there.<ref name="Larkin"/> Reportedly,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rockabillyeurope.com/references/messages/earl_nelson.htm |title=Earl Nelson |website=Rockabillyeurope.com |accessdate=June 15, 2017}}</ref> [[George Harrison]] called it his favorite record of all time.
This duo of Relf and Nelson recorded several [[single (music)|singles]] for different labels, before "Harlem Shuffle" in 1963.<ref name="Larkin"/> The song was written by Relf and Nelson, [[arrangement|arranged]] by [[Gene Page]],<ref name=katz>White, Barry. [http://thekatztapes.com/barry-white/ "Telephone interview with Larry Katz."] June 1 or 2, 1995. ''The Katz Tapes''. Retrieved June 4, 2015.</ref><ref name=val>Nelson, Valerie J. [http://articles.latimes.com/2008/jul/25/local/me-nelson25 "'Harlem Shuffle' co-writer was part of the soul duo Bob & Earl."] ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'', July 25, 2008. Retrieved January 16, 2016.</ref> and produced by [[Fred Sledge Smith|Fred Smith]]. It was based on a number called "Slauson Shuffletime" (named after a boulevard in Los Angeles) by another Los Angeles singer, Round Robin.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article3047219.ece |title=The Times & The Sunday Times |website=The Times |date=August 27, 1979 |accessdate=June 15, 2017}}</ref> When released on the Marc label, "Harlem Shuffle" became a modest hit on the US ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|R&B]] [[record chart|chart]]. However, its main success came as late as 1969, when it was re-released in the UK and became a [[Top 40|Top Ten]] hit there.<ref name="Larkin"/> Reportedly,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rockabillyeurope.com/references/messages/earl_nelson.htm |title=Earl Nelson |website=Rockabillyeurope.com |accessdate=June 15, 2017}}</ref> [[George Harrison]] called it his favorite record of all time.


By that time, Nelson had achieved further success as a solo artist under the alias of Jackie Lee, with "[[The Duck (song)|The Duck]]", a hit dance [[gramophone record|record]] released in 1965, which reached No. 14 in the U.S. (Jackie was Nelson's wife's name and Lee his own middle name).<ref name="Larkin"/> When "Harlem Shuffle" became successful on reissue, Nelson and Relf reunited as Bob & Earl to tour.<ref name="Larkin"/> The duo split up for the last time in the early 1970s. Relf composed the song "Bring Back My Yesterday", recorded by Barry White on his first [[20th Century Records]] album, ''[[I've Got So Much to Give (album)|I've Got So Much To Give]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/ive-got-so-much-to-give-mw0000115402|title=I've Got So Much to Give – Barry White &#124; Songs, Reviews, Credits|publisher=[[AllMusic]]|accessdate=October 17, 2019}}</ref>
In 1964, the duo signed to Loma Records.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=|first=|date=November 7, 1964|title=Signings|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SSAEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA10&dq=loma+march+1964+billboard&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjVk631m7znAhWXj3IEHYnrCxkQ6AEwAnoECAQQAg#v=onepage&q=loma%20march%201964%20billboard&f=false|journal=Billboard|volume=|pages=10|via=}}</ref> They recorded for the label but nor singles were released. By 1965, Nelson had achieved further success as a solo artist under the alias of Jackie Lee, with "[[The Duck (song)|The Duck]]", a hit dance [[gramophone record|record]] which reached No. 14 in the U.S.<ref name="Larkin"/> When "Harlem Shuffle" became successful on reissue, Nelson and Relf reunited as Bob & Earl to tour.<ref name="Larkin"/> The duo split up for the last time in the early 1970s. Relf composed the song "Bring Back My Yesterday", recorded by Barry White on his first [[20th Century Records]] album, ''[[I've Got So Much to Give (album)|I've Got So Much To Give]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/ive-got-so-much-to-give-mw0000115402|title=I've Got So Much to Give – Barry White &#124; Songs, Reviews, Credits|publisher=[[AllMusic]]|accessdate=October 17, 2019}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
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[[Category:American soul musical groups|Bob and Earl]]
[[Category:American soul musical groups|Bob and Earl]]
[[Category:Northern soul musicians|Bob and Earl]]
[[Category:Northern soul musicians|Bob and Earl]]
[[Category:Warner Records artists]]
[[Category:Loma Records artists]]
[[Category:Uni Records artists]]
[[Category:Uni Records artists]]
[[Category:Jay Boy artists]]
[[Category:Jay Boy artists]]
[[Category:Musical groups established in 1960]]
[[Category:Musical groups established in 1957]]

Revision as of 11:58, 6 February 2020

Bob & Earl
OriginLos Angeles, California, United States
GenresSoul music
Years active1957–1970s
LabelsClass
Marc
Warner Bros. Records
Uni Records
Past membersEarl Nelson
Bobby Byrd (aka Bobby Day)
Bobby Relf (aka Bobby Garrett and Bobby Valentino)

Bob & Earl were an American soul music singing duo in the 1960s, best known for writing and recording the original version of "Harlem Shuffle".[1]

Career

The original duo were Bobby Byrd (July 1, 1930 – July 27, 1990) and Earl Nelson (September 8, 1928 – July 12, 2008). They had both been members of The Hollywood Flames, a prolific doo-wop group in Los Angeles, California whose major hit was "Buzz-Buzz-Buzz" in 1958, on which Nelson sang lead.[1]

By 1957, Byrd had started a parallel solo career, writing and recording for contractual reasons as Bobby Day.[1] He wrote and recorded the original version of "Little Bitty Pretty One", and had a hit of his own with "Rockin' Robin" (1958).[1] In 1957, Day/Byrd and Nelson began recording together as Bob & Earl, on the Class record label. However, these releases had relatively little success, and Day/Byrd restarted his solo career.

In 1962, Nelson then recruited a second "Bob", Bobby Relf (January 10, 1937 – November 20, 2007), who also used the stage names of Bobby Garrett and Bobby Valentino. Relf had already led several Los Angeles based acts in his career, including the Laurels, the Upfronts, and Valentino and the Lovers. The latter two groups also featured the then pianist and bass singer, Barry White.

This duo of Relf and Nelson recorded several singles for different labels, before "Harlem Shuffle" in 1963.[1] The song was written by Relf and Nelson, arranged by Gene Page,[2][3] and produced by Fred Smith. It was based on a number called "Slauson Shuffletime" (named after a boulevard in Los Angeles) by another Los Angeles singer, Round Robin.[4] When released on the Marc label, "Harlem Shuffle" became a modest hit on the US Billboard R&B chart. However, its main success came as late as 1969, when it was re-released in the UK and became a Top Ten hit there.[1] Reportedly,[5] George Harrison called it his favorite record of all time.

In 1964, the duo signed to Loma Records.[6] They recorded for the label but nor singles were released. By 1965, Nelson had achieved further success as a solo artist under the alias of Jackie Lee, with "The Duck", a hit dance record which reached No. 14 in the U.S.[1] When "Harlem Shuffle" became successful on reissue, Nelson and Relf reunited as Bob & Earl to tour.[1] The duo split up for the last time in the early 1970s. Relf composed the song "Bring Back My Yesterday", recorded by Barry White on his first 20th Century Records album, I've Got So Much To Give.[7]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Colin Larkin, ed. (1997). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music (Concise ed.). Virgin Books. p. 158. ISBN 1-85227-745-9.
  2. ^ White, Barry. "Telephone interview with Larry Katz." June 1 or 2, 1995. The Katz Tapes. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  3. ^ Nelson, Valerie J. "'Harlem Shuffle' co-writer was part of the soul duo Bob & Earl." Los Angeles Times, July 25, 2008. Retrieved January 16, 2016.
  4. ^ "The Times & The Sunday Times". The Times. August 27, 1979. Retrieved June 15, 2017.
  5. ^ "Earl Nelson". Rockabillyeurope.com. Retrieved June 15, 2017.
  6. ^ "Signings". Billboard: 10. November 7, 1964.
  7. ^ "I've Got So Much to Give – Barry White | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved October 17, 2019.

External links

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