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New Year's Eve, Skyliner Ballroom, Ft.Worth,TX 1962 |
Bruce Channel's Hey
Baby is one of the many
records proving that, during a period in which rock has sometimes
been characterized as near death, the form was continuing to evolve
in unexpected and delightful ways. An irresistible mid-tempo shuffle
from the first few bars of homespun harmonica (played by Delbert
McClinton), it was a seemingly effortless blend of rock, blues,
country, and Cajun beats, featuring Channel's lazy, drawling vocals
and an instantly catchy tune.
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In early 1962 the song
caught on, and began to shoot
up the record charts. It reached the number one position and stayed
there for three weeks. Bruce Channel became a popular act. He began
to tour, and his popularity caught on in England. It was while on
one of these tours with a then little known group called The
Beatles that Delbert McClinton ran into John Lennon. The
two discussed playing the harmonica, which was a very curious
musical instrument to Lennon. The Beatle procured a harmonica of his
own and began to use it in his own group's recordings, on such
records as Please, Please Me and Love Me Do.
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UK Tour 1962
(L to R: Pete Best, John Lennon, Delbert
McClinton, Bruce, Paul McCartney and George Harrison)
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In 1978, Bruce moved to
Nashvillle and began writing
songs for Nashville recording artists. Since then his successes as a
writer include number one records for T. G. Shepherd,
Janie Frickie, John Conlee, Anne Murray and Mel
McDaniel. Bruce has also had cuts by Alabama, The Oak
Ridge Boys, Jerry lee Lewis, Tom Jones and
Kieran Kane. |
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