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Bobby Freeman RIP

Bobby Freeman RIP magazine cover

Just had the sad news highlighted by member @Rick Cooper that Bobby Freeman passed on 28th January 2017 in Anson, Texas, U.S.A. 

Robert Thomas "Bobby" Freeman (June 13, 1940 – January 2017)

Freeman was born in Alameda County and raised in San Francisco, California.He attended Mission High School.[4] He started singing in a doo-wop group, the Romancers, in his early teens, and first recorded with them for Dootone Records in 1956. Their recordings included "House Cat", included on several later rock and roll compilations. However, the group soon fell apart, and Freeman started a new group, the Vocaleers (not to be confused with an earlier group of the same name who recorded "Is It a Dream").

When asked by a local DJ if he had written any songs, he wrote several and recorded them as solo demos. These included "Do You Want to Dance", which were heard by a visiting record label executive, Mortimer Palitz of Jubilee Records. He signed Freeman to the label and had the original recording overdubbed in New York by session musicians including guitarist Billy Mure. Released on the Jubilee subsidiary label Josie, "Do You Want to Dance" quickly rose to number 5 on the pop chart and number 2 on the R&B chart in early 1958, when Freeman was still only 17 The song was covered later (as "Do You Wanna Dance") by Del Shannon, the Beach Boys, Johnny Rivers, Bette Midler, John Lennon, Cliff Richard, Marc Bolan & T.Rex, the Mamas & The Papas, Bobby Vee and the Ramones. 

Freeman appeared on American Bandstand and toured with such musicians as Fats Domino, the Coasters, and Jackie Wilson. Several of his follow-ups on Laurie, including "Betty Lou Got a New Pair of Shoes" and "Need Your Love", a ballad, also made the pop charts. He left Laurie in 1960 and signed with King Records, reaching the charts again with "Shimmy Shimmy".However, several of Freeman's later recordings for King in the early 1960s went unreleased, for unexplained reasons.

CDCHD-1232b_383_383.jpg

He did not return to the charts again until 1964, after signing for the Autumn label, when he had his second top ten hit with "C'mon and Swim". The song was co-written by label owner and radio DJ Tom Donahue (credited under his birth name, Thomas Coman), and 20-year-old Sylvester Stewart, later known as Sly Stone, and was produced by Stewart. Freeman's final hit was "S-W-I-M", later in 1964.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobby_Freeman

http://www.soulfulkindamusic.net/bfreeman.htm

Soul Walking has a good biography

http://www.soulwalking.co.uk/Bobby Freeman.html

photos via https://www.acerecords.co.uk/give-my-heart-a-break-the-complete-king-recordings

 



Edited by mike


Members Comments

Recommended Comments

Geoff

Posted

I remember Do You Want To Dance when I was a kid, really liked it at the time but you rarely heard it on the BBC Light Programme. Occasionally you'd hear his releases, usually on Saturday Club. But in 1964 his record of C'mon And Swim Parts 1 and 2 was a big record in Mod clubs and was, if my memory is correct, played on Ready Steady Go and featured Patrick Kerr and Theresa Confrey demonstrating the Swim. I still like that record, might get me up on the dance floor now. Some of his later records were popular on the Northern Scene and I remember Swing Me and Fever being played at the Capitol Soul Club.

Sad to read he's died but you can only hope his latter years were healthy and comfortable. I wonder if he knew that some of his records were still popular over here.

Guest johnny hart

Posted

What a Cool Soul Dude, Bobby I Salute you!  Good lookin,great Dancer , fabuloso singer , and you wrote the stuff! Hope you and yours benefitted from the dozen or so wimpish. ,covers of "Do You Wanna Dance ",from Harry Webb to the Ramones. My personal fave tune your ,stylish aquatic dance shimmy, cover of "The Duck"! Johnny , Malaga..

 

 

 

Tlscapital

Posted

Long time ago, in the days when I was still buying records I've never heard of before, I bought cheap that 45 on Loma by that dude. I loved instantly on first hearing both 'I've got a good thing' but I 'lies' remained my favorite side. To this day it still works the same for me. Drama soulfulness slice of life at it's best. Thanks Bobby and farewell.

 

Wilxy

Posted

R.I.P Sir.....

Goldsoul

Posted

Gobsmacked.  I remember interviewing him like it was yesterday. 

Sadly he couldn't make SoultripUSA in 2004 sending his manager instead. Quite a gal! 

The foot stomping by Sly Stone on I'll Never Fall In Love Again' and BF's masterful vocals were sumptuous. RIP my friend. 

Graham Hawkins

Posted

RIP Bobby, my memories go back to my early ventures out to clubs and hearing Bobby's records for the first time then buying S-W-I-M, C'mon and Swim, and I'll never fall in love again, after recommendations from my pal Pete 'Ellis' Twigger from Walsall who guided me through the new found soul jungle I encountered.

Pete sadly died young but left behind a wonderful collection of mainly British label trophy 45's, those who knew him will remember what a great collection it was.

So memories of Bobby's work and my old mate Pete, some happy and now sad again.

Graham Hawkins.

Winsford Soul

Posted

On 09/02/2017 at 21:22, tlscapital said:

Long time ago, in the days when I was still buying records I've never heard of before, I bought cheap that 45 on Loma by that dude. I loved instantly on first hearing both 'I've got a good thing' but I 'lies' remained my favorite side. To this day it still works the same for me. Drama soulfulness slice of life at it's best. Thanks Bobby and farewell.

 

What a great record. Don't know where I have been hiding not to know this. Price and availability anyone please. ? 

Steve

Tomangoes

Posted

Fall in love surely has to be in most 'dancers' top 10. Bobby RIP, you inspired a generation into getting out on the floor.

 

Ed

Chris Turnbull

Posted

Sad news - had a great voice. Reminded me of this clip, which doesn't really do him justice but interesting all the same:-

 

Chris Turnbull

Posted

Always liked this one as well, 'Shadow of your Love' - superb beat ballad on the flip of 'Soulful Sound of Music' 

 

Tlscapital

Posted

On the other side of "deeper" soul the show, Bobby showed his talent as he could be "versatile" in genres of music and not losing the soul touch...

 

Tomangoes

Posted

On 09/02/2017 at 21:22, tlscapital said:

Long time ago, in the days when I was still buying records I've never heard of before, I bought cheap that 45 on Loma by that dude. I loved instantly on first hearing both 'I've got a good thing' but I 'lies' remained my favorite side. To this day it still works the same for me. Drama soulfulness slice of life at it's best. Thanks Bobby and farewell.

 

New to me as is the flip!

 

Ed




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