Earl Lee Nelson (September 8, 1928 – July 12, 2008), who also performed as Jackie Lee, was an American soul singer and songwriter. He started his career in the doo-wop group the Hollywood Flames in the 1950s before founding the R&B duo Bob & Earl with Bobby Byrd. As Jackie Lee, he's best known for his hit song "The Duck" (#14 Pop, #4 R&B).
Earl Nelson
Birth name
Earl Lee Nelson
Also known as
Jackie Lee
Chip Nelson
Earl Cosby
Jay Dee
Born
(1928-09-08)September 8, 1928 Lake Charles, Louisiana, U.S.
Died
July 12, 2008(2008-07-12) (aged 79) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Earl Lee Nelson was born in Lake Charles, Louisiana on September 8, 1928. He sang in his church's gospel choir in his youth before his family relocated to Los Angeles in 1937. Nelson enlisted in the U.S. Army at the age of 17, working on the construction of the Panama Canal.[1]
In the 1950s he began singing doo-wop and joined the Hollywood Flames. He sang lead on the 1957 single "Buzz Buzz Buzz" which reached #11 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #5 on the R&B chart.[2] Nelson and Bobby Byrd, not Bobby Byrd of the Famous Flames, collaborated as Bobby "Baby Face" Byrd & the Birds as well as Bobby Day & the Satellites. In 1957, Nelson released his first solo single, "Oh Gee Oh Golly" / "I Bow To You," on Class Records. That year, Nelson and Byrd released their first single as Bob & Earl, "You Made a Boo-Boo," on Class. In 1958, Nelson sang background vocals on Day's single "Rockin' Robin" (#2 Pop, #1 R&B).[3] Afterwards, they left the Hollywood Flames, but after a few years, Byrd left Bob & Earl to focus on his solo career.
Bob Relf from the Laurels replaced Byrd, and the new Bob & Earl recorded for different labels before releasing "Harlem Shuffle" on Marc Records in 1963. The single reached the Top 50 in the US and years later the Top 10 in the UK. Their follow up singles weren't as successful. In 1965, Nelson relaunched a solo career on Mira Records with the single "Ooh Honey Baby," credited to Earl Cosby. Later that year, Nelson signed to Mirwood Records recorded as Jackie Lee. Jackie was Nelson's wife's name and Lee his own middle name. He released his biggest single "The Duck" in November 1965 and by January it peaked at #14 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #4 on the R&B chart.[4] In 1966, he released his only album, The Duck, which reached #85 on the Billboard's Top Lp's chart and #8 on the R&B chart.[5][6] Though Nelson didn't have further chart success, his later singles on Mirwood are popular in Northern soul circles.[1] Nelson later recorded for ABC-Paramount and Uni Records. Barry White produced his 1974 Warner Bros. single "Strange Funky Games and Things" (credited to Jay Dee).
Nelson continued to perform around Los Angeles, but he was later diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.[1] Nelson died at the age of 79 in Los Angeles on July 12, 2008. At the time of his death, Nelson had been married three times and he had seven surviving children (two deceased).[3]
Discographyedit
Albumsedit
1966: The Duck (Mirwood Records) – peaked at #85 Pop, #8 R&B[5]
Singlesedit
Earl Nelson and The Pelicans
1957: "Oh Gee Oh Golly" / "I Bow To You" (Class 209)
Earl Nelson
1959: "No Time To Cry" / "Come On" (Ebb 164)
Chip Nelson
1960: "Honey For Sale" / "Quiet As It's Kept" (Edsel 783)
Earl Cosby
1965: "Ooh Honey Baby" / "I'll Be There" (Mira 204)
earl, nelson, singer, earl, nelson, september, 1928, july, 2008, also, performed, jackie, american, soul, singer, songwriter, started, career, group, hollywood, flames, 1950s, before, founding, earl, with, bobby, byrd, jackie, best, known, song, duck, earl, ne. Earl Lee Nelson September 8 1928 July 12 2008 who also performed as Jackie Lee was an American soul singer and songwriter He started his career in the doo wop group the Hollywood Flames in the 1950s before founding the R amp B duo Bob amp Earl with Bobby Byrd As Jackie Lee he s best known for his hit song The Duck 14 Pop 4 R amp B Earl NelsonBirth nameEarl Lee NelsonAlso known asJackie Lee Chip Nelson Earl Cosby Jay DeeBorn 1928 09 08 September 8 1928Lake Charles Louisiana U S DiedJuly 12 2008 2008 07 12 aged 79 Los Angeles California U S GenresR amp B soulLabelsClass Ebb Mira Mirwood Keymen ABC Uni Capitol Warner Bros Contents 1 Biography 2 Discography 2 1 Albums 2 2 Singles 3 References 4 External linksBiography editEarl Lee Nelson was born in Lake Charles Louisiana on September 8 1928 He sang in his church s gospel choir in his youth before his family relocated to Los Angeles in 1937 Nelson enlisted in the U S Army at the age of 17 working on the construction of the Panama Canal 1 In the 1950s he began singing doo wop and joined the Hollywood Flames He sang lead on the 1957 single Buzz Buzz Buzz which reached 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 and 5 on the R amp B chart 2 Nelson and Bobby Byrd not Bobby Byrd of the Famous Flames collaborated as Bobby Baby Face Byrd amp the Birds as well as Bobby Day amp the Satellites In 1957 Nelson released his first solo single Oh Gee Oh Golly I Bow To You on Class Records That year Nelson and Byrd released their first single as Bob amp Earl You Made a Boo Boo on Class In 1958 Nelson sang background vocals on Day s single Rockin Robin 2 Pop 1 R amp B 3 Afterwards they left the Hollywood Flames but after a few years Byrd left Bob amp Earl to focus on his solo career Bob Relf from the Laurels replaced Byrd and the new Bob amp Earl recorded for different labels before releasing Harlem Shuffle on Marc Records in 1963 The single reached the Top 50 in the US and years later the Top 10 in the UK Their follow up singles weren t as successful In 1965 Nelson relaunched a solo career on Mira Records with the single Ooh Honey Baby credited to Earl Cosby Later that year Nelson signed to Mirwood Records recorded as Jackie Lee Jackie was Nelson s wife s name and Lee his own middle name He released his biggest single The Duck in November 1965 and by January it peaked at 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 and 4 on the R amp B chart 4 In 1966 he released his only album The Duck which reached 85 on the Billboard s Top Lp s chart and 8 on the R amp B chart 5 6 Though Nelson didn t have further chart success his later singles on Mirwood are popular in Northern soul circles 1 Nelson later recorded for ABC Paramount and Uni Records Barry White produced his 1974 Warner Bros single Strange Funky Games and Things credited to Jay Dee Nelson continued to perform around Los Angeles but he was later diagnosed with Alzheimer s disease 1 Nelson died at the age of 79 in Los Angeles on July 12 2008 At the time of his death Nelson had been married three times and he had seven surviving children two deceased 3 Discography editAlbums edit 1966 The Duck Mirwood Records peaked at 85 Pop 8 R amp B 5 Singles edit Earl Nelson and The Pelicans 1957 Oh Gee Oh Golly I Bow To You Class 209 Earl Nelson 1959 No Time To Cry Come On Ebb 164 Chip Nelson 1960 Honey For Sale Quiet As It s Kept Edsel 783 Earl Cosby 1965 Ooh Honey Baby I ll Be There Mira 204 1966 Land Of A 1 000 Dances Ooh Honey Baby Mirwood 5515 Jackie Lee 1965 The Duck Let Your Conscience Be Your Guide Mirwood 5502 peaked at 14 Pop 4 R amp B 7 1966 Your P E R S O N A L I T Y Try My Method Mirwood 5509 1966 The Shotgun And The Duck Do The Temptation Walk Mirwood 5510 1966 Would You Believe You re Everything Mirwood 5519 1966 Oh My Darlin Don t Be Ashamed Mirwood 5527 1967 Glory Of Love Bring It Home Keymen 109 1968 African Boo Ga Loo Bring It Home Keymen 114 peaked at 43 R amp B 4 1968 Darkest Days One For The Road ABC 11146 1970 The Chicken I Love You Uni 55206 peaked at 47 R amp B 4 1970 Your Sweetness Is My Weakness You Were Searching For A Love Uni 55259 1971 Pershing Square Twenty Five Miles To Louisiana Capitol 3145 Jackie Lee and Delores Hall 1966 Whether It s Right Or Wrong Baby I m Satisfied Mirwood 5528 Jay Dee 1974 Strange Funky Games And Things Strange Funky Games And Things Instrumental Warner Bros 7798 peaked at 88 R amp B 4 References edit a b c Earl Nelson Biography amp History AllMusic Buzz Buzz Buzz song by The Hollywood Flames Music VF US amp UK hits charts a b Perrone Pierre July 30 2008 Earl Nelson Half of Bob amp Earl The Independent a b c d Jackie Lee American singer Songs Top Songs Chart Singles Discography Music VF US amp UK hits charts a b Top LP s PDF Billboard March 12 1966 Top Selling R amp B LP s PDF Billboard March 5 1966 p 50 Jackie Lee Chart History Billboard External links editEarl Nelson on AllMusic Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Earl Nelson singer amp oldid 1145387030, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
