The group were established in 1952 by Freddie Bell, with Jack Kane (saxophone), Frankie Brent (bass / guitar), Russ Conti (piano), Louis Joseph "Chick Keeney" Cicchini (drums), and Jerry Mayo (trumpet). They were one of the first white groups to play the R&Bhits of the day, and honed their act in the Midwest before landing a booking at the Sands Hotel in Las Vegas. They were later joined by Roberta Linn, who was married to Bell from 1961 to 1973.
The group was signed to Mercury in 1956, and were also spotted by film producerSam Katzman. He offered them a part in Rock Around the Clock, the first rock and roll movie, starring Bill Haley.[1] The first single for their new label was shared with Jerry Wallace, who later hit with "How The Time Flies" on Challenge. This record, on the Mercury subsidiary Wing Records was "I Said It And I'm Glad" b/w Jerry Wallace, "Eyes Of Fire Lips Of Wine", which was released February 27, 1956. Their second single was released on the same date. The A-side "Ding Dong", was written by Bell and his friend Pep Lattanzi in 1953.[4] Later known as "Giddy Up a Ding Dong", it was not a hit in the United States, but it was popular in Australia, France, and the UK, where it climbed to number four in the UK Singles Chart.[5] The publicity for the single said, "If these sides don't move you, see a doctor – you're dead."[4] The group also appeared in the 1956 film, Rumble on the Docks.[6] In 1957, they became one of the first American rock and roll acts to tour the UK in 1956 when they supported Tommy Steele.[1] They toured Australia in 1957 as part of Lee Gordon's Big Show, sharing the bill with Bill Haley and the Comets, LaVern Baker and Big Joe Turner.
In 1964, they appeared in the film, Get Yourself a College Girl, with 1960s groups such as The Dave Clark Five and The Animals.[7] However, their international tours did little to enlarge the popularity of the group in America, where they had no hit records. They continued to do well for some years in Las Vegas.[1]
Freddie Bell died, aged 76, in 2008. The final surviving member, Jerry Mayo died, also aged 76, on June 10, 2011.[8]
Gary Olds (Drummer/singer) died 2008. He performed at Las Vegas and Los Angeles venues, and was Bell's musical director in the latter years of his life.
Frankie Brent (March 9, 1934 – August 26, 2002)[9]
Jerry Mayo (August 31, 1934 – June 10, 2011)
Russ Conti aka Russell Caltabiano (October 20, 1933 – May 4, 1992)
Bobby Ruggiero Drummer w/Freddie Bell 1983-1985 Freddie's favorite Drummer. Still Living playing w/Van Morrison.
^. Elvis.org. Archived from the original on 15 January 2007. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
^"RAB Hall of Fame: Bill Black". Rockabillyhall.com. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
^ ab"Freddie Bell: 'Giddy-Up-A Ding Dong' singer". The Independent. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
^Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 52. ISBN1-904994-10-5.
^"Rumble on the Docks (1956)". IMDb.com. 1 December 1956. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
^"The Swinging Set (1964) Full Cast & Crew". IMDb.com. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
^"The Dead Rock Stars Club - 2011 January to June". Thedeadrockstarsclub.com. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
^"FRANKIE BRENT". Rockabillyhall.com. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
External linksedit
Black Cat Rockabilly
Allmusic
April 17, 2024
freddie, bell, bellboys, were, american, vocal, group, influential, development, rock, roll, 1950s, their, recordings, include, hound, hucklebuck, giddy, ding, dong, contents, career, band, members, references, external, linkscareer, editthe, group, were, esta. Freddie Bell and the Bellboys were an American vocal group 1 influential in the development of rock and roll in the 1950s Their recordings include Hound Dog The Hucklebuck and Giddy Up a Ding Dong 1 Contents 1 Career 2 Band members 3 References 4 External linksCareer editThe group were established in 1952 by Freddie Bell with Jack Kane saxophone Frankie Brent bass guitar Russ Conti piano Louis Joseph Chick Keeney Cicchini drums and Jerry Mayo trumpet They were one of the first white groups to play the R amp B hits of the day and honed their act in the Midwest before landing a booking at the Sands Hotel in Las Vegas They were later joined by Roberta Linn who was married to Bell from 1961 to 1973 In 1955 they made their first recordings for the Teen Records label including an adaption of Leiber and Stoller s Hound Dog first recorded by Big Mama Thornton 1 When performing the song in Las Vegas they were seen by Elvis Presley who was impressed and decided to record the song himself 2 3 The group was signed to Mercury in 1956 and were also spotted by film producer Sam Katzman He offered them a part in Rock Around the Clock the first rock and roll movie starring Bill Haley 1 The first single for their new label was shared with Jerry Wallace who later hit with How The Time Flies on Challenge This record on the Mercury subsidiary Wing Records was I Said It And I m Glad b w Jerry Wallace Eyes Of Fire Lips Of Wine which was released February 27 1956 Their second single was released on the same date The A side Ding Dong was written by Bell and his friend Pep Lattanzi in 1953 4 Later known as Giddy Up a Ding Dong it was not a hit in the United States but it was popular in Australia France and the UK where it climbed to number four in the UK Singles Chart 5 The publicity for the single said If these sides don t move you see a doctor you re dead 4 The group also appeared in the 1956 film Rumble on the Docks 6 In 1957 they became one of the first American rock and roll acts to tour the UK in 1956 when they supported Tommy Steele 1 They toured Australia in 1957 as part of Lee Gordon s Big Show sharing the bill with Bill Haley and the Comets LaVern Baker and Big Joe Turner In 1964 they appeared in the film Get Yourself a College Girl with 1960s groups such as The Dave Clark Five and The Animals 7 However their international tours did little to enlarge the popularity of the group in America where they had no hit records They continued to do well for some years in Las Vegas 1 Freddie Bell died aged 76 in 2008 The final surviving member Jerry Mayo died also aged 76 on June 10 2011 8 Band members editFreddie Bell September 29 1931 1 February 10 2008 Gary Olds Drummer singer died 2008 He performed at Las Vegas and Los Angeles venues and was Bell s musical director in the latter years of his life Frankie Brent March 9 1934 August 26 2002 9 Jerry Mayo August 31 1934 June 10 2011 Russ Conti aka Russell Caltabiano October 20 1933 May 4 1992 Bobby Ruggiero Drummer w Freddie Bell 1983 1985 Freddie s favorite Drummer Still Living playing w Van Morrison References edit a b c d e f g Colin Larkin ed 2002 The Virgin Encyclopedia of Fifties Music Third ed Virgin Books p 38 ISBN 1 85227 937 0 Elvis live 1956 Elvis org Archived from the original on 15 January 2007 Retrieved 21 December 2014 RAB Hall of Fame Bill Black Rockabillyhall com Retrieved 21 December 2014 a b Freddie Bell Giddy Up A Ding Dong singer The Independent Retrieved 21 December 2014 Roberts David 2006 British Hit Singles amp Albums 19th ed London Guinness World Records Limited p 52 ISBN 1 904994 10 5 Rumble on the Docks 1956 IMDb com 1 December 1956 Retrieved 21 December 2014 The Swinging Set 1964 Full Cast amp Crew IMDb com Retrieved 21 December 2014 The Dead Rock Stars Club 2011 January to June Thedeadrockstarsclub com Retrieved 21 December 2014 FRANKIE BRENT Rockabillyhall com Retrieved 21 December 2014 External links editBlack Cat Rockabilly Allmusic Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Freddie Bell and the Bellboys amp oldid 1146627725, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
