Len Boone

Len Boone (a.k.a. Leonard Boone C Coleman II) is an American singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He was a singer/songwriter for Chrysalis Records and Love-Zager Productions and many of his songs charted on Billboard.^[1] While still an intern at Chrysalis, he wrote the international hit single “You Made Me Believe in Magic” (Arista Records) for the album It’s a Game by the Scottish Pop band, the Bay City Rollers.^[2] In 1977, the song reached number 10 on the US Hot 100 in Billboard magazine and number 7 on the Cash Box Top 100 charts.^[3][4] In Canada, “You Made Me Believe in Magic” peaked at number 5, and still ranks as their 68th greatest hit of 1977.^[5] The song also charted in Germany, the UK, Australia, and New Zealand.^[6] "You Made Me Believe in Magic" also won Boone a plaque from ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers).^[2]

Early years

Boone grew up in Fieldsboro, New Jersey and attended Bordentown Regional High School.^[7] He was a standout athlete for both his track and football teams and received several mentions in the local newspapers.^{[8][9][10][11]} While in high school, Boone started taking drum lessons and joined a musical group called Inturnal Revenue. He continued to perform and compose music with this band through his sophomore year in college. Inturnal Revenue found local success and recorded an original song called, “Love Theme For” which received air time from Len Murray, a disc jockey at WTTM radio in New Jersey.^[2] Later in college, he headed the band, Piecemeal, a four-piece musical group for which he composed and played piano and drums.^[12]

Boone attended Rutgers University and majored in political science and history. He played cornerback and defensive halfback for the Rutgers football team, the Scarlet Knights and local newspapers regularly reported his success. .^{[13][14][15][16][17]} In 1972 he won The George T. Cronin Trophy^[18] for most improved player. As a student he was passionate about the needs of inner city kids and pushed for Rutgers to participate in the Urban Classic Benefit game to raise money for underprivileged youth.^[12]

After college, Boone worked as a substitute teacher at Franklin High School in New Jersey and had offers to teach history. He played rugby with an alumni squad from Rutgers called "The Old Boys" and coached the newly-established Rutgers women's rugby team.^[19] However, his goal was to work in the music business.

Music career

In 1975, his musical talents caught the attention of Wes Ferrell and he was hired as an intern songwriter for the Wes Ferrell organization. One year later, he signed a contract with Chrysalis Music Inc. headed by Marv Goodman. Boone was an intern when he wrote the international hit, “You Made Me Believe in Magic” (Arista Records #AS0256) recorded by the Bay City Rollers.^[2] During this same period, he also wrote Maxine Nightingale’s song “You Got To Me” (United Artists #36460)^[20]

In 1977, Boone's success turned into an exclusive recording contract with Chrysalis Records.^[2] The same year, he wrote “You’re the One” for Rory Block which peaked at #77 on the US Billboard dance charts. (Chrysalis #2356)^[21]

In 1978 Boone's song “Love Won’t Be Denied” (Chrysalis #CDS-2229) spent 10 weeks on the Billboard Dance Club Song charts and peaked at number 20 on September 9, 1978.^[22]

In 1980, after four years with Chrysalis, Boone joined Love-Zager Productions as a staff writer. He teamed with songwriter Larry LaFalce for several songs.^[1] In 1980 they wrote “Baby, This Time” for Dee Edwards for her album Two Hearts Are Better Than One (Cotillion #SD5223) and in 1981 they wrote Amii Stewart’s song, “Why’d Ya Have To Be So Sexy” (Handshake Records and Tapes #4W9-02438)^[23]

In 1982, Boone, LaFalce, and Michael Zager wrote “Lay Back in the Groove” for the album Show and Tell by the band Elusion Featuring Limon Wilson (Cotillion #5235). The same year, Boone and LaFalce wrote the song “Everything and More” for the Italian/U.S. ensemble Change. The song was included on the album Sharing Your Love, which reached #66 on the US Billboard Album Chart and #14 on the U.S. Billboard Black Albums chart.^[24]

In 1983, Boone and LaFalce wrote the songs “This is Your Time” (RFC/Atlantic 89883) and “Magical Night” (Atlantic/RFC Records DMD 631) for the album This is Your Time by Change. The album made it to #161 on the US Billboard Albums chart and #34 on the US Billboard Black Albums chart.^[25][26] Their song “This is Your Time” reached #39 on the US dance charts and number #33 on the US R&B charts.^[27]

In 1995, "You Made Me Believe in Magic" was covered by Bed & Breakfast, a boy band from Hamburg, Germany (Maad Records 4509-99533-2).^[28]

In 2013, Boone released the EP Do Whatcha Feel (Fervor Records).^[29]

Boone owns Rock Your Socks Music, based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.^[1]

TV and movie placements

In 1979, Boone's song “There’s No Me Without You” was featured in the Thorn EMI film The Bitch starring Joan Collins.^[30]

Boone's song “You Made Me Believe in Magic” was played on season 2, episode 7 of October Road (ABC Studios).^[31]) His song “Do Whatcha Feel” is played in season 1, episode 6 of The Mayor (ABC); season 5, episode 20 of Haven (Syfy, Showcase); season 1, episode 5 of Red Oaks (Amazon Studios); season 1, episode 6 of Bojack Horseman (Netflix), and the independent film Love After Love (2017). His song “Another Lonely Night” is played in the independent films My Friend Dahmer (2017) and Humor Me (2017).^[32][33] His song, “I’ve Got to Have You” performed by Julian,^[34] is played in season 1, episode 4 of Insatiable (Netflix).

References

1. "Len Boone". Discogs. Retrieved 2018-08-27.
2. Ledesma, Ann (October 14, 1978). "Gridiron Star Now Tackles the Keyboards". The Central New Jersey Home News. p. 21.
3. "Bay City Rollers You Made Me Believe In Magic Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 2018-08-27.
4. . tropicalglen.com. Archived from the original on 2018-10-20. Retrieved 2018-08-27.
5. "Top 100 Singles of 1977 in Canada". Canadian Music Blog. 2015-10-09. Retrieved 2018-08-27.
6. "BAY CITY ROLLERS | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 2018-08-27.
7. "Rutgers Honors Defender Boone", Courier-Post, November 29, 1972. Accessed February 14, 2020. "Len Boone, Rutgers junior defensive halfback from Fieldsboro last night received the George C. Cronin Class of 1931 award as the Scarlet football team's 'most improved player' for the 1972 season. Boone, a 5-10, 175 pound Political Science major from Bordentown High School played little as a sophomore, but won a starting position early this season."
8. "Cherry East Posts First Track Win". Courier-Post. May 10, 1968. p. 3.
9. "Blome, Chapman Track Standouts". Courier-Post. May 15, 1968.
10. "Bordentown Trips Allentown". Asbury Park Press. November 1968.
11. "Booone Scores 2 for Bordentown". The Philadelphia Inquirer. October 27, 1968. p. 73.
12. "Boone Thrives on Competition". The Central New Jersey Home News. August 3, 1973. p. 24.
13. Schuman, Walt (November 14, 1973). "Tighe, Hall, Boone Sparkle in Rutgers' Winning Season". The Central New Jersey Home News. p. 59.
14. "Award Winners: Boone, Rinehimer, Tighe, Lipscomb". The Central New Jersey Home News. November 7, 1972. p. 14.
15. "Rutgers Football: Switched to Receiver, Oldt Battles To Start". The Central New Jersey Home News. August 11, 1973. p. 5.
16. "Sophomores Gain Prominence In Rutgers Football Picture". The Central New Jersey Home News. October 14, 1971. p. 34.
17. "For Scarlet: List of Injuries Reduced to Two". The Central New Jersey Home News. September 22, 1971. p. 17.
18. "Rutgers Football Award Winners". scarletknights.com. Retrieved 2018-08-27.
19. Carroll, Dan (April 6, 1980). "Hang On, It's Women's Rugby! They Play for Keeps on Rutgers Club". The Central New Jersey Home News. p. 20.
20. "Maxine Nightingale - You Got To Me". Discogs. 1978. Retrieved 2018-08-27.
21. "Rory Block YOU'rE THE ONE Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 2018-08-27.
22. "Len Boone LOVE WON't BE DENIED Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 2018-08-27.
23. "Amii Stewart - Why'd You Have To Be So Sexy". Discogs. 1981. Retrieved 2018-08-27.
24. "Change | Biography & History | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 2018-08-27.
25. "Change | Biography, Albums, Streaming Links | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 2018-08-27.
26. "Change This Is Your Time Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 2018-08-27.
27. "Change This Is Your Time Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 2018-08-27.
28. "Bed & Breakfast - You Made Me Believe In Magic". Discogs. 1995. Retrieved 2018-08-27.
29. "Len Boone - Do Whatcha Feel". Discogs. Retrieved 2018-08-27.
30. "Various - The Bitch (20 Smash Disco Hits Including The Original Soundtrack)". Discogs. Retrieved 2018-08-27.
31. "Music by Bay City Rollers". Tunefind. Retrieved 2018-08-27.
32. "Music by Len Boone". Tunefind. Retrieved 2018-08-27.
33. "Len Boone". IMDb. Retrieved 2018-08-27.
34. "Music by Julian". Tunefind. Retrieved 2018-08-27.