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{{short description|American songwriter}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2021}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2021}}
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{{Infobox musical artist
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = H. B. Barnum
| name = H. B. Barnum
| image =
| image = David Axelrod H B Barnum Billboard.png
| image_size =
| image_size =
| landscape = <!-- yes, if wide image, otherwise leave blank -->
| landscape = <!-- yes, if wide image, otherwise leave blank -->
| alt =
| alt =
| caption =
| caption = Barnum on the right with [[David Axelrod (musician)|David Axelrod]] {{circa}} 1970
| background = non_vocal_instrumentalist
| background = non_vocal_instrumentalist
| birth_name = Hidle Brown Barnum
| birth_name = Hidle Brown Barnum
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==Biography==
==Biography==
After winning a nationwide talent contest at the age of four and starring in the film ''Valley of the Sun Marches On'', Barnum continued his acting career on TV in the ''[[Amos 'n' Andy Show]]'', the [[Jack Benny]] Show, and others, making his first solo recording as Pee Wee Barnum in 1950.<ref name="amg">{{cite web |url={{Allmusic|class=artist|id=hb-barnum-mn0000551784 |tab=biography |pure_url=yes}} |title=H.B. Barnum Biography |first=Jason |last=Ankeny |publisher=[[All Media Network]] |work=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=March 21, 2015}}</ref><ref name="soulwalking">{{cite web |url=http://www.soulwalking.co.uk/H.B.Barnum.html |title=H.B. Barnum Profile |work=Soulwalking |access-date=March 21, 2015}}</ref>
After winning a nationwide talent contest at the age of four and starring in the film ''Valley of the Sun Marches On'', Barnum continued his acting career on TV in the ''[[Amos 'n' Andy Show]]'', the [[Jack Benny]] Show, and others, making his first solo recording as Pee Wee Barnum in 1950.<ref name="amg">{{cite web |url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=hb-barnum-mn0000551784 |tab=biography |pure_url=yes}} |title=H.B. Barnum Biography |first=Jason |last=Ankeny |publisher=[[All Media Network]] |work=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=March 21, 2015}}</ref><ref name="soulwalking">{{cite web |url=http://www.soulwalking.co.uk/H.B.Barnum.html |title=H.B. Barnum Profile |work=Soulwalking |access-date=March 21, 2015}}</ref>


He then joined [[doo-wop]] groups the Dootones and, in late 1955, when Carl Gardner and bass Bobby Nunn left [[the Robins]] to form [[the Coasters]] for [[Atlantic Records|Atlantic]], Barnum replaced Bobby Nunn as baritone and bass for the Robins, as well as playing piano for them. This version of the Robins recorded for the Whippet label, where Barnum soon became the [[Artists and repertoire|A&R]] man. In 1960, under the pseudonym "Dudley" he recorded the radio hit "El Pizza", a parody of [[Marty Robbins]]' "[[El Paso (song)|El Paso]]". In 1961 he had the only hit under his own name, the [[instrumental]] "Lost Love", and in the same year recorded the first version of "[[B. Bumble and the Stingers|Nut Rocker]]", credited to Jack B. Nimble and the Quicks. He also recorded three albums as a singer-pianist during the 1960s.<ref name="amg"/><ref name="soulwalking"/>
He then joined [[doo-wop]] groups the Dootones and, in late 1955, when Carl Gardner and bass Bobby Nunn left [[the Robins]] to form [[the Coasters]] for [[Atlantic Records|Atlantic]], Barnum replaced Bobby Nunn as baritone and bass for the Robins, as well as playing piano for them. This version of the Robins recorded for the Whippet label, where Barnum soon became the [[Artists and repertoire|A&R]] man. In 1960, under the pseudonym "Dudley" he recorded "El Pizza", a parody of [[Marty Robbins]]' "[[El Paso (song)|El Paso]]". He had the only hit under his own name, the [[instrumental]] "Lost Love" which reached number 35 in the United States on Billboard's top singles chart in early 1961.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Whitburn |first1=Joel |title=Top pop singles 1955-2002 |date=2003 |publisher=Record Research Inc. |isbn=0-89820-155-1 |pages=40}}</ref> In the same year he recorded the first version of "[[Nut Rocker]]", credited to Jack B. Nimble and the Quicks. He also recorded three albums as a singer-pianist during the 1960s.<ref name="amg"/><ref name="soulwalking"/>


Since that time he became most widely known as an arranger, for a very wide range of performers including [[Lou Rawls]], [[Count Basie]], [[O.C. Smith]], [[Frank Sinatra]], [[the Supremes]], [[Donna Loren]], [[Aretha Franklin]], [[Little Richard]], [[Gladys Knight]], [[Melinda Marx]], [[Al Wilson (singer)|Al Wilson]], the [[Pump Girls]],<ref name="amg"/><ref name="soulwalking"/> and the Little Tots. Barnum also produced, along with Johnnie Walls of JWP Productions which distributed the record, the 1985 hip-hop comedy song "[[Rappin' Duke]]".
Since that time he became most widely known as an arranger, for a very wide range of performers including [[Lou Rawls]], [[Count Basie]], [[O.C. Smith]], [[Frank Sinatra]], [[the Supremes]], [[Donna Loren]], [[Aretha Franklin]], [[Little Richard]], [[Gladys Knight]], [[Melinda Marx]], [[Al Wilson (singer)|Al Wilson]], the [[Pump Girls]],<ref name="amg"/><ref name="soulwalking"/> and the Little Tots. Barnum also produced, along with Johnnie Walls of JWP Productions which distributed the record, the 1985 hip-hop comedy song "[[Rappin' Duke]]".
He also produced "The Fish Song", a rare song by the New Creation, released on Salaam Records. In addition, he co-wrote "Your Love", a 1977 top 20 hit song by [[Marilyn McCoo]] and [[Billy Davis Jr]].
He also produced "The Fish Song", a rare song by the New Creation, released on Salaam Records. In addition, he co-wrote "Your Love", a 1977 top 20 hit song by [[Marilyn McCoo]] and [[Billy Davis Jr.]]

⚫
Barnum produced an album recorded by the Novells, a Los Angeles area band, titled, ''That Did It!'' in 1968. The album re-emerged as an import some 40 years later when it was released in the UK in July 2005 and again in December 2007 by [[Radioactive Records]].{{Citation needed|date=September 2009}}


Barnum appears in the 2023 documentary ''Little Richard: King and Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll'' which was broadcast on PBS.
⚫
Barnum had an album recorded by the Novells, a Los Angeles area band, titled, ''That Did It!'' in 1968. The album re-emerged as an import some 40 years later when it was released in the UK in July 2005 and again in December 2007 by [[Radioactive Records]].{{Citation needed|date=September 2009}}


Barnum is the older brother of backup singer Billie Barnum.
Barnum is the older brother of backup singer Billie Barnum.
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*{{IMDb name|0056138}}
*{{IMDb name|0056138}}
*[https://www.namm.org/library/oral-history/h-b-barnum H.B. Barnum Interview - NAMM Oral History Library (2016)]
*[https://www.namm.org/library/oral-history/h-b-barnum H.B. Barnum Interview - NAMM Oral History Library (2016)]
*[https://www.thehistorymakers.org/biography/h-b-barnum-41 H.B. Barnum - The Historymakers]
{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}


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[[Category:20th-century American male musicians]]
[[Category:20th-century American male musicians]]
[[Category:21st-century American male musicians]]
[[Category:21st-century American male musicians]]
[[Category:American male songwriters]]

Latest revision as of 14:02, 30 November 2023

H. B. Barnum
Barnum on the right with David Axelrod c. 1970
Background information
Birth nameHidle Brown Barnum
Born (1936-07-15) July 15, 1936 (age 88)
Houston, Texas, U.S.
Occupation(s)Musician, arranger, record producer
InstrumentPiano
Years active1950–present

Hidle Brown Barnum (born July 15, 1936) is an American pianist, arranger, record producer, songwriter, and former child actor.

Biography

[edit]

After winning a nationwide talent contest at the age of four and starring in the film Valley of the Sun Marches On, Barnum continued his acting career on TV in the Amos 'n' Andy Show, the Jack Benny Show, and others, making his first solo recording as Pee Wee Barnum in 1950.[1][2]

He then joined doo-wop groups the Dootones and, in late 1955, when Carl Gardner and bass Bobby Nunn left the Robins to form the Coasters for Atlantic, Barnum replaced Bobby Nunn as baritone and bass for the Robins, as well as playing piano for them. This version of the Robins recorded for the Whippet label, where Barnum soon became the A&R man. In 1960, under the pseudonym "Dudley" he recorded "El Pizza", a parody of Marty Robbins' "El Paso". He had the only hit under his own name, the instrumental "Lost Love" which reached number 35 in the United States on Billboard's top singles chart in early 1961.[3] In the same year he recorded the first version of "Nut Rocker", credited to Jack B. Nimble and the Quicks. He also recorded three albums as a singer-pianist during the 1960s.[1][2]

Since that time he became most widely known as an arranger, for a very wide range of performers including Lou Rawls, Count Basie, O.C. Smith, Frank Sinatra, the Supremes, Donna Loren, Aretha Franklin, Little Richard, Gladys Knight, Melinda Marx, Al Wilson, the Pump Girls,[1][2] and the Little Tots. Barnum also produced, along with Johnnie Walls of JWP Productions which distributed the record, the 1985 hip-hop comedy song "Rappin' Duke". He also produced "The Fish Song", a rare song by the New Creation, released on Salaam Records. In addition, he co-wrote "Your Love", a 1977 top 20 hit song by Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr.

Barnum produced an album recorded by the Novells, a Los Angeles area band, titled, That Did It! in 1968. The album re-emerged as an import some 40 years later when it was released in the UK in July 2005 and again in December 2007 by Radioactive Records.[citation needed]

Barnum appears in the 2023 documentary Little Richard: King and Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll which was broadcast on PBS.

Barnum is the older brother of backup singer Billie Barnum.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c Ankeny, Jason. "H.B. Barnum Biography". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved March 21, 2015.
  2. ^ a b c "H.B. Barnum Profile". Soulwalking. Retrieved March 21, 2015.
  3. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2003). Top pop singles 1955-2002. Record Research Inc. p. 40. ISBN 0-89820-155-1.
[edit]
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