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{{Short description|American singer-songwriter (born 1940)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Infobox musical artist
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{{short description|American singer-songwriter|bot=PearBOT 5}}
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| name = Bruce Channel
{{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject Musicians -->
| name = Bruce Channel
| image =
| image =
| caption =
| caption =
| birth_name = Bruce McMeans
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| alias =
| image_size = <!-- Only for images smaller than 220 pixels -->
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| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1940|11|28|mf=y}}<ref name="AMG">{{cite web |first=Richie |last= Unterberger|url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p16385|pure_url=yes}} |title=Bruce Channel: Biography |publisher=Allmusic.com |accessdate=January 21, 2009}}</ref>
| background = solo_singer
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| birth_place = [[Jacksonville, Texas]], U.S.
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| birth_name = Bruce McMeans
| alias =
| death_date =
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| origin =
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| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1940|11|28|mf=y}}<ref name="AMG">{{cite web |first=Richie |last= Unterberger|url={{Allmusic|class=artist|id=p16385|pure_url=yes}} |title=Bruce Channel: Biography |publisher=Allmusic.com |accessdate=January 21, 2009}}</ref>
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| genre = [[Rock and roll]], [[pop music|pop]], [[rockabilly]], [[country music|country]]
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|birth_place = [[Jacksonville, Texas|Jacksonville]], Texas, U.S.
| death_date =
| occupation = Singer, songwriter
| origin =
| years_active = 1959 – early 1970s, and semi-active later
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| label = LeCam, [[Smash Records|Smash]], [[Collectables Records|Collectables]], [[Mercury Records|Mercury]]
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| instrument = Vocals
| website =
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| genre = [[Rock and roll]], pop, [[rockabilly]], [[Country music|country]]
| occupation = Singer, songwriter
| years_active = 1959 – early 1970s, and semi-active later
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| label = LeCam Records, [[Smash Records]], [[Collectables Records]], [[Mercury Records]]
| associated_acts =
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| website =
}}
}}


'''Bruce Channel''' ({{IPAc-en|ʃ|ə|'|n|ɛ|l}}, {{respell|shə|NEL|'}}; born November 28, 1940) is an American singer-songwriter best known for his 1962&nbsp;million-selling [[record chart|number-one]] [[hit record]], "[[Hey! Baby]]".
'''Bruce Channel''' ({{IPAc-en|ʃ|ə|'|n|ɛ|l}} {{respell|shə|NEL}}; born November 28, 1940) is an American singer-songwriter best known for his 1962 number-one hit record "[[Hey! Baby]]".


==Career==
==Career==
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| url-access= registration
| url= https://archive.org/details/bookofgoldendisc00murr/page/143
| url= https://archive.org/details/bookofgoldendisc00murr/page/143
}}</ref> Channel had four more singles on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, including "Number One Man" (which peaked at number 52), "Come On Baby" (number 98), "Going Back to Louisiana" (number 89), and "Mr. Bus Driver" (number 90 produced by [[Dale Hawkins]] in Memphis and recorded by [[Terry Manning]]), but none of them was as successful as "Hey! Baby", and he is considered a [[one-hit wonder]].
}}</ref> Channel had four more singles on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, including "Number One Man" (which peaked at number 52), "Come On Baby" (number 98), "Going Back to Louisiana" (number 89), and "Mr. Bus Driver" (number 90, produced by [[Dale Hawkins]] in Memphis and recorded by [[Terry Manning]]), but none of them was as successful as "Hey! Baby", and he is considered a [[one-hit wonder]].


Channel toured Europe and was assisted at one gig by the [[the Beatles|Beatles]], who were then little known.<ref name="AMG"/> [[John Lennon]], who had "Hey! Baby" on [[John Lennon's jukebox|his jukebox]], was fascinated by McClinton's harmonica.<ref name="AMG"/> A popular [[urban legend|legend]] is that Lennon was taught to play harmonica by McClinton, but by that time Lennon had already been playing the instrument live for some time. The harmonica segment in "Hey! Baby" inspired Lennon's playing on the Beatles' first single, 1962's "[[Love Me Do]]", as well as later Beatles records,<ref name="AMG"/> and the harmonica break on [[Frank Ifield]]'s "[[I Remember You (1941 song)|I Remember You]]."
Channel toured Europe and was assisted at one gig by the [[the Beatles|Beatles]], who were then little known.<ref name="AMG"/> [[John Lennon]], who had "Hey! Baby" on [[John Lennon's jukebox|his jukebox]], was fascinated by McClinton's harmonica.<ref name="AMG"/> A popular [[urban legend|legend]] is that Lennon was taught to play harmonica by McClinton, but by that time Lennon had already been playing the instrument live for some time. The harmonica segment in "Hey! Baby" inspired Lennon's playing on the Beatles' first single, 1962's "[[Love Me Do]]", as well as later Beatles records,<ref name="AMG"/> and the harmonica break on [[Frank Ifield]]'s "[[I Remember You (1941 song)|I Remember You]]."

The main appeal of "Hey! Baby" is probably the sustained first note, with a rhythmic pattern in the background.{{citation needed|date=February 2014}} This device was used in 1962 for the successful song "[[Sherry (song)|Sherry]]" (1962) by the [[The Four Seasons (group)|Four Seasons]] and again on the Beatles' "[[I Should Have Known Better]]" (on the album ''[[A Hard Day's Night (album)|A Hard Day's Night]]''), in 1964.


Channel's only other [[top 40]] recording in the [[UK Singles Chart]] was "Keep On" (June 1968), which reached number 12; it was written by [[Wayne Carson Thompson]] and produced by [[Dale Hawkins]].<ref name="AMG"/><ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums"/> "Keep On" also charted in Australia. Channel disliked [[concert tour|touring]], so he settled as a songwriter in [[Nashville, Tennessee|Nashville]],<ref name="AMG"/> scoring a number of [[Broadcast Music Incorporated]] award-winning songs during the 1970s and 1980s – "As Long As I'm Rockin' with You", for [[John Conlee]]; "[[Don't Worry 'bout Me Baby]]", for [[Janie Fricke]]; "Party Time", for [[T. G. Sheppard]]; "You're the Best", for [[Kieran Kane]]; and "Stand Up", for [[Mel McDaniel]]. In 1987, "Hey! Baby" was featured in the popular movie ''[[Dirty Dancing]]''.
Channel's only other [[top 40]] recording in the [[UK Singles Chart]] was "Keep On" (June 1968), which reached number 12; it was written by [[Wayne Carson Thompson]] and produced by [[Dale Hawkins]].<ref name="AMG"/><ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums"/> "Keep On" also charted in Australia. Channel disliked [[concert tour|touring]], so he settled as a songwriter in [[Nashville, Tennessee|Nashville]],<ref name="AMG"/> scoring a number of [[Broadcast Music Incorporated]] award-winning songs during the 1970s and 1980s – "As Long As I'm Rockin' with You", for [[John Conlee]]; "[[Don't Worry 'bout Me Baby]]", for [[Janie Fricke]]; "Party Time", for [[T. G. Sheppard]]; "You're the Best", for [[Kieran Kane]]; and "Stand Up", for [[Mel McDaniel]]. In 1987, "Hey! Baby" was featured in the popular movie ''[[Dirty Dancing]]''.
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In 1995, Channel recorded his [[cover version|cover]] of the song "Stand Up" for the [[Memphis, Tennessee|Memphis]]-based record label Ice House. Delbert McClinton reprised his harmonica role on it and several other tracks, including another version of "Hey! Baby". Channel then recorded a project in 2002 with the singer-songwriter Larry Henley (ex-[[The Newbeats|Newbeats]]), billed as Original Copy.
In 1995, Channel recorded his [[cover version|cover]] of the song "Stand Up" for the [[Memphis, Tennessee|Memphis]]-based record label Ice House. Delbert McClinton reprised his harmonica role on it and several other tracks, including another version of "Hey! Baby". Channel then recorded a project in 2002 with the singer-songwriter Larry Henley (ex-[[The Newbeats|Newbeats]]), billed as Original Copy.


Channel was inducted into the [[Rockabilly Hall of Fame]].
Channel was inducted into the [[Rockabilly Hall of Fame]]. He continues to perform in cruises with other 1960s musicians.


==See also==
==See also==
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==External links==
==External links==
*{{AllMusic}}
*[{{Allmusic|class=artist|id=p16385|pure_url=yes}} Biography at Allmusic.com]


{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}
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[[Category:Smash Records artists]]
[[Category:Smash Records artists]]
[[Category:King Records artists]]
[[Category:King Records artists]]
[[Category:Songwriters from Texas]]
[[Category:Singer-songwriters from Texas]]
[[Category:Country musicians from Texas]]
[[Category:Country musicians from Texas]]

Latest revision as of 09:45, 25 May 2024

Bruce Channel
Birth nameBruce McMeans
Born (1940-11-28) November 28, 1940 (age 84)[1]
Jacksonville, Texas, U.S.
GenresRock and roll, pop, rockabilly, country
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter
Years active1959 – early 1970s, and semi-active later
LabelsLeCam, Smash, Collectables, Mercury

Bruce Channel (/ʃəˈnɛl/ shə-NEL; born November 28, 1940) is an American singer-songwriter best known for his 1962 number-one hit record "Hey! Baby".

Career

[edit]

Channel performed originally for the radio program Louisiana Hayride and then joined with the harmonica player Delbert McClinton, singing country music. Channel wrote "Hey! Baby" with Margaret Cobb in 1959 and performed the song for two years before recording it for Fort Worth record producer Bill Smith.[1] It was issued originally on Smith's LeCam label, but as it started to sell well, it was acquired for distribution by Smash Records,[1] a subsidiary of Mercury. The song went to number one in the US in March 1962 and held that position for three weeks. Besides topping the U.S. popular music charts, it also became number two in the United Kingdom.[2] It sold more than one million copies and was awarded a gold disc.[3] Channel had four more singles on the Billboard Hot 100, including "Number One Man" (which peaked at number 52), "Come On Baby" (number 98), "Going Back to Louisiana" (number 89), and "Mr. Bus Driver" (number 90, produced by Dale Hawkins in Memphis and recorded by Terry Manning), but none of them was as successful as "Hey! Baby", and he is considered a one-hit wonder.

Channel toured Europe and was assisted at one gig by the Beatles, who were then little known.[1] John Lennon, who had "Hey! Baby" on his jukebox, was fascinated by McClinton's harmonica.[1] A popular legend is that Lennon was taught to play harmonica by McClinton, but by that time Lennon had already been playing the instrument live for some time. The harmonica segment in "Hey! Baby" inspired Lennon's playing on the Beatles' first single, 1962's "Love Me Do", as well as later Beatles records,[1] and the harmonica break on Frank Ifield's "I Remember You."

Channel's only other top 40 recording in the UK Singles Chart was "Keep On" (June 1968), which reached number 12; it was written by Wayne Carson Thompson and produced by Dale Hawkins.[1][2] "Keep On" also charted in Australia. Channel disliked touring, so he settled as a songwriter in Nashville,[1] scoring a number of Broadcast Music Incorporated award-winning songs during the 1970s and 1980s – "As Long As I'm Rockin' with You", for John Conlee; "Don't Worry 'bout Me Baby", for Janie Fricke; "Party Time", for T. G. Sheppard; "You're the Best", for Kieran Kane; and "Stand Up", for Mel McDaniel. In 1987, "Hey! Baby" was featured in the popular movie Dirty Dancing.

In 1995, Channel recorded his cover of the song "Stand Up" for the Memphis-based record label Ice House. Delbert McClinton reprised his harmonica role on it and several other tracks, including another version of "Hey! Baby". Channel then recorded a project in 2002 with the singer-songwriter Larry Henley (ex-Newbeats), billed as Original Copy.

Channel was inducted into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame. He continues to perform in cruises with other 1960s musicians.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Unterberger, Richie. "Bruce Channel: Biography". Allmusic.com. Retrieved January 21, 2009.
  2. ^ a b Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles and Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records. p. 100. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  3. ^ Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins. p. 143. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
[edit]
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