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H. B. Barnum | |
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 Barnum on the right withDavid Axelrodc. 1970 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | Hidle Brown Barnum (1936-07-15)July 15, 1936 (age 89) Houston, Texas, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, arranger, record producer |
| Instrument | Piano |
| Years active | 1950–present |
Hidle Brown Barnum (born July 15, 1936) is an Americanpianist,arranger, record producer, songwriter, and former child actor.
After winning a nationwide talent contest at the age of four and starring in the filmValley of the Sun Marches On, Barnum continued his acting career on TV in theAmos 'n' Andy Show, theJack Benny Show, and others, making his first solo recording as Pee Wee Barnum in 1950.[1][2]
Barnum then joineddoo-wop groups the Dootones and, in late 1955, when Carl Gardner and bass Bobby Nunn leftthe Robins to formthe Coasters forAtlantic, 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 theA&R man. In 1960, under the pseudonym "Dudley" he recorded "El Pizza", a parody ofMarty Robbins' "El Paso". He had the only hit under his own name, theinstrumental "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 Barnum became most widely known as an arranger, for a very wide range of performers includingLou Rawls,Count Basie,O. C. Smith,Frank Sinatra,the Supremes,Donna Loren,Aretha Franklin,Little Richard,Gladys Knight,Melinda Marx,Al Wilson, thePump 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 byMarilyn McCoo andBilly 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 byRadioactive Records.[citation needed]
Barnum appears in the 2023 documentaryLittle Richard: King and Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll which was broadcast on PBS.
Barnum is the older brother of backup singer Billie Barnum.
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