Harlem Shuffle

[Edie Antoinette]

Bob & Earl had already recorded under a myriad of pseudonyms during their careers before they were a duo; both "Bob"s (the first was Bobby Byrd, aka Bobby Day, and his replacement was Bobby Relf) and "Earl" (Earl Nelson) were key players in L.A.'s doo wop and R&B vocal scene in the mid-to-late '50s. Today, Bob & Earl are best remembered for their minor-key rumbler "Harlem Shuffle," which provided the listener with instructional R&B dance moves for an accompanying dance also called the Harlem Shuffle. Their vocal interplay presaged Stax Records' Sam & Dave. When "Harlem Shuffle" was originally released, it climbed into the lower rungs of the American Top Forty (number 36 Cashbox/number 44 Billboard), but the song achieved its biggest chart success when it was re-released in 1969, becoming a Top Ten U.K. hit.

Bobby Byrd (b. July 1, 1932, in Fort Worth, TX) was the first "Bob," although he is better known today for writing three early rock & roll classics between 1957 and 1958. He had been one of the founders of the Hollywood Flames in 1950, a prolific group -- along with the Robins, they were one of the grandfather doo wop groups in L.A. -- who waxed singles for Recorded in Hollywood, Specialty, Lucky, Swingtime, Money, and other labels before the group finally had their first major hit, "Buzz, Buzz, Buzz," a number 18 pop hit for Ebb Records in 1958. By 1957, however, Byrd (under his new name, Bobby Day) had cut the original version of his self-penned "Little Bitty Pretty One" for Class Records. When a nearly identical cover version by Thurston Harris (featuring the Sharps) beat Byrd's original to the punch and turned out to be a huge hit -- it was Harris' one and only Top Ten R&B and pop hit for Aladdin -- Byrd switched gears and started a solo career, using the name Bobby Day. One theory about where the new last name came from is that Class Records' "Googie" Rene (owner Leon Rene's son, and the label's A&R director and producer) suggested it. Regardless of how he got the new moniker, Day bounced back with a hit of his own, "Rockin' Robin," which topped the R&B charts in 1958. Day waxed a few more hits for Class, including "That's All I Want" and "The Bluebird, the Buzzard and the Oriole" in 1959.

It was during this time that Earl Nelson formed the first incarnation of Bob & Earl. Nelson (b. September 8, 1928, in Lake Charles, LA) had also been an original member of the Hollywood Flames; that's him singing lead on "Buzz, Buzz, Buzz." By 1960, however, after a stint on Atco, the Flames eventually ended up on Edsel, at which point Nelson and Day ventured off to form Bob & Earl on their own. Day left Bob & Earl before they produced any hits, however, and Nelson soon re-configured the group with a second "Bob," Bobby Relf. Relf had already led several L.A.-based acts in his career, including the Laurels and the Upfronts (featuring Barry White), and was also a replacement member of the Hollywood Flamesafter Byrd had left to join up with Nelson. Relf had also called himself "Valentino" for his short-lived group Valentino & the Lovers, an early-'60s group formed with the vocalists who had auditioned but had not been chosen to be in the lineup of Little Caesar and the Romans. Incidentally, White had also been a member of Valentino & the Lovers, singing bass and doubling on piano. The duo recorded several singles for various L.A.-based labels, but their lone hit was "Harlem Shuffle," a dance number punctuated by trumpet blasts and echo-laden percussion. It was arranged by a young Barry White, who played piano. Produced by Fred Smith (a talented R&B songwriter who had previously written hits with partner Cliff Goldsmith and produced the Olympics among others), "Harlem Shuffle" was originally released in the U.S. on the Marc label in 1963. It climbed into the low end of the American Top Forty in 1964 before slipping off the charts.

However, the duo failed to follow up with any additional hits and soon were splitting for solo careers. Helson began recording solo tracks under a bunch of aliases, including Jay Dee, Earl Cosby, and Chip Nelson, but his biggest success was as Jackie Lee (Jackie was Earl's wife's name and Lee his own middle name), for another popular R&B dance cut in 1965, "The Duck," for the Mirwood label. A year after "Harlem Shuffle" slid off the charts, Nelson was touring the U.S. (with Barry White on drums). Relf waxed singles under the names Bobby Garrett and Booby Valentino. "Harlem Shuffle" was re-released in 1969, and became a Top Ten U.K. hit (number seven pop). Since its 1963 debut, the song has seen numerous cover versions. Original "Bob" Bobby Byrd passed away on July 15, 1990.

[KnightD12]

I always loved the song, but never knew anything about the duo. Thanks edie.

[Edie Antoinette]

Yep we had so much fun with simple things as children. I remember playing jacks and hoola hoopin and rollin on my tummy on top of a beach ball....so much fun! Thanks for your comment gmack.

[gmack]

II love the top picture also brings back memories of the day we would make our own skateboard. You took a skate apart fine you a 2by4 and a wooden milk crate nail them together and off you went. Ahhhhhh

[Edie Antoinette]

Yes..you got it right. You would throw the rock in the square and skip around it trying to stay inside the square. It was fun.

[Edie Antoinette]

You make me wanna play it again..smile.

[Edie Antoinette]

I say the one on the right...that's the one I remember..and I used to play it too!

[Edie Antoinette]

I love this song Sole. It reminds me so much of my childhood. Those little girls at the top--that was us. We would be having SOOO much fun, jumping double-dutch and gigglin.

Crooklyn tells the story quite well. Thanks Suggah!

[Shelley "SoleMann" King]

Now this is tight...I have never heard of this song or Bob and Earl...Those are some great pics too...SMILE

[Edie Antoinette]

I just LOVE that top pic. It reminds me of everything good about childhood..sigh