From:   "Dik de Heer" 
Date:  Tue Oct 8, 2002  1:16 am
Subject:  Born To Be With You : Buzz Clifford
 
BUZZ CLIFFORD

Born Reese Francis Clifford III, 8 October 1942, Berwyn, Illinois

Buzz Clifford is another one-hit wonder, best known for his one US Top
10 single, "Baby Sittin' Boogie", from 1961. He learned to play guitar as
a child and, enamoured of television westerns, created his own cowboy
songs. After winning a talent contest in New Jersey as a teenager, he was
signed to Columbia Records. His first single, "Hello Mr. Moonlight", went
unnoticed but "Baby Sittin' Boogie", a novelty rock 'n' roll number, charted
on the pop (# 6), country and R&B charts and also went to # 17 in the UK.
The babies' voices on the record are by the children (boy and girl) of the
producer. A German cover of the song by Ralf Bendix was a million seller
in Germany.
Clifford went on to record further singles for Columbia, like "Three Little
Fishes" and "I'll Never Forget", but nothing clicked. In the late sixties he
became a producer for ABC-Paramount. As a singer, he attempted a
comeback, first as a folk rock singer for RCA Records and later as a
long-haired country rock artist, in 1969. In the same year, he released
a final album on Dot Records that did not reach the charts.
After leaving Columbia, Buzz also started writing songs. Various artists
who have recorded some of Buzz's songs: Clyde McPhatter, Lou Rawls,
The Lettermen, Morgana King, Freddie King ("Ain't That I Don't Love You"),
Keith Barbour (who had a Top 40 hit with Clifford's "Echo Park" in 1969),
David Marks, Daniel Moore, Beck and, most recently, Anna Montgomery.
Buzz considers Anna to be a great singer/songwriter and hooked up with
her in 2001 for live gigs and recordings.

CD: Baby Sittin' With Buzz Clifford (South Bay 8416)