From:   "Jean-Marc Pezet" 
Date:  Mon Sep 8, 2003  8:28 am
Subject:  Born To Be With You: Earl Nelson
 
EARL NELSON (By Dik de Heer) 

Born Earl Lee Nelson, 8 September 1928, Lake Charles, Louisiana 

The musical career of Earl Nelson was entwined with that of Bobby Day for many
years. Bobby Day, of course, is best known for his 1958 # 2 hit "Rockin'
Robin". But long before that, in 1949, Bobby (then known under his real name,
Robert Byrd) was a founding member of the Flames, later the Hollywood Flames.
This group recorded prolifically for labels like Unique, Recorded in Hollywood,
Specialty, Lucky and Aladdin, but they didn't score any hits until Earl Nelson
joined the group in 1957. In October of that year, the Hollywood Flames
recorded "Buzz Buzz Buzz" (with Earl as lead singer) for John Dolphin, who sold
the master to Lee Rupe for release on her Ebb label. It peaked at # 11 on the
pop charts and # 5 on the R&B lists in early 1958. This was followed by a long
line of further releases on Ebb, and then Atco (1959-60), but only "Gee" on
Chess (1961) brought the Hollywood Flames back in the R&B charts, for the
second and last time. 

Meanwhile, Bobby Day was also contracted as a solo artist to Leon Rene's Class
label. His backup singers, the Satellites, were more or less the same people
who sang with him in the Hollywood Flames. In 1955, Bobby and Earl had already
recorded together as The Voices and from 1957 onwards, they started recording
as Bob and Earl, debuting with "You Made A Boo Boo" (Class 213). Their 1958
single "Gee Whiz" (not the Carla Thomas song) was a # 28 hit in 1960 when it
was revived by the Innocents. 

Having several identities could be quite lucrative. By changing names and
clothes, Bobby and Earl sometimes managed to be on the same bill three times :
as the Hollywood Flames, as Bob and Earl and as Bobby Day and the Satellites.
They were all the same four guys! After Bobby Day left the Hollywood Flames,
Earl chose to continue with the duo Bob and Earl, and chose Bobby Relf (from
the Laurels) to become the new Bob. In 1963 they recorded an early soul
classic, "Harlem Shuffle", which went to # 44 (both pop and R&B). In the UK,
record buyers were not yet quite ready for these new 
intense sounds (except for George Harrison, who called it his favourite record
of all time), but when it was reissued in 1969, it went to # 7 on the UK
charts. 

Bobby Relf had also been a member of Earl Nelson and the Pelicans, who recorded
one single for Class ("I Bow To You"/"Oh Gee Oh Golly"). And Earl was probably
also the lead singer on "Wow Wow Baby"/"Oo Wee" by the Searchers (Class 223). 
In 1965, Earl scored a big solo hit as Jackie Lee with "The Duck" (# 14 pop, #
4 R&B) on the Mirwood label. Jackie was Earl's wife's name and Lee was his own
middle name. 

Earl never completely retired from music and is still living in Los Angeles. 

For more details see the (long) Bob and Earl Story at 
http://www.ritchie-hardin.com/soul/bobearl1.html 

Recommended listening: 
The Hollywood Flames (Specialty SPCD 7021/ Ace 420). 
The Class & Rendezvous Story (Ace 461).