Rinky-Tinks

Bobby Skel [Skelton] Biography

Bobby Skel was born Robert D. Skelton in Houston, Texas in the year 1942. Raised in the rural Georgia town of Swainsboro, he started music at the young age of 6 years old, studying the piano under a local piano teacher and at age 8 started playing in the elementary band. After 2 years he was promoted to the high school band playing 3rd chair trumpet at age 10. During the next 7 years was named to the Georgia all state band, playing 1st chair trumpet for 3 consecutive years and finishing school with 12 full scholarships to major southern universities such as University of Georgia. Alabama, Florida, Tennessee, and others. Began writing music while in high school and signed first recording contract at age 17 with Lowery Music, and Master sound Studios in Atlanta, Georgia. Played with such notables as Jerry Reed , Ray Stevens , Joe South and Ronnie Milsap, at Master Sound Studios. In 1964 signed a writers and recording contract with Major Bill Smith in Ft. Worth, Texas and recorded for the next 5 years at King Recording Studios, in Macon Georgia where also played as a studio musician and produced a number of other artists for Le Bill Music of Ft. Worth. The "Red Ryders" became the studio band for King records. It was Bobby Skel PosterDuring this time that 2 national chart recordings were made by Bobby, Kiss and Run in 1964 and Sheila Ann in 1968. Traveled up the eastern seaboard with his band "Bobby Skel and the Red Ryders" playing go-go's and other major clubs. Bobby recorded and or produced some 35 sessions for Le Bill, MCA, Mercury, King, Jamie Guyden, Fontana, and several other major labels. Works were recorded by Fransois Hardy, Paul and Paula, Bruce Channel, Wayne Cochran, and many other artists both in the USA and abroad. His songs have appeared in several U.S. and international motion pictures. In 1998 his songs were enshrined in the Georgia Music Hall of Fame.

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Spike,
Thanks for the site and the memories. It's nice to be remembered.
~ Bobby Skel

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Bobby Skel
108 N. Houston Street
Granbury, Texas 76048
817-573-4323

Bobby's email is [email protected]

Visit Bobby's Rinky-Tinks Ice Cream Parlor  & Sandwich Shop

Bobby Skel Discography

NEW! Songs written by Bobby and the artists that recorded them listed at the bottom of the page.

Click image Click to play below to play song clip.

I'm very sorry for the poor sound quality of the audio clips. Geocities keeps shutting me down for using so much resources.

Note: Incomplete List - Songs recorded as Bobby Skel unless noted.

  1. The soul of a man [Skelton/Smith] / Say it now [Skelton] Soft # 1005
  2. Three Candles Click to play[Skelton] / Cheatin' Traces [Martin] Soft #983 [1965]
  3. Kiss and run [Skelton] / Say it now [Skelton] Soft #826 [1964]
  4. There She Goes [Skel] / Queen of Hearts [Skel] Soft #953
  5. Baby doll [Skelton] / Just like magic [It Must Be Love] [Skelton] Soft #828 [1965]
  6. You just need to love somebody [Skelton] / Tough [Bill Smith] Soft #1042
  7. Red light green light [Skelton] / If you want me to I'll go [D.McClinton] Uni #55167
  8. A woman has a way [Skelton] / Help me make through the night [Kristofferson] Uni #55274
  9. Shelia Ann [Skelton] / Three Candles [Skelton] Uni #55071
  10. Atlanta Bound [Skelton] / Next to Jesus [Walters/Smith] Uni #55294
  11. Baby come back [Skelton] / Banks of the Ohio [Smith/Hildebrand] Uni #55118
  12. Gentle woman [Skelton] / The soul of a man [Skelton/Smith] Uni # 55092
  13. That's the way of a fool [Skelton] / Goin' back to school [Reed] Fairlane #21008 [Recorded as Bob Skelton] [1961]
  14. Just two people in the worldClick to play [Skelton] / It goes without saying [?] King # 5897 [1964]
  15. Say it now [Skelton] / The soul of a man [Skelton/Smith] Fontana #1590 [1967]
  16. I f You Really want me to I’ll Go [D.McClinton] / Runaway Click to play[Del Shannon] - LeCam, 210881

Bobby also recorded 1 album. Title and label unknown.

Bruce Channel's recording of "Kiss & Run" written by Bobby Skel Here's a real treat. 2 of my favorite artists team up on this recording. Kiss and Run , written by Bobby and recorded by Bruce Channel .

Click to play

"Mel Durham" [email protected] 

Spike:  I've just discovered your website during a search for Bobby Skel.  Within the last year, I was lucky enough to finally locate a 45 of "Kiss and Run."  I had been looking for that record for nearly 40 years.  My persistence finally paid off.  I first heard the song on WLS out of Chicago in 1965.  It was one of those "Orbisonesque" tunes that I just couldn't get out of my head.  It remains one of my very favorite all-time songs.  But Bobby Skel records never made their way down to Tennessee where I have lived all my life.  I found a fairly nice copy of the record on eBay.  I had no idea where Bobby was from.  I take it that he now lives in Granbury, Texas.  I look forward to learning more about the man from your website--I see that his portion of the site is still under construction.  A big thank you from a Bobby Skel fan.   Mel Durham


M. G. Still

Can't help you with a bio, but in case you don't have this 45, you can add it to your discography. It's a promo copy: Bobby Skel Soft Records S-953 "There She Goes" (R. Skel) "Queen of Hearts" (R. Skel) -M. G. Still


Songs written by Bobby and the artists that recorded them. [Incomplete list~ A work in progress] :

Kiss & Run

Soul of a man

  • Bobby Skel Fontana #1590 / Soft # 1005
  • Bobby Skel Instrumental version Uni # 55092
  • Men From Macon [AKA Bobby Skel & The Red Ryders] Charay #89
  • Robert Thomas Charay #87
  • Mark II Charay #85
  • Gene Henslee [AKA Hensley] Billie Fran #14 / Josie #982
  • Matt & Robert Uni #55151
  • Matt Brown Soft #1035
  • Pic & Bill BLUE ROCK B-4073
  • Jimmy Luke
  • Bobby Valerio Mercury #72972 Produced by Major Bill

Salvation

  • Rita Lee Charay # 101
  • Robert Thomas Charay #87
  • Cresa Watson [AKA Carolyn Sullivan?] Charay #90
  • Men From Macon [AKA Bobby Skel & The Red Ryders] Charay #89

Say it now

All I want is you

  • Pic & Bill Charay #67
  • Lori & Lance Federal 12548
  • Paul & Paula Philips #40352

Man Without A Woman

  • Matt Brown Soft #1035
  • Pic & Bill Charay #99
  • Bruce Channel

Moments like These

  • Pic & Bill Smash #2177
  • Paul & Paula United Artists #50712

Little Orphan Annie

We can make it baby

  • San Diego Karat #101
Baby doll
  • Bobby Skel Soft #828

  • Ardie Wells Federal #12422 I'm not 100% sure this is the same song

Just like magic [It Must Be Love]
  • Bobby Skel Soft #828

You just need to love somebody
  • Bobby Skel


Three Candles

  • Bobby Skel

There She Goes

  • Bobby Skel

Queen of Hearts

  • Bobby Skel

Red light green light

  • Bobby Skel

A woman has a way

  • Bobby Skel

Shelia Ann

  • Bobby Skel

Atlanta Bound

  • Bobby Skel Uni #55294

Baby come back

  • Bobby Skel

Gentle woman

  • Bobby Skel

That's the way of a fool

  • Bob Skelton Fairlane 21008

Just two people in the world

  • Bobby Skelton King 5897
 

The Red Ryders
The Red Ryders

Top row is Dave Anderson, (Alto Sax), Bobby Skel, Dave Martin (Bass), Larry Colson (tenor Sax), Emil Hanke, (Drums) & Bill Hapolt (gituar). These were taken the night we opened At Fred Courey's Supper Club in Greensboro, N.C. . We Played for 5000 people that night and Chuck Berry came up & did Mabelene. Fred was Crash Craddocks Mgr. & his place was billed as the largest supper club south of Atlantic City. What a Night!! The Dorsey Bank was closing out a two week stay and the original Checkmates were in after our two weeks. ~Bobby

Need your help completing the discography! Does anyone have the following records and are they written by Bobby Skel [Skelton]?
  • Michael & Raymond - Man Without A Woman NOT BOBBY'S SONG
  • Flower Pot Men - Man Without A Woman
  • Robbi Curtise AKA Robbi Curtice - Soul of a man
  • Bill Morgan - All I want is you
  • J. T. Rhythm - All I want is you NOT BOBBY'S SONG
  • Escorts - All I want is you
  • Elite - All I want is you [Major Bill recording]
  • Rodney & Blazers - Little Orphan Annie
  • Gary & Sunny - Kiss & Run
  • Len & Glen - Kiss & Run NOT BOBBY'S SONG
  • Lillian Clark - Kiss & Run
  • Tri-Tones - Kiss & Run
  • Bell-Tones - There she goes
  • Jerry Wallace - There she goes NOT BOBBY'S SONG

Major Bill Smith's record labels:

Shalimar Teen Ager Shah
Billie Fran Manco Le Cam 
Soft Le Bill  Charay
Brownfield? Zuma?  

Visit Bobby's Rinky-Tinks Ice Cream Parlor  & Sandwich Shop

 

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