 |
Bobby Valentino | |
|---|---|
 Valentino in 1994 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Robert James Beckingham |
| Born | 22 June 1954 |
| Genres | Country, jazz, pop, rock |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instrument(s) | Violin, guitar |
| Years active | 1974–present |
| Website | bobbyvalentino |
Bobby Valentino (born Robert James Beckingham, 22 June 1954) is a British musician, violinist and singer.
Born in Chatham, Kent, he adopted the stage name Bobby Valentino in 1975. Valentino's first success was as a founding member of the Fabulous Poodles, but he is most often recognised as the violinist and co-writer of the #1 hit single "Young at Heart", by the Bluebells.
After leaving the Fabulous Poodles in the early 1980s, Valentino was a member of the Electric Bluebirds before joining the Hank Wangford Band at the beginning of 1984. The British country band already included pedal steel guitarist B. J. Cole (Cochise) and former Liverpool Scene/Scaffold/ guitarist Andy Roberts. Soon after joining the Hank Wangford Band, Valentino was performing with them in a pub when members of the Bluebells heard his playing, and asked him to join them in recording "Young at Heart". [1]
In the five years that Valentino was part of Wangford's band they recorded three albums; filmed two TV series for Channel 4 – The A-Z of C&W and Big Big Country, which attracted audiences of between two and four million at a time when The Last Resort with Jonathan Ross was being watched by 750,000; performed and wrote an acclaimed and record breaking musical: C. H. A. P. S (Cowboy, Horseriding Acting Performance Studio) at the Theatre Royal, Stratford East (their previous record was held by Oh, What a Lovely War! ); toured constantly all over the United Kingdom and Europe and made numerous other radio and television appearances. These included a TV special, Christmas in Strangeways showing the band in concert on Boxing Day with a captive audience in Manchester's Victorian jail.
Valentino's violin can be heard on tracks by artists including Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, Bob Geldof, the Alabama 3 and Shania Twain. He is also an occasional member of Mark Knopfler's current band. He has contributed to many recordings by the British folk punk band the Men They Couldn't Hang as well as frequently appearing with them on stage. His own most recent band, Los Pistoleros, sees him teamed up once again with former Hank Wangford bandmates B. J. Cole and Martin Belmont. Valentino is also a lead singer and guitarist in addition to playing the violin.
A part-time actor and model, Valentino has performed in West End musical theatre, such as in Destry Rides Again with Alfred Molina and Jill Gascoigne and in C.H.A.P.S. at the Theatre Royal, Stratford East. Occasionally he can be seen in films and commercials, usually taking the part of Clark Gable.
Valentino has released three solo albums.
You're in the Groove Jackson was recorded during 1990 in Livingstone Studios in Wood Green and GibsonWood Studios in Deptford and was released in 1991 on Big Life Records. The airplay was significant that many people[ who? ] thought he had had a hit but the distributors, Rough Trade Records went bankrupt the week it was due in the shops.
In 1996, You're Telling Me, which consisted of some new tracks and the best of You're in the Groove Jackson, was released by Vireo Records to critical acclaim and Valentino appeared at the 1996 South by Southwest music festival in Austin, Texas to launch the album. Again, the record company had distribution difficulties.
The 2001 release, This Is Murder, consisted of new tracks and previous recordings from the earlier recordings and appeared on E.M. Records.
All three titles are quotes from the Bob Hope and Bing Crosby film musical, Road to Rio .
A fourth album was due for release in June 2011 under the title of Pat-a-Cake, Pat-a-Cake – another quote from Crosby and Hope.
Valentino is currently working on an album of new material with the working title of 6 ft 3ins.
In 2002, Valentino won a court case against Robert Hodgens (a.k.a. Bobby Bluebell) of Scots pop band the Bluebells for unpaid royalties from his contribution to their 1993 hit "Young at Heart", co-written by Hodgens and Siobhan Fahey. Valentino's case hinged on convincing the judge that he, rather than Hodgens, had composed the song's distinctive violin part, and that the violin part made a significant enough difference to the song to be considered an original contribution. [2] The song, first recorded by Bananarama in 1983, was then released by the Bluebells with the added violin part in 1984, reaching No. 8 on the UK Singles chart. Valentino was paid a session fee of £75. However his claim against Hodgens only dated back to the time of the single's 1993 re-release and chart-topping performance on the back of a high-profile Volkswagen TV commercial. The court case attracted media attention after Valentino performed the violin part in court to illustrate his point, convincing Justice Christopher Floyd to rule in his favour and award him damages of £100,000. [3] A subsequent appeal by Hodgens against the ruling was unsuccessful. [4]
In 2008, Valentino brought an action against the American R&B singer Bobby Wilson (then billed as "Bobby Valentino") and his then record label Def Jam for "passing off, trade mark infringement, and breach of contract, in relation to record sales, recorded content, and artist's live performances". [5]
A folk instrument is a traditional musical instrument that has remained largely restricted to traditional folk music, and is not usually used in the classical music or other elite and formal musical genres of the culture concerned, though related intruments may be.
The Rock: Stone Cold Country 2001 is the 57th studio album by American country music singer George Jones, released on September 11, 2001 on the Bandit Records label.
Top of the World Tour: Live was released by the Dixie Chicks as a DVD on November 21, 2003. It is a concert video that documents performances from the group's 2003 Top of the World Tour. On December 16, 2003 Top of the World Tour: Live (DVD) was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.
The Bluebells are a Scottish indie new wave band, active between 1981 and 1986.
The Fabulous Poodles were a British pre-new wave band formed in 1975. Known for quirky stage antics, such as exploding ukuleles, as well as songs with funny lyrics, The Fabulous Poodles toured with Meat Loaf, Sha Na Na, Tom Petty, Bill Bruford and Chuck Berry. They appeared on the Old Grey Whistle Test and for a long time were music critic John Peel's favourite group. The band released three albums between 1977 and 1979 on Pye Records.
Samuel Hutt, known by the stage name Hank Wangford, is an English country and western songwriter.
Nothin' but the Taillights is the seventh studio album by American country music singer Clint Black. Black co-wrote many of the songs with others and played much of the guitar himself for this album.
The Dreamer is the second studio album by American country music artist Blake Shelton. Released in 2003 on Warner Bros. Records Nashville, it features the Number One single "The Baby," as well as the singles "Heavy Liftin'" and "Playboys of the Southwestern World". The Dreamer is certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America and features staff writers on all but one track.
The Storm is the tenth studio album by American country music artist Travis Tritt. It was also his only album for the Category 5 Records label. In 2013, Travis Tritt re-released the album under the new title "The Calm After" via his own Post Oak Records label. The re-release features two new songs consisting of classic covers.
Sisters is the debut album by Scottish indie pop band the Bluebells, released in 1984.
Burn Your Playhouse Down – The Unreleased Duets is the 60th and final studio album by American country music singer George Jones released on August 19, 2008 on the Bandit Records label. It features duets never before released, including some that were cut from his 1994 duets album The Bradley Barn Sessions. The only new recording in the collection is "You And Me And Time", a song Jones recorded with his daughter by Tammy Wynette, Georgette. A music video accompanied the song. The album features several duets with artist from outside the country music pantheon, including Mark Knopfler, Leon Russell, and Keith Richards. The album peaked at number 15 on the Billboard country albums chart. Of the album's title track, Andrew Meuller of Uncut opined in July 2013, "The segue from Richards trying to sing like Jones to Jones actually singing like Jones is hilarious."
Tony Rice Sings Gordon Lightfoot is a compilation album by American guitarist Tony Rice, released in 1996. It contains tracks written by Gordon Lightfoot and previously recorded by Rice, plus a previously unreleased track, "Whispers of the North".
George Ducas is the debut studio album by American country music singer George Ducas. It was released in September 1994 on Liberty Records, and peaked at number 57. It featured four singles: "Teardrops", "Hello Cruel World", "Kisses Don't Lie", and his biggest hit, "Lipstick Promises", which reached number 9.
Closer is the sixth studio album by American Christian and country music singer Susan Ashton. It was released in 1999 on Capitol Nashville. It was her only disc for the label. It was produced by Emory Gordy Jr. The album contains songs written by Diane Warren, Matraca Berg and Kim Richey. Ashton herself only co-wrote one song here, "Think of Me".
Living for a Song: A Tribute to Hank Cochran is the fourth studio album by American country music singer Jamey Johnson. It was released in October 2012 via Mercury Nashville on both compact disc and LP record. The album is a tribute to songwriter Hank Cochran.
How Green Is the Valley is the second studio album of The Men They Couldn't Hang. It was released in 1986 after the band were signed to MCA Records following the success of their previous album Night of a Thousand Candles. It is the last album to feature co-founder Shanne Bradley on bass guitar.
Waiting for Bonaparte is the third studio album by The Men They Couldn't Hang. It was recorded at Woodcray Studios in Berkshire and was released in 1988. It is the first album to feature Ricky McGuire on bass guitar. The album again features songs written about British culture and history. The only single on the album to feature a promotional video was The Colours. The video was given a Les Miserables style theme due to its historical lyrical content and features writer Paul Simmonds in drag playing the part of a woman of ill repute. The song itself, however was banned by the BBC due to the line, "You've come here to watch me hang!", which echoed the events happening in South African townships at the time, in particular the plight of the Sharpeville Six. The song told the story of the1797 Nore mutiny and the execution of Richard Parker for his role in the mutiny. Despite the ban it still managed to reach number 61 in the UK singles chart. The Crest is the only single to have an extended remixed version. This was less successful only reachin number 94 in the UK singles chart. Initial vinyl LP copies were a limited edition which came with a song book of lyrics and guitar tabs as well as a poster.
Silver Town is the fourth studio album by The Men They Couldn't Hang. It was released in 1989 under the Silvertone label and recorded at Woodcray Manor Studios in Berkshire. There were three singles released from the album, "A Place in the Sun", "Rain, Steam and Speed" and "A Map of Morocco". "Rosettes" was originally earmarked as a single but was cancelled due to the Hillsborough disaster as the song's lyrical content centred on the football hooligan culture at the time.
Mirror Stars is the first American album by the Fabulous Poodles. The album was a reconfigured version of their second British album Unsuitable with four tracks added from their debut album Fabulous Poodles. The album was well received by American critics and reached No. 61 in the Billboard 200 album chart in 1979.
Pride: A Tribute to Charley Pride is an album by American country music singer Neal McCoy. It was released on September 24, 2013. The album is a tribute to Charley Pride, featuring covers of Pride's songs. Darius Rucker, Raul Malo, and Trace Adkins are featured performers.
There was a band playing in the pub across the road and they were called the Hank Wangford Band, and they'd a great fiddle player. So we asked the great fiddle player to play on our track and he came in, and he worked perfectly.
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
