HAL BLAINE

'Hal Blaine' (b. 'Harold Simon Belsky', February 5 1929, Holyoke, Massachusetts) is an American drummer and session musician. He is most known for his work with the Wrecking Crew in California. Blaine played on numerous hits by popular groups, including Elvis Presley, Simon & Garfunkel and The Beach Boys.

Contents

Hal Blaine's Grammy Awards

Hal Blaine's #1 Hits

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

Hal Blaine Trivia

References

External Links

Hal Blaine's Grammy Awards

A somewhat unappreciated Grammy Awards record is held by Blaine who played on 6 consecutive Record of the Year winners:

★ Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass in 1966, for ''A Taste of Honey''

★ Frank Sinatra in 1967, for ''Strangers in the Night''

★ 5th Dimension in 1968, for ''Up, Up and Away''

★ Simon & Garfunkel in 1969, for ''Mrs. Robinson''

★ 5th Dimension in 1970, for ''Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In''

★ Simon & Garfunkel in 1971 for ''Bridge Over Troubled Water''.

Hal Blaine's #1 Hits

★ ''Can't Help Falling in Love'' - Elvis Presley (12/18/61)

★ ''He's a Rebel'' - The Crystals (10/06/62)

★ ''Surf City'' - Jan & Dean (06/22/63)

★ ''I Get Around'' - Beach Boys (06/06/64)

★ ''Everybody Loves Somebody'' - Dean Martin (07/11/64)

★ ''Ringo'' - Lorne Greene (11/07/64)

★ ''This Diamond Ring'' - Gary Lewis & the Playboys (01/23/65)

★ ''Help Me, Rhonda'' - Beach Boys (05/01/65)

★ ''Mr. Tambourine Man'' - ''Byrds'' (06/05/65)

★ ''I Got You Babe - Sonny & Cher (07/31/65)

★ ''Eve of Destruction'' - Barry McGuire (08/28/65)

★ ''My Love'' - Petula Clark (01/15/66)

★ ''These Boots Are Made for Walkin''' - Nancy Sinatra(02/05/66)

★ ''Monday Monday'' - Mamas and Papas (04/16/66)

★ ''Strangers in the Night'' - Frank Sinatra (05/28/66)

★ ''Poor Side of Town'' - Johnny Rivers (10/08/66)

★ ''Good Vibrations'' - Beach Boys (10/29/66)

★ ''Somethin' Stupid'' - Frank & Nancy Sinatra (03/25/67)

★ ''The Happening'' - Supremes (04/15/67)

★ ''Windy'' - Association (06/03/67)

★ ''Mrs. Robinson'' - Simon & Garfunkel (05/04/68)

★ ''Dizzy'' - Tommy Roe

★ ''Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In'' - 5th Dimension(03/15/69)

★ ''Love Theme-Romeo & Juliet'' -Henry Mancini (05/24/69)

★ ''Wedding Bell Blues'' - 5th Dimension (10/04/69)

★ ''Bridge Over Troubled Water'' - Simon & Garfunkel (02/14/70)

★ ''(They Long to Be) Close to You'' - The Carpenters (06/27/70)

★ ''Cracklin' Rosie'' - Neil Diamond (08/29/70)

★ ''Indian Reservation'' - Paul Revere & the Raiders (05/29/71)

★ ''I Think I Love You'' - Partridge Family (10/31/71)

★ ''Song Sung Blue'' - Neil Diamond (05/13/72)

★ ''Half Breed'' - Cher (09/01/73)

★ ''Annie's Song'' - John Denver (06/15/74)

★ ''Top of the World'' - The Carpenters (10/20/74)

★ ''The Way We Were'' - Barbra Streisand (12/22/74)

★ ''Thank God I'm a Country Boy'' -John Denver (04/05/75)

★ ''Love Will Keep Us Together'' - Captain & Tennille (05/24/75)

★ ''I'm Sorry''/''Calypso'' - John Denver (08/30/75)

★ ''Theme from Mahogany (Do You Know Where You're Going To)'' - Diana Ross (11/22/76)

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

Blaine is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He lives in Los Angeles.

Hal Blaine Trivia

In 1965 the Beach Boys and Dean Torrence of Jan and Dean recorded an off-the-cuff cover version of the Regents' 1950s hit song, ''Barbara Ann.'' It was released as a 45 rpm single and on the ''Beach Boys Party'' LP in 1965. During the hectic instrumental break, one of the singers can be heard shouting off-mike, "It's Hal and His Famous Ashtrays!". This is a reference to Blaine, who was playing percussion at the session, and who accompanied this improvised song by drumming on a pair of overturned glass ashtrays.
The Beach Boys' drummer, Dennis Wilson, rarely played on Beach Boys records, letting Hal Blaine do most of the studio work. In fact, when Dennis made his own solo album, ''Pacific Ocean Blue'' he hired Blaine to play the drums. Blaine said, "I made $50 an hour playing Beach Boys songs in the studio- Dennis made $50,000 a week playing them in concert."

References

★ Blaine, Hal with David Groggin, ''Hal Blaine and The Wrecking Crew'', Mix Books, 1990

★ Whitburn. Joel, ''Top 40 Hits'', Billboard Publications, New York 1992

External Links

Official website