- H. B. Barnum
H. B. Barnum (born Hidle Brown Barnum,
15 July 1936 , Houston,Texas ) is an Americanpianist , arranger,record producer ,songwriter , and former childactor . Older Brother to backup singerBillie Barnum .After winning a nationwide talent contest at the age of four and starring in the motion picture "Valley of the Sun Marches On", he continued his acting career on TV in the
Amos 'n Andy Show s, theJack Benny Show, and others, making his first solo recording as Pee Wee Barnum in 1950.He then joined
doo-wop groupsThe Dootones and, in 1956, The Robins (laterThe Coasters ), for whom he played piano. In 1960, under the pseudonym "Dudley" he recorded the radio hit "El Pizza," aparody ofMarty Robbins ' "El Paso." In 1961 he had the only hit under his own name, theinstrumental "Lost Love", and in the same year recorded the first version of "Nut Rocker", credited to Jack B. Nimble and the Quicks. He also recorded threealbum s as a singer-pianist during the 1960s.Since that time he has become most widely known as an arranger, for a very wide range of performers including
Count Basie ,O.C. Smith ,Frank Sinatra ,The Supremes ,Aretha Franklin ,Little Richard ,Gladys Knight andAl Wilson . Barnum also produced, along with Johnnie Walls of JWP Productions which distributed the record, the 1985 hip-hop comedy song "Rappin' Duke ."
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