Buzz Clifford

Buzz Clifford (born Reese Francis Clifford III, 8 October 1942, Berwyn, Illinois) is an American pop singer and songwriter.

Career

Clifford played guitar as a child and won several talent competitions as a teenager. He signed to Bow Records at age 15, releasing a few singles but finding no success. After signing with Columbia Records, he released the single "Hello Mr. Moonlight", which did not chart. The follow-up, "Baby Sittin' Boogie/ Driftwood" (though Driftwood was technically the B-side the record tends to be regarded as a double-A-side), became a crossover hit in the U.S. in 1961, peaking at #6 on the Billboard Hot 100, #27 R&B, and #28 Country. [ [http://wc01.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:d9frxqt5ldae~T5 Billboard Singles] , Allmusic.com] The record went on to sell over one million copies, and as a result of its success, Columbia tried to groom Clifford as a pop singer. He appeared on TV with Perry Como and Merv Griffin and on "American Bandstand", and toured the United Kingdom with Freddy Cannon and Dion. [ [http://wc01.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:d9frxqt5ldae~T1 Biography] , Allmusic.com] Clifford's fame was short-lived, however; further singles went nowhere and Clifford soon found himself without a recording contract.

After serving in the National Guard, Clifford moved to Los Angeles, California and found work as a songwriter, writing tunes sung by Keith Barbour, Petula Clark, Clyde McPhatter, Lou Rawls, Leon Russell, and Kris Kristofferson. Later in the 1960s, he was involved with a band called Carp (including actor Gary Busey and songwriter Danny Moore), who released one album on Epic Records in 1969. He also did recording sessions in Tulsa, Oklahoma with former Beach Boy David Marks, but these were never issued.

Marks, Clifford, and Moore reunited in the 1990s and released an album called "Work Tapes"; he toured as a band with Marks and his two sons until 1997. After recording in Denmark, another LP, "Norse Horse", was issued.

In 1999, Beck sampled an early Clifford tune, "I See, I Am", in the single "Milk and Honey" for his "Midnite Vultures" album.

In 2003, the 28-track CD More Than Just Babysittin': Complete Recordings 1958-1967 was released. The songs are digitally remastered, and some striking differences are apparent, including a fade-out ending on the CD version of Driftwood.

References