An encore for Roy Hamilton

His first single spent eights at No. 1 on the R&B chart. The hits that followed "You'll Never Walk Alone" included "Ebb Tide" and "Unchained Melody." The artists and acts he influenced included Jackie Wilson and the Righteous Brothers. 

But when you review today's Birthday Band it's possible you won't even recognize his name. Roy Hamilton  was only 40 when he died of a stroke in 1969.  The one song he recorded that nobody came back and topped was "Don't Let Go," a bopper that was a crossover hit (No. 2 R&B, No. 13 Pop) in 1957.

Listen up, and light five candles for Hamilton and today's other band members:

Henry Mancini (1924-1994), composer: Moon River, Days of Wine and Roses, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, themes for The Pink Panther, Mr. Lucky, Peter Gunn
 
Roy Hamilton (1929-1969), singer: You’ll Never Walk Alone, If I Loved You, Ebb Tide, Unchained Melody, Don’t Let Go, You Can Have Her

Herbie Mann (1930-2003), jazz musician: Hijack, Superman, Comin’ Home Baby, Bang! Bang!, Violets Don’t Be Blue

Bobby Vinton (1935), singer: Roses are Red, Blue on Blue, Blue Velvet, Mr. Lonely

Dusty Springfield (1939-1999), singer:  Wishin’ and Hopin’, You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me, The Look of Love, Son-of-a-Preacher Man, The Windmills of Your Mind, A Brand New Me

Gerry Rafferty (1947): Singer, songwriter: Baker Street, Stuck in the Middle With You