Hal Blaine

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Hal Blaine

Background information
Birth name Harold Simon Belsky
Born February 5, 1929 (age 78)
Holyoke, Massachusetts
Occupation(s) session musician
Instrument(s) drums
Years active 1940s-present
Associated
acts		 Elvis Presley, Beach Boys, Jan and Dean, The Mamas and the Papas, The Byrds, Johnny Rivers, Elkie Brooks, The Association, Sonny and Cher, The Grass Roots, Gary Lewis and the Playboys, Frank Sinatra, John Lennon, Neil Diamond, Simon & Garfunkel, John Denver, Paul Revere & the Raiders, Captain & Tennille, The Carpenters, Henry Mancini, Paul Revere & the Raiders, 5th Dimension, Supremes, Barbra Streisand, Nancy Sinatra, Diana Ross, Jan & Dean, Dean Martin

Hal Blaine (b. Harold Simon Belsky, February 5, 1929, Holyoke, Massachusetts) is an American drummer and session musician.

He became a professional drummer in 1948 and joined teen idol Tommy Sands' band in the late Fifties. He was the most in-demand session drummer in Los Angeles during the Sixties and early Seventies, and a list of musicians he played with reads like a who's who of popular music. In 1961, Blaine drummed on Can't Help Falling in Love With You, one of Elvis Presley's most memorable sides, and he would play on Presley's film soundtracks throughout the Sixties.

However, Blaine's best-known affiliation is with producer Phil Spector, where he served as the percussive backbone of the Wrecking Crew — the nickname that younger studio hands on the L.A. scene bestowed on themselves after the rock-hating old-timers complained they were "wrecking the business".

He was a key component of Spector's Wall of Sound production, which yielded such classic rock and roll hits as Be My Baby by the Ronettes, and Da Doo Ron Ron by the Crystals. Blaine also established a fruitful relationship with Beach Boys leader Brian Wilson, for whom he served as the first-call session drummer. Blaine appeared on innumerable hits for them, ranging from Surfer Girl to Good Vibrations.

He also drummed on countless recordings by the cream of West Coast pop musicians, including Jan and Dean, The Mamas and the Papas, The Byrds, Johnny Rivers, Elkie Brooks, The Association, Sonny and Cher, The Grass Roots, and Gary Lewis and the Playboys.

Hal Blaine and the Wrecking Crew
Hal Blaine and the Wrecking Crew

A prolific musician, he played on countless recording sessions during the 1960s and 1970s, including on songs from notable artists such as Frank Sinatra, John Lennon and Elvis Presley.

By Blaine's own estimate, he performed on 35,000 recorded tracks over in a quarter century's worth of work. He published his memoirs, Hal Blaine and the Wrecking Crew in 1990.

Contents

[edit] 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:

[edit] Hal Blaine's #1 Hits

[edit] Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

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

[edit] 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."

[edit] 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
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