Robert Ellis Orrall
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| Robert Ellis Orrall | |
|---|---|
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| Background information | |
| Also known as | Bob Something |
| Born | May 4, 1955 |
| Origin | Winthrop, Massachusetts, USA |
| Genre(s) | Country Indie rock |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter Record producer |
| Instrument(s) | Vocals, rhythm guitar |
| Years active | 1980-present |
| Label(s) | RCA, Infinity Cat (solo) Giant (in Orrall & Wright) |
| Associated acts | Carlene Carter Orrall & Wright Curtis Wright |
Robert Ellis Orrall (born May 4, 1955 in Winthrop, Massachusetts) is an American singer-songwriter and record producer. Signed to RCA Records in 1980, Orrall debuted that year with the single "I Couldn't Say No", a duet with Carlene Carter. By 1990, Orrall found success as a country music songwriter, having penned singles for Shenandoah and Clay Walker.
In 1993, Orrall made his debut on the country charts with the Top 20 single "Boom! It Was Over". Later singles proved unsuccessful, however, and Orrall soon lost his record deal with RCA Records. He then teamed up with songwriting partner Curtis Wright to form a duo called Orrall & Wright, which found minor chart success in 1994. After Orrall & Wright disbanded, he returned to songwriting; currently, he has switched his focus to indie rock on his own Infinity Cat Recordings label, although he occasionally writes country music singles as well.
Contents |
[edit] Musical career
[edit] Beginnings
Orrall's musical career began in 1980, when he signed to RCA Records. While on that label, he released three pop albums: Fixation, Special Pain, and Contain Yourself. Special Pain also produced Orrall's first chart single in "I Couldn't Say No", a duet with Carlene Carter (also her first chart hit) which peaked in the Top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100.[1] Although it would be both artists' only pop hit, both Carter and Orrall would later chart several country hits in the 1990s.
[edit] Country music
Orrall eventually gained an interest in country music through such acts as Steve Earle, Lyle Lovett, and Foster & Lloyd.[1] He then moved to Nashville, Tennessee[2], intending to work on his songwriting and record producing skills.[1] One of his first cuts was Shenandoah's "Next to You, Next to Me", which Orrall co-wrote with Curtis Wright (who succeeded Marty Raybon as Shenandoah's lead singer in the late 1990s).[2]
By 1992, Orrall released his first country album, still on the RCA label.[1] Titled Flying Colors, the album produced three charting singles, including a Top 20 in "Boom! It Was Over". In 1993, Clay Walker reached Number One on the country charts with "What's It to You", another Curtis Wright co-write.
[edit] Orrall & Wright
Orrall and Wright paired up in 1994, forming a duo known as Orrall & Wright.[3][4] They recorded one album for Giant Records; although this album produced no major chart hits, the duo was nominated for Duo of the Year by the Country Music Association. Orrall & Wright split up in 1994; five years later, Wright succeeded Marty Raybon as the lead singer of Shenandoah.
[edit] Late 1990s
Orrall, meanwhile, continued to write songs and produce records for other country music artists, with Reba McEntire and Michael Peterson also charting singles co-written by him ("What If It's You" for McEntire, and "From Here to Eternity" and "By the Book" for Peterson). He briefly gained an interest in painting, and held one-man shows around Nashville.[4]
Orrall formed an independent label, called Infinity Cat Recordings. One of the acts signed to that label is fictitious indie rock group Monkey Bowl, in which Orrall assumes the pseudonym "Bob Something".[5] In 2004, the group achieved some notoriety for its song "Al Gore".[6] Written by Orrall, the song features spoken words by former United states vice president Al Gore himself.[7] Among the acts signed to the label are art-rockers Meemaw, pop-duo Cake Bake Betty, Be Your Own Pet, and the duo JEFF, which is composed of Orrall's sons, Jamin and Jake.[8]
In addition, Orrall continues to write songs for other country music artists, including Carolina Rain's 2006 single "Get Outta My Way" (another co-write with Curtis Wright), as well as a song on Taylor Swift's debut album.
[edit] Solo discography
All albums released on RCA Records.
[edit] Albums
- Fixation (1981)
- Special Pain (1983)
- Contain Yourself (1984)
- Flying Colors (1992)
Orrall recorded three other CDs, titled Mistakes, Gravity, and Steffle/Flanders, which were given away only to friends.[4][9]
[edit] Singles
| Year | Single | US Country | US Hot 100 | Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | "I Couldn't Say No" (w/ Carlene Carter) | 32 | Special Pain | |
| 1993 | "Boom! It Was Over" | 19 | Flying Colors | |
| "A Little Bit of Her Love" | 31 | |||
| "Every Day When I Get Home" | 64 |
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d Peermusic - The Independent Major :: Robert Ellis Orrall
- ^ a b Robert Ellis Orrall : OLDIES.com
- ^ allmusic (((Curtis Wright > Biography)))
- ^ a b c CMT.com : Robert Ellis Orrall : Robert Ellis Orrall Gets Personal in New Paintings, Albums
- ^ monkey bowl
- ^ Music Row Democrats - Cut by Cut
- ^ In Nashville, Sounds of Political Uprising From the Left
- ^ Nashville Scene - The Cat's Out of the Bag
- ^ Grand Ole Opportunity
