Hal Blaine

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Hal Blaine (born Harold Simon Belsky on February 5, 1929 in Holyoke, Massachusetts) is an American drummer and session musician. Image:HalBlaine&the-WreckingCrew.jpg He played on recordings with Frank Sinatra, The Beach Boys and Elvis Presley. He published his memoirs, Hal Blaine and the Wrecking Crew in 1990.

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:

• Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass in 1966, for "A Taste of Honey",
• Frank Sinatra in 1967, for "Strangers in the Night",
• 5th Dimension in 1968, for "Up, Up and Away",
• Simon & Garfunkel in 1969, for "Mrs. Robinson",
• 5th Dimension in 1970, for "Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In",
• Simon & Garfunkel in 1971 for "Bridge Over Troubled Water".

Hal Blaine's #1 Hits

• Can't Help Falling in Love with You - Elvis Presley 12/18/61
• He's a Rebel The Crystals 10/06/62
• Surf City Jan & Dean 06/22/63
• I Get Around Beach Boys 06/06/64
• Everybody Loves Somebody Dean Martin 07/11/64
• Ringo Loren Greene 11/07/64
• This Diamond Ring Gary Lewis & the Playboys 01/23/65
• Help Me Rhonda Beach Boys 05/01/65
• Mr Tambourine Man Byrds 06/05/65
• I Got You Babe Sonny & Cher 07/31/65
• Eve of Destruction Barry McGuire 08/28/65
• My Love Petula Clark 01/15/66
• These Boots are Made for Walkin' Nancy Sinatra 02/05/66
• Monday Monday Mamas and Papas 04/16/66
• Strangers in the Night Frank Sinatra 05/28/66
• Poor Side of Town Johnny Rivers 10/08/66
• Good Vibrations Beach Boys 10/29/66
• Something Stupid Frank & Nancy Sinatra 03/25/67
• The Happening Supremes 04/15/67
• Windy Association 06/03/67
• Mrs Robinson Simon & Garfunkel 05/04/68
• Dizzy Tommy Roe 02/15/69
• Aquarius/Let the Sunshine 5th Dimension 03/15/69
• Love Theme-Romeo & Juliet Henry Mancini 05/24/69
• Wedding Bell Blues 5th Dimension 10/04/69
• Bridge Over Troubled Water Simon & Garfunkel 02/14/70
• Close To You Carpenters 06/27/70
• Cracklin' Rosie Neil Diamond 08/29/70
• Indian Reservation Paul Revere & the Raiders 05/29/71
• I Think I Love You Partridge Family 10/31/71
• Song Sung Blue Neil Diamond 05/13/72
• Half Breed Cher 09/01/73
• Annie's Song John Denver 06/15/74
• Top of the World Carpenters 10/20/74
• The Way We Were Barbra Streisand 12/22/74
• Thank God I'm a Country Boy John Denver 04/05/75
• Love Will Keep Us Together Captain & Tennile 05/24/75
• I'm Sorry/Calypso John Denver 08/30/75
• Theme From Mahogany Diana Ross 11/22/76

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

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

Hal Blaine Trivia

In 1965 the Beach Boys and Dean Torrance of Jan and Dean recorded an ad-libbed cover version of the Regent's 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 Hal Blaine, who was playing percussion at the session, and who accompanied this improvised song by drumming on a pair of overturned glass ashtrays.

References

• Blaine, Hal with David Groggin, Hal Blaine and The Wrecking Crew, Mix Books, 1990
• Whitburn. Joel, Top 40 Hits, Billboard Publications, New York 1992de:Hal Blaine

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