Bob Relf
{{Short description|American R&B singer (1937–2007)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2014}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Rob Relf
| image =
| caption =
| image_size =
| birth_name = Robert Nelson Relf
| alias = Bob Relf
Bobby Relf
Bobby Garrett
Bobby Valentino
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1937|1|10}}
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2007|11|20|1937|1|10}}
| death_place = Bakersfield, California
| origin = Los Angeles
| instrument =
| genre = Soul music
R&B
Northern soul
| occupation = Singer, songwriter, record producer
| years_active = 1954–2007
| label =
| associated_acts = The Hollywood Flames, Bobby Day, Bob and Earl, Barry White, Love Unlimited, White Heat.
| website =
}}
Robert Nelson Relf (January 10, 1937 – November 20, 2007){{cite web|title=Bobby Relf|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article3047219.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080724213006/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article3047219.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 24, 2008|publisher=Timesonline|accessdate=June 18, 2011}}{{cite web|title=Bob Relf|url=http://www.millbrand.com/bobrelf.html|publisher=www.millbrand.com|accessdate=June 19, 2011}} was an American R&B and soul musician. Best known as half of the soul music duo Bob & Earl whose song, Harlem Shuffle was released in the US in 1963 and in the UK in 1964. It was re-released 1969 reaching No 7 in the UK charts. Relf's recording of the song "Blowing My Mind to Pieces" was written by Lou Barreto as well as being produced by Lou Barreto and Rod Bumgardner. The song became popular on the Northern soul scene in the UK in the 1970s.
Musical career
Relf attended Fremont High School, Los Angeles, and in 1954 joined fellow pupils Sam Jackson, Ted Brown and Ronald Brown in forming a doo wop group, The Laurels.{{cite news|last=Perrone|first=Pierre|title=Bobby Relf: Half of the soul duo Bob & Earl|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/bobby-relf-half-of-the-soul-duo-bob--earl-781056.html|accessdate=June 19, 2011|newspaper=The Independent|date=February 12, 2008}} They recorded on the Combo and the Cash Record labels. Their "Our Love" an operatic ballad on the Cash label was described by the music writer Jim Dawson as one of Relf's best recordings – "a strange, lugubrious performance that sounds like nothing else".
Relf's solo recording of "Little Fool" followed in 1956 without success. He spent short stints with the Crescendoes, the Upfronts, Valentino and the Lovers (Donna Records) The Hollywood Flames and Bobby Day and the Satellites. With the Crescendos, he recorded "Finders Keepers", "I'll Be Seeing You" and "Sweet Dreams" for Atlantic Records in 1956, alongside Prentice Moreland, Young Jessie of The Flairs, and Bobby Byrd of The Hollywood Flames.{{cite web|title=Atlantic Records Discography: 1956|url=http://www.jazzdisco.org/atlantic-records/discography-1956/|publisher=www.jazzdisco.org|accessdate=June 19, 2011}}{{cite book
| author1= Galen Gart
| author2= Steve Propes
| authorlink=
| year=2001
| title=L.A. R&B Vocal Groups 1945–1965
| publisher=Big Nickel Publications
| location=Milford, NH
| pages= 38
| isbn= 0-936433-18-3}}
=Bob and Earl=
Bobby Day formed the original Bob & Earl duo in 1957 with Earl Nelson. When Day left to go solo in 1962, Relf took his place.
They recorded Harlem Shuffle in 1963 a song part-arranged by the keyboards player, Barry White.
=Bobby Valentino=
As 'Bobby Valentino he recorded Special Delivery b/w How Deep Is The Ocean for the West Coast label Lita label{{cite web|url=http://www.sirshambling.com/artists/bobby_valentino/bobby_valentino.html |title=Sir Shambling's Deep Soul Heaven - BOBBY VALENTINO |accessdate=2011-08-18 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110930051714/http://www.sirshambling.com/artists/bobby_valentino/bobby_valentino.html |archivedate=September 30, 2011 |df=mdy }}
=Bobby Garrett=
Using the pseudonym 'Bobby Garrett' he recorded two singles on the Mirwood label in 1966. "I Can't Get Away" became a Northern soul favourite in the UK and was used to advertise Kentucky Fried Chicken on national TV in the US. Also popular was "My Little Girl" which originally appeared as the flip side of the soulful ballad "Big Brother".
=Northern soul=
Relf's song and most popular solo track, "Blowing My Mind To Pieces", was recorded at Ray Charles' RPM studios in Los Angeles. The uplifting song was written by Lou Barreto and produced by Lou Barreto and Rod Bumgardner. The song was also a hit on the Northern Soul scene in the early 1970s.{{cite web|title=Interviews – Ian Levine |url=http://www.djhistory.com/interviews/ian-levine?s=a8704cfbcb07508391f2819be2238996 |publisher=www.djhistory.com |accessdate=June 18, 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927161702/http://www.djhistory.com/interviews/ian-levine?s=a8704cfbcb07508391f2819be2238996 |archivedate=September 27, 2011 |df=mdy }} It was re-released in the UK in 1974 using Relf's name but was by a completely different singer.
=Later career=
Relf wrote and produced songs for Jackie Lee including "The Chicken" and "African Boo-Ga-Loo".{{cite web|title=Jackie Lee – The Chicken / I Love You|url=http://www.discogs.com/Jackie-Lee-The-Chicken-I-Love-You/release/921296|publisher=www.discogs.com|accessdate=June 19, 2011}}{{cite web|title=Jackie Lee – African Boo-Ga-Loo|url=http://www.discogs.com/Jackie-Lee-African-Boo-Ga-Loo/release/2588046|publisher=www.discogs.com|accessdate=June 19, 2011}}
In the early 1970s Relf resumed working with Barry White helping to produce discs by Love Unlimited, Gloria Scott and White Heat. A Relf composition, "Bring Back My Yesterday", was recorded by White in 1973 on the album I've Got So Much to Give. He also co-wrote, with White, the B side, "I Should Have Known", from Love Unlimited's hit single, "Walkin' In The Rain with the One I Love".{{cite web|title=Love Unlimited – Walkin' In The Rain with the One I Love|url=http://www.discogs.com/Love-Unlimited-Walkin-In-The-Rain-With-The-One-I-Love/release/1289527|publisher=www.discogs.com|accessdate=June 19, 2011}}
Death
Having been ill for several years, Relf died at his home in Bakersfield in 2007.{{cite web|title=Bob Relf at Discogs|url=http://www.discogs.com/artist/Bob+Relf|publisher=www.discogs.com|accessdate=June 18, 2011}} He was buried at the Evergreen Cemetery in Los Angeles on November 27, 2007.{{cite web|title=Funeral services for Nov. 22|date=November 21, 2007 |url=http://www.bakersfield.com/news/2007/11/22/funeral-services-for-nov-39.html|publisher=www.bakersfield.com|accessdate=June 19, 2011}}
References
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Category:African-American male songwriters
Category:Northern soul musicians
Category:Songwriters from California
Category:American soul singers
Category:Record producers from California
Category:Singers from California
Category:Mirwood Records artists
Category:Burials at Evergreen Cemetery, Los Angeles
Category:20th-century African-American male singers
Category:20th-century American male singers
Category:20th-century American singers