Cliff Nobles
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Cliff Nobles
| image =
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| birth_name = Clifford James Nobles
| alias =
| birth_date = {{birth date|1941|08|04}}
| birth_place = Grove Hill, Alabama, United States
| origin =
| death_date = {{death date and age|2008|10|12|1941|08|04}}
| death_place = Norristown, Pennsylvania, United States
| genre = Soul
| occupation = Singer
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Clifford James Nobles (August 4, 1941 – October 12, 2008) was an American soul singer, who is best known for his instrumental hit, "The Horse".
Biography
Nobles[http://www.timesherald.com/articles/2008/10/15/obituaries/20164492.prt] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120305121851/http://www.timesherald.com/articles/2008/10/15/obituaries/20164492.prt |date=March 5, 2012 }} was born in Grove Hill, Alabama, United States; grew up in Mobile, Alabama; and began singing in high school as a member of a local group, the Delroys. He moved to Philadelphia and recorded three singles for Atlantic Records, none of which charted.{{cite book|title=The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music|editor=Colin Larkin|publisher=Guinness Publishing|date=1992|edition=First|isbn=0-85112-939-0|page=1836/7}} While living in a commune in Norristown, Pennsylvania, he formed a group, Cliff Nobles & Co., with bassist Benny Williams, guitarist Bobby Tucker, and drummer Robert Marshall. They recorded demos and, with the help of songwriter/record producer Jesse James, landed a recording contract with Phil-L.A. of Soul Records.
Their second release for the record label was the single "Love Is All Right" b/w "The Horse", which featured the horn section from what would later be known as MFSB. "The Horse" was simply an instrumental version of the A-side, and Nobles, who was the lead singer, does not actually play on the track at all. Nevertheless, it caught fire at radio stations and became a hit, peaking at number 2 for three weeks on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1968, as well as number 2 on the R&B Singles chart.{{cite web|author= |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/cliff-nobles-mn0000126669/awards |title=Cliff Nobles | Awards |website=AllMusic |date=2008-10-12 |access-date=2015-08-19}} It was held out of the number 1 spot by Herb Alpert's "This Guy's in Love with You". In Canada, the song reached number 7.{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f2/nlc008388.5849.pdf| title=RPM Top 100 Singles - July 20, 1968}} "The Horse" sold a million copies within three months of release, with the gold disc award from the R.I.A.A. made in August 1968.{{cite book
| first= Joseph
| last= Murrells
| year= 1978
| title= The Book of Golden Discs
| edition= 2nd
| publisher= Barrie and Jenkins Ltd
| location= London
| pages= [https://archive.org/details/bookofgoldendisc00murr/page/244 244–245]
| isbn= 0-214-20512-6
| url-access= registration
| url= https://archive.org/details/bookofgoldendisc00murr/page/244
}} Nobles' record label continued releasing instrumental singles on which Nobles himself did not play a note, though a later single on which Nobles sang narrowly missed the R&B top 40. An album credited to Cliff Nobles & Co., entitled The Horse, was released consisting mostly of instrumentals, and hit number 159 on the Billboard 200 albums chart.{{cite web|author=Andrew Hamilton |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/cliff-nobles-mn0000126669 |title=Cliff Nobles | Biography |website=AllMusic |date= |access-date=2015-08-19}} In Canada, a further two singles did make the top 100; "Horse Fever" reached number 94, and "Switch It On" reached number 91.{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f2/nlc008388.5815.pdf| title=RPM Top 100 Singles - October 28, 1968}}{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f2/nlc008388.5904.pdf| title=RPM Top 100 Singles - February 24, 1969}}
After his music career, Nobles worked in construction and later in the electricity generation industry.
After moving to Norristown, Nobles had a daughter, Yvette Blakeslee (Bradley) in July 1977. Nobles died in Norristown, Pennsylvania in October 2008, at the age of 67.{{cite web|author=Doc Rock |url=http://thedeadrockstarsclub.com/newentrees.html |title=New Entries |publisher=The Dead Rock Stars Club |date= |access-date=2015-08-19}}
See also
References
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Category:People from Grove Hill, Alabama
Category:Jamie Records artists