It was a summer weekend in 1958; Buddy Holly had yet to take his fateful flight. His hits, along with those of Fats Domino, Little Richard, Carl Perkins and Elvis, filled the airwaves. In the small resort town of Port Dover, Ontario, the teens were hanging out at Powell Park, much like they still do today. A souped up yellow 1950 Ford flathead V8, complete with chrome spotlights and baby moon hubcaps slowly drifted down Main Street towards the beach, it’s Hollywood muffler huffing and chugging as it passed. The girls in the park, all decked out in bobby socks and saddle shoes giggled as the driver smiled and waved. As he honked his horn a dilapidated farm truck passed, the driver scowling. What was the world coming to?
As evening approached, everyone began drifting towards the beach; towards the amusement park, the mini putt course and the legendary Summer Garden. In the adjoining parking lot, a small crowd began to converge around a salmon coloured 1956 Ford Meteor convertible. Unless you were up close, you couldn’t see what was going on, but you sure could hear, because on the trunk lid sat Rockin’ Bobby Harris, banging out a tune on his old flattop guitar. He stopped momentarily, ran a comb through his D.A. haircut, and soon began to sing again. The crowd grew bigger and bigger. They were jivin’ and swingin’ as he sang ‘Boppin’ the Blues,’ ‘Party Doll,’ Honky Tonk Hardwood Floor,’ and ‘Blue Moon of Kentucky.’ Lordy, could that boy sing! Welcome to the season of rock’n’roll.
Bob Riley - 1995
And so reads the first couple of paragraphs for the one-sheet ‘Bob E. Harris – Hillbilly Supreme!’ giving an overview of the career of the rockabilly artist known as Rockin’ Bobby Harris.
Although Bobby began playing in 1958, this is the first time he's had a serious internet presence, with videos up at YouTube, and a Facebook group, and of course his inclusion on this blog.
This is all working up to Bobby's new CD, 'Encore,' slated for this August, and an autobiography, slated for the fall if everything goes as planned.
Bobby was born in Simcoe, ON, as Robert Edward Harris on July 9th 1937, the son of Clarence & Fern (DeFields) Harris. Bobby is a 5th cousin to author Thom Ryerson, who is also managing his career into the 21st century. Bobby actually signed with Thom's label Mouton Music Canada back on May 29th 2000. It just took some time to get things moving.
Someone I'm Proud to Know
Bobby's very first book review - Dec '22 The Port Dover Maple Leaf
Bobby's 3rd CD released on August 15th 2022!
It's 17 track compilation of his seven original songs recorded in 2005, and then two different live performances from 1996. A big thanks to Gern Glenson for helping transfer the eleven videos from Bobby's DVD to YouTube. This made it possible to convert the videos into actual songs for this CD.
The 17 Songs on the CD: 1) The Yup Yup Boogie - This Bobby Harris original was composed in 1957 and has been a staple in his live repertoire. This CD includes the studio version and a live version. 2) Diane - In July of 1958 Bobby wrote his seventh song, ‘Diane,’ which remains a popular favorite to this day. He found inspiration while riding around Turkey Point on a windy day with a girl named Susan in her ‘51 Ford Convertible. DJ Fred Smith broadcasts from the University of Western Ontario on CHRW with a show called the ‘Hardcore Country Show,’ and Dianne is his favourite Rockin’ Bobby Harris song. 3) Bobby’s Got The Blues (1992) T.B. Blues (Jimmie Rodgers & Raymond Hall) Bobby incorporates this 1931 classic into the chorus of his own original number. 4) Once (You’ve Had The Best) - Port Dover native Bruce ‘House’ Milner is a very big fan of this 1995 Bobby Harris number, and would like to record it one of these days. House’s wife, Liz, really likes Bobby’s song ‘In and Out (Of My Life).’ 5) In and Out (Of my Life) - Doug Semple has recorded this 1995 Bobby original composition as he has the perfect voice for Bobby’s material. Bobby says this song is one of his most pop sounding tunes. 6) Someone I’m Proud to Know – This was one of many original songs inspired by Sharon Lee Martin, written in January 1961 in a Delhi restaurant on a very cold night which was peppered with freezing rain. He had no actual paper so he ended up writing the lyrics on the inside of his paper bag from his food order, grease and all. Sharon also inspired the songs, ‘Sharon, She’s Gone,’ ‘Darling, The Night Seems So Long,’ ‘Was it all meant to be?’, ‘Yesterday,’ ‘Why Must We,’ ‘I’ll Never Do It Again,’ and ‘It Seems the One You Really Want Is the One You Never Get,’ which he later shortened to ‘The One You Really Want.’ 7) I’m Coming Home (Johnny Horton/Tillman Franks) Originally released as a single by Johnny Horton in November 1956, with other versions by Earl Aycock (May 1957) and Waylon Jennings (1989). 8) Boppin’ the Blues (Carl Perkins/Howard Griffin) Released as a single in May 1956 by Carl Perkins, originally called “Rock, Bop, Rhythm and Blues.” 9) (Let’s Have A) Party! (Jessie Mae Robinson) This was originally recorded in 1957 by Elvis, and this was the version Bobby got to know, until it was recorded by the Queen of Rockabilly, Wanda Jackson, in 1958. Bobby loves both versions for different reasons. 10) Bobby’s Got The Blues (Rockin’ Bobby Harris, Jimmie Rodgers & Raymond Hall) Bobby incorporates the 1931 classic ‘T.B. Blues’ into the chorus of his own original number which always gets ‘em going! 11) Alone With You (Faron Young/Roy Drusky/Lester Vanadore) Originally released in May 1958 by Faron Young, a very popular audience request for Bobby. 12) Valley of Tears (Dave Bartholomew & Antonio Domino) Fats Domino released this song as a single in April 1957, and it has been covered by Buddy Holly (1958), Brenda Lee (1962) and Faron Young (1964). 13) Going Ape (Over You) (Abe Mulkey/Bruce Delaney) Jimmy Martin made this bluegrass number a live favourite when he released it as a single in October 1967. Jimmy is one of Bobby’s idols. 14) Early in the Morning (Bobby Darin & Woody Harris) Originally released as a single by Bobby Darin in June 1958, both Buddy Holly (July 1958) and Bobby Vee (December 1963) covered it as well. This is another one of Bobby’s most requested songs because when he plays it in a band setting, the band goes nuts. 15) Diggy Liggy Lo (Terry J. Clement) Released as a single in September 1961 by Rusty and Doug Kershaw, Bobby doesn’t actually know the words, but when he plays it, nobody cares! The audience goes crazy when they hear this energetic number. All of Bobby’s Cajun songs get the listeners hyper as heck. 16) Boppin’ the Blues (Carl Perkins/Howard Griffin) Released as a single in May 1956 by Carl Perkins, originally called “Rock, Bop, Rhythm and Blues.” 17) Dancing In The Sand - Over 1995 Bobby wrote three songs influenced by Caroline Houle Knack Wood, ‘In and Out (Of My Life),’ ‘Once (You’ve Had The Best)’ and ‘Dancing in the Sand.’ While Bobby and Caroline broke up for a week, he began to use the name of Mary-Anne in ‘Dancing in the Sand,’ and it stuck. While he continued to date Caroline, he used her name when he played the song, and afterwards he went back to Mary-Anne.
Thom has copies of this CD for $25 each! Just give him a dingle! Or E-Mail him HERE!
The Musicians:
Tracks 1 to 6 recorded April 2005, while tracks 16 and 17 were recorded June 5th 2005, London, ON.
James Cummings – Electric Guitar & Mandolin Carlos La Torre – Percussion Andy Mawdsley – Washtub Bass W. Miles – 12 String Acoustic Guitar
Tracks 7 to 15 recorded October 1996, Port Dover, ON
Sheldon Henry Tait - Doghouse Bass Boyd Burnett - Drums Bob Riley - Harmonica Khristine Marie ‘Kris’ St. Louis – Electric Guitar |
Bobby's three CD's! Gotta collect them all!
Bobby at 17 - 1954
Please keep checking back to this blog as we add more information about Bobby and his career, the first priority will be links to his YouTube Channel and Facebook group.
Congratulations Bobby it is so good to see you are still Rockin you are a true inspiration Take Care and Rock On
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