Bobby Russell
Encyclopedia
Bobby Russell was an American
singer and songwriter. Between 1966 and 1973, he charted five singles
on the Hot Country Songs
charts, including the crossover pop hit "Saturday Morning Confusion." Russell was also married to singer and actress Vicki Lawrence
from 1972 to 1974.
," his critique of country justice (a major hit for his then-wife Vicki Lawrence
, to whom he was married from 1972 to 1974); "Used To Be" (from the movie The Grasshopper); and "Little Green Apples
," which won him a Song of the Year Grammy Award
in 1968 from the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences
. He wrote the song "Honey
", which was a hit for Bobby Goldsboro
in 1968, spending five weeks at the top of the Billboard Pop Singles Chart
. He also wrote and performed a major hit in "Saturday Morning Confusion". Other songs that Russell recorded himself were "1432 Franklin Pike Circle Hero", "For a While We Helped Each Other Out", "Our Love Will Rise Again", and "Mid American Manufacturing Tycoon". He also wrote and recorded "Summer Sweet" for the Disney live-action, Rascal
(1969) and wrote and sang the title song "As Far As I'm Concerned" over the opening credits of the 1969 movie The Grasshopper
. He wrote the ballad "Do You Know Who I Am", which was recorded by Elvis Presley
during his 1969 Memphis sessions when he also cut "In The Ghetto" and "Suspicious Minds". Another song that Bobby Russell penned was "The Joker Went Wild", a hit on Billboard Top 40 for Brian Hyland
in 1966. The Russell composition "Camp Werthahekahwee" appeared on a 1986 album from Ray Stevens
. The song deals with summer camp and the eerie and bizarre surroundings a father alerts his son to prior to camp. The concept of the song deals with the inability of the natives to find their way home, so the natives set up their homes in the middle of nowhere after getting lost. The name of the camp, of course, is pronounced "where the heck are we?" and it was started by an Indian chief whose name also escapes the father.
Russell died in Nicholasville
, Kentucky
of coronary artery disease, on November 19, 1992. He
was 52 years old.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
singer and songwriter. Between 1966 and 1973, he charted five singles
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
on the Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales...
charts, including the crossover pop hit "Saturday Morning Confusion." Russell was also married to singer and actress Vicki Lawrence
Vicki Lawrence
Vicki Lawrence is an American actress, comedienne, and Billboard Hot 100 #1 singer, who was frequently a game show panelist in the 1970s and 1980s...
from 1972 to 1974.
Career
Russell wrote several hits, including "The Night the Lights Went Out in GeorgiaThe Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia
"The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia" is a Southern Gothic song written by songwriter Bobby Russell and performed in 1972 by his then-wife Vicki Lawrence...
," his critique of country justice (a major hit for his then-wife Vicki Lawrence
Vicki Lawrence
Vicki Lawrence is an American actress, comedienne, and Billboard Hot 100 #1 singer, who was frequently a game show panelist in the 1970s and 1980s...
, to whom he was married from 1972 to 1974); "Used To Be" (from the movie The Grasshopper); and "Little Green Apples
Little Green Apples
"Little Green Apples" is a song written by Bobby Russell which was most successful as a 1968 hit single by O. C. Smith.According to Buzz Cason, who partnered Bobby Russell in the Nashville-based Rising Sons music publishing firm, Russell wrote both the songs "Honey" and "Little Green Apples" as "an...
," which won him a Song of the Year Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
in 1968 from the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences
National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences
The National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, Inc., known variously as The Recording Academy or NARAS, is a U.S. organization of musicians, producers, recording engineers and other recording professionals dedicated to improving the quality of life and cultural condition for music and its...
. He wrote the song "Honey
Honey (Bobby Goldsboro song)
"Honey," also known as "Honey ," is a song written by Bobby Russell. He first produced it with former Kingston Trio member Bob Shane...
", which was a hit for Bobby Goldsboro
Bobby Goldsboro
Bobby Goldsboro is an American country and pop singer-songwriter. He had a string of Pop and Country hits during the 1960s and 1970s, including his signature #1 classic "Honey," which sold well over one million copies in the United States.-Early life:Goldsboro was born in Marianna, Florida...
in 1968, spending five weeks at the top of the Billboard Pop Singles Chart
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
. He also wrote and performed a major hit in "Saturday Morning Confusion". Other songs that Russell recorded himself were "1432 Franklin Pike Circle Hero", "For a While We Helped Each Other Out", "Our Love Will Rise Again", and "Mid American Manufacturing Tycoon". He also wrote and recorded "Summer Sweet" for the Disney live-action, Rascal
Rascal (film)
Rascal is a film that was released in 1969 by Walt Disney Pictures.-Synopsis:The movie is based on Sterling North's 1963 "memoir of a better era." North, born near Edgerton, Wisconsin, was a former literary editor for newspapers in Chicago and New York...
(1969) and wrote and sang the title song "As Far As I'm Concerned" over the opening credits of the 1969 movie The Grasshopper
The Grasshopper (film)
The Grasshopper is a 1969 drama film directed by Jerry Paris. It stars Jacqueline Bisset and Jim Brown.-Plot:Christine Adams, a cheerful 19-year-old from British Columbia, Canada, travels to Los Angeles to be with her fiance, who works there in a bank. When the relationship doesn't work out, she...
. He wrote the ballad "Do You Know Who I Am", which was recorded by Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
during his 1969 Memphis sessions when he also cut "In The Ghetto" and "Suspicious Minds". Another song that Bobby Russell penned was "The Joker Went Wild", a hit on Billboard Top 40 for Brian Hyland
Brian Hyland
Brian Hyland is an American pop recording artist who was particularly successful during the early 1960s. He continued recording into the 1970s...
in 1966. The Russell composition "Camp Werthahekahwee" appeared on a 1986 album from Ray Stevens
Ray Stevens
Ray Stevens is an American country music, pop singer-songwriter who has become known for his novelty songs.-Early career:...
. The song deals with summer camp and the eerie and bizarre surroundings a father alerts his son to prior to camp. The concept of the song deals with the inability of the natives to find their way home, so the natives set up their homes in the middle of nowhere after getting lost. The name of the camp, of course, is pronounced "where the heck are we?" and it was started by an Indian chief whose name also escapes the father.
Russell died in Nicholasville
Nicholasville, Kentucky
Nicholasville is the 11th largest city in state of Kentucky and the county seat of Jessamine County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 19,680 at the 2000 census...
, Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
of coronary artery disease, on November 19, 1992. He
was 52 years old.
Albums
| Year | Album | Chart Positions | Label | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Country | US Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
|||
| 1968 | Words, Music, Laughter and Tears | — | — | Elf |
| 1969 | Bobby Russell Unlimited | — | — | Elf |
| 1971 | Saturday Morning Confusion | 44 | 183 | United Artists |
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart Positions | Album | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Country Hot Country Songs Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales... |
US Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
CAN Canadian Singles Chart The Canadian Singles Chart is currently compiled by the U.S.-based music sales tracking company, Nielsen SoundScan . The chart is compiled every Wednesday, and is published by Jam! Canoe on Thursdays.... |
CAN Country | CAN AC | |||
| 1966 | "Friends and Mirrors" | — | — | 22 | — | — | single only |
| 1967 | "Dusty" | — | — | — | — | — | Words, Music, Laughter and Tears |
| 1968 | "1432 Franklin Pike Circle Hero" | 64 | 36 | 35 | — | — | |
| 1969 | "Carlie" | 66 | 115 | — | — | — | singles and Bobby Russell Unlimited |
| "Then She's a Lover" | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Better Homes and Gardens" | 34 | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1970 | "Our Love Will Rise Again" | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 1971 | "Saturday Morning Confusion" | 24 | 28 | 27 | 13 | 14 | Saturday Morning Confusion |
| 1973 | "Mid American Manufacturing Tycoon" | 93 | — | — | — | — | single only |