Gil Garfield (May 20, 1933 - Jan 01, 2011) was a singer,
songwriter, producer and a former member of the 1950s vocal group The Cheers.
Gilbert I. Garfield was born May 20, 1933, in Los Angeles to
Harriet and Harold Garfield. His father owned a chain of drugstores throughout
Los Angeles and later expanded his business into real estate. Gil graduated
from North Hollywood High School and was a business major at USC.
While in college, he began singing in area nightclubs. He
was encouraged to record, and he eventually formed the Cheers in 1954 with
fellow singers Sue Allen and Bert Convy, who became known as an actor and
game-show host.
The Cheers recorded a Top 10 single, Leiber & Stoller's
"Black Denim Trousers and Motorcycle Boots," in 1955. The trio hit
the Billboard charts again with Leiber & Stoller's "Bazoom! I Need
Your Lovin'," and they recorded several demos of other Leiber &
Stoller tunes.
"(Bazoom) I Need Your Lovin'." hit number three on the U.S. chart in 1954. This was the first hit written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller to chart on the Pop charts in the United States, and was one of the first rock and roll hits by a white group (after The Crew Cuts and Bill Haley and the Comets).
"(Bazoom) I Need Your Lovin'." hit number three on the U.S. chart in 1954. This was the first hit written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller to chart on the Pop charts in the United States, and was one of the first rock and roll hits by a white group (after The Crew Cuts and Bill Haley and the Comets).
The Cheers disbanded in 1957. Gil then became a freelance
songwriter and publisher who joined forces friend Perry Botkin Jr. to form a
publishing company called Rock Music Inc., on Vine Street. The two men wrote
several songs together of which the most successful was “Passion Flower.” Their
own recording of it with the Fraternity Brothers charted at number 3 in Italy
during 1958 and the song was also a success in France under the title “Tout L’Amour.”
During the 60’s Garfield & Botkin and others, including Harry Nilsson, collaborated
on words and music on such recordings as "Wonderful Summer," by Robin
Ward, and "Paradise" by the Ronettes.
By the 70’s Garfield & Botkin sold their Rock Music Inc.
catalogue, including virtually all of Nilsson’s early songs for $150,000 to
Beechwood, the publishing arm of capitol Records.
Gil & Suzanne Garfield |
Garfield then became successful in real estate, refurbishing
and reselling houses, later in the 90’s turning to painting and collecting
contemporary art.
In 2002 Garfield had
a liver transplant and was a generous supporter of the Dumont UCLA Liver
Transplant Centre and the Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Center.
Gil died at The Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in
Los Angeles after a long battle with cancer. He was 77. He was completing a
semi-autobiographical musical at the time of his death.
(Info very scant but comprised from various sources)
1 comment:
I couldn’t find any compilation albums from The Cheers although they did enough tunes to fill one up! Still found a nice comp of various artists covering some of Lieber & Stuller’s songs from Jake @ Jukebox City blog. (Thanks Jake)
For the “Leiber & Stoller Story, volume 1” go here:
http://www86.zippyshare.com/v/fHKnyGCM/file.html
01 That's What The Good Book Says (Take 1) - Bobby Nunn And The Robins
02 Hard Times - Charles Brown
03 Nosey Joe - Bull Moose Jackson
04 Flying Home - Amos Milburn
05 Gloom And Misery All Around (Take 1) - Roy Hawkins
06 Bam Balam - Du Droppers
07 Real Ugly Woman - Jimmy Witherspoon
08 Mainliner - Little Esther
09 Kansas City (KC Lovin') - Little Willie Littlefield
10 Lovin' Jim - Little Mickey Champion
11 Too Bad Sweet Mama - Sam 'Highpocket's' Henderson
12 Ten Days In Jail - Robins
13 Squeeze Me - Milt Trenier
14 I Smell A Rat - Big Mama Thornton
15 Yeah, Yeah, Yeah - Joe Liggins
16 Come A Little Bit Closer - Willy And Ruth
17 It's A Miracle - Honey Bears
18 Bazoom (I Need Your Lovin') - Cheers
19 Riot In Cell Block #9 - Vicki Young
20 Hound Dog - Freddie Bell And The Bell Boys
21 Whadaya Want - Jack Cardwell
22 Down In Mexico - Ella Mae Morse
23 Hot Dog - Young Jessie
24 What About Me - Larry Evans
25 Tears Of Joy - Etta James
26 Ruby Baby - Drifters
27 If It's The Last Thing I Do - Frankie Marshall
28 L'homme A La Moto (Black Denim Trousers And Motorcycle Boots) - Edith Piaf
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