Rosalie "Rosie" Méndez Hamlin (July 21, 1945 –
March 30, 2017) was an American singer and songwriter who was the front-woman
of the group Rosie and the Originals, best known for the 1960 song "Angel
Baby", which became a Top 40 hit in 1961 when Hamlin was only fifteen
years old.
Hamlin's "Angel Baby" was covered by several
artists, including Linda Ronstadt and John Lennon, who cited Hamlin as one of
his favorite singers. She was the first Latina to be honoured by the
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, as well as the first Latina to appear on Dick Clark's American Bandstand in 1961.
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, as well as the first Latina to appear on Dick Clark's American Bandstand in 1961.
Rosalie "Rosie" Méndez Hamlin was born in
Klamath Falls, Oregon, on July 21, 1945, to a Ofelia Juana Méndez and Harry
Hamlin. Her mother was Mexican, and her father was of Anglo-American ancestry.
She spent part of her childhood between Anchorage, Alaska and California,
before her family moved to National City, California. Hamlin came from a
musical family; her father and grandfather were both musicians who had
backgrounds in vaudeville.
In the summer of 1956 Rosie's mother bought her an old
upright piano from a thrift store and an aunt taught her a few chords and
helped her with her vocal technique. The shy schoolgirl began sitting in with
local country bands to gain experience and was still attending school, in San
Diego, when she teamed up with a quintet of teenage instrumentalists named the
Originals. She wrote the lyrics for "Angel Baby" as a poem for her very first boyfriend when she was 14 years
old, still attending Mission Bay High School in San Diego, California.
make it. After taking the master to a Kresge's department store in downtown San Diego, they convinced a manager to play it in the listening booth of the store's music department.
The song received positive reactions from teenage
listeners, and a scout from Highland Records offered the group a recording
contract, under the condition that the company take possession of the master
recording, and that David Ponce be named as the author of the song, as he was
the eldest member of the group. Hamlin along with her band performed six shows
with Jackie Wilson at the Brooklyn Paramount Theatre in New York City in late
1960.
"Angel Baby", which featured Hamlin's noted
soprano vocals,
made its radio debut in November 1960, before the group had even received their contract; the track was also played on K-Day Radio from disc jockey Alan Freed. When the group formally established a contract, Hamlin found that she was ineligible to collect record royalties from the song because she was not listed as the songwriter. This led to the group's break-up, and although Hamlin secured the copyright to her music in 1961, decades of battles over royalties followed. "Angel Baby" charted at number 5 on the Billboard Singles Chart.On March 30, 1961, Hamlin appeared with Rosie and the Originals on Dick Clark's American Bandstand, performing "Lonely Blue Nights", making her the first Latina to appear on the
series.
made its radio debut in November 1960, before the group had even received their contract; the track was also played on K-Day Radio from disc jockey Alan Freed. When the group formally established a contract, Hamlin found that she was ineligible to collect record royalties from the song because she was not listed as the songwriter. This led to the group's break-up, and although Hamlin secured the copyright to her music in 1961, decades of battles over royalties followed. "Angel Baby" charted at number 5 on the Billboard Singles Chart.On March 30, 1961, Hamlin appeared with Rosie and the Originals on Dick Clark's American Bandstand, performing "Lonely Blue Nights", making her the first Latina to appear on the
series.
Rosie and the Originals were also was one of the opening
acts for the Rolling Stones at a 1964 concert at San Diego's Balboa Park Bowl.
The show's promoter told the San Diego Reader he paid Rosie and the Originals
$500, but only $400 for the Stones.
Hamlin retired from the music industry after her marriage
to guitarist Noah Tafolla. The couple had two children. Joey Tafolla, and
Deborah (b. 1964). She returned to record singles in 1969 and again in 1973,
performing occasionally throughout the 1970s and 1980s and more regularly
throughout the 1990s and 2000s, which included performances at Madison Square Garden in 2002. She then formally retired from performing due to advanced fibromyalgia. She spent her retirement painting and tending her lovely garden.
throughout the 1990s and 2000s, which included performances at Madison Square Garden in 2002. She then formally retired from performing due to advanced fibromyalgia. She spent her retirement painting and tending her lovely garden.
Hamlin died in her sleep of undisclosed causes on March
30, 2017 at her home in New Mexico. Her family confirmed she had suffered
health problems in her later life which prevented her from performing live.
(Edited mainly from Wikipedia)
Rosie Hamlin singing Angel Baby live on an oldies TV
special. She still sounds great. This song was released in December of 1960 and
became a hit. This performance was in 2002.
8 comments:
For “The Best of Rosie & the Originals” go here:
https://www89.zippyshare.com/v/ccU0DpWc/file.html
1. Angel Baby (US VERSION)
2. I'm So Young
3. A Thousand Stars
4. Lonely Blue Nights
5. There's No Other (Like My Baby)
6. The One Who Really Loves You
7. Confidential
8. Why Did You Leave Me
9. Angel From Above
10. My Darling Forever
11. We'll Have A Chance
12. Happy Happy Birthday Baby
13. Angel Baby (1999 RE-RECORDING)
14. You're No Good
15. Guess Who
16. Lonely Blue Nights
17. I Found a Dream
18. Give Me Love
19. No Other Love Will Ever Do
20. Just Because
21. It's Time To Go Home
22. The Time Is Near
23. Angel Baby (UK VERSION)
Compiled for the first time on CD by Ace in 1999, The Best Of Rosie & The Originals includes all the Highland recordings, the cream of her Brunswick sides and ten previously unissued titles.
Many thanks for presenting so much forgotten music, I really enjoy learning more about the musicians and singers from days gone.
Thank you.
The Best of Rosie & the Originals Zippy DL link down, can you PLEASE re-Up..?? THANKS..!!
Hj Mel, Here's Rosie,,,,,
https://www.upload.ee/files/12370236/Rosie_-__Best_Of.rar.html
many thanks bop .. ve been looking for that album
For the very first time I just heard the Song Angel Baby. And I was smitten.
Glad to see you have this hard to find album.
Need a favor for a re-up.
Thanks BB
-D
Hello Denis, Sorry for the delay, but I eventually found it....
https://mega.nz/file/t3ZxGJ4a#MK4yF9-WcscBGgpSCfXveswUi90NOonpkRO9oJ9oHAg
Never a problem BB. You are a wealth of music past.
Good one to chill with today being a big holiday weekend here in The States, Memorial Day.
Have a great week friend.
Thanks,
- D
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