Robert Gaston Fuller (October 22, 1942 – July 18, 1966)
was an American rock singer, songwriter, and guitarist best known for "Let
Her Dance" and "I Fought the Law", recorded with his group The
Bobby Fuller Four.
Born in Baytown, Texas, Fuller had a maternal older half
brother, Jack, and a younger brother, Randy. Fuller moved as a small child to
Salt Lake City, Utah, where he remained until 1956, when he and his family
moved to El Paso, Texas. His father got a job at El Paso Natural Gas at that
time. It was the same year that Elvis Presley became popular, and Bobby Fuller
became mesmerized by the new rock and roll star. Fuller soon adopted the style
of fellow Texan Buddy Holly, fronting a four-man combo and often using original
material.
During the early 1960s, he played in clubs and bars in El
Paso, and he recorded on independent record labels in Texas with a constantly
changing line-up. The only constant band members were Fuller and his younger
brother, Randy Fuller (born on January 29, 1944, in Hobbs, New Mexico) on bass.
Most of these independent releases (except two songs recorded at the studio of
Norman Petty in Clovis), and an excursion to Yucca Records, also in New Mexico,
were recorded in the Fullers' own home studio, with Fuller acting as the
producer. He even built a primitive echo chamber in the back yard. The quality
of the recordings, using a couple of microphones and a mixing board purchased from a local radio station, was so impressive that he offered the use of his "studio" to local acts for free so he could hone his production skills.
of the recordings, using a couple of microphones and a mixing board purchased from a local radio station, was so impressive that he offered the use of his "studio" to local acts for free so he could hone his production skills.
Fuller moved to Los Angeles in 1964 with his band The
Bobby Fuller Four, and was signed to Mustang Records by producer Bob Keane, who
was noted for discovering Ritchie Valens and producing many surf music groups.
By this time, the group consisted of Fuller and his brother Randy on
vocals/guitar and bass respectively, Jim Reese on guitar and
DeWayne Quirico on drums; this was the lineup that recorded "I Fought The Law". (There are actually two versions of "I Fought The Law" by Fuller: the original hit was released as a 45-rpm single, and the re-recording was issued on an album. The arrangements are identical but the vocals by Fuller are slightly different.)
DeWayne Quirico on drums; this was the lineup that recorded "I Fought The Law". (There are actually two versions of "I Fought The Law" by Fuller: the original hit was released as a 45-rpm single, and the re-recording was issued on an album. The arrangements are identical but the vocals by Fuller are slightly different.)
At a time when the British Invasion and folk rock were
the dominant genres in rock, Fuller stuck to Buddy Holly's style of classic
rock and roll with Tex Mex flourishes. His recordings, both covers and
originals, also reveal the influences of Eddie Cochran, The Beatles, Elvis
Presley, Little Richard, and The Everly Brothers, as well as surf guitar. Less
well known was Fuller's ability to emulate the reverb-laden surf guitar of Dick
Dale and The Ventures.
His first Top 40 hit was the self-penned "Let Her
Dance". His second hit, "I Fought the Law", peaked at #9 on the
Billboard Hot 100 on March 12–19, 1966. The song was originally written and
recorded by Sonny Curtis, who became a member of Buddy Holly's former group The
Crickets after Holly's death. The group's third Top 40 single was a cover of
Holly's "Love's Made a Fool of You."
Within months of "I Fought the Law" becoming a
top 10 hit, Fuller was found dead in an automobile parked outside his Hollywood
apartment. The Los Angeles deputy medical examiner, Jerry Nelson, performed the
autopsy. According to Dean Kuipers: "The report states that he found no
bruises, no broken bones, no cuts. No evidence of beating." Following
autopsy, the L.A. Country Coroner’s office classified the death as “accidental,
or suicide,” caused by “asphyxia due to inhalation of gasoline.” Despite the
official cause of death, some commentators believe Fuller was murdered.
Erik Greene, a relative of Sam Cooke, has cited
similarities in the deaths of Cooke and Fuller. Fuller bandmate Jim Reese
suspected that Charles Manson played a role in Fuller's death, but never
provided credible evidence. A sensationalist crime website has speculated that
the Los Angeles Police Department may have been involved because of Fuller's
connection to a Mafia-related woman.
Fuller was buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in the
Hollywood Hills of Los Angeles. His death was profiled in a segment of Unsolved
Mysteries.
His death was explored in the May 11, 2015 episode of the
NPR program All Things Considered. The program references the book I Fought the
Law: The Life and Strange Death of Bobby Fuller, by Miriam Linna, with
contributions by Randy Fuller.
Sometime after the Unsolved Mysteries segment in question initially aired, the cause of Fuller's death was officially changed from "suicide" to "accident. (Info Wikipedia)
Sometime after the Unsolved Mysteries segment in question initially aired, the cause of Fuller's death was officially changed from "suicide" to "accident. (Info Wikipedia)
3 comments:
For “Bobby Fuller Four - I Fought The Law (2017)” go here:
https://www34.zippyshare.com/v/i5Zosnrf/file.html
1. Let Her Dance (2:29)
2. Thunder Reef (1:47)
3. Julie (2:17)
4. A New Shade Of Blue (2:55)
5. Love's Made A Fool Of You (2:00)
6. It's Love, Come What May (2:00)
7. You Kiss Me (2:34)
8. Another Sad And Lonely Night (2:23)
9. Little Annie Lou (1:59)
10. I Fought The Law (2:18)
11. Saturday Night (1:35)
12. Take My Word (2:09)
13. Fool Of Love (2:37)
14. My True Love (2:03)
15. Never To Be Forgotten (2:56)
16. I'm A Lucky Guy (Unreleased) (2:13)
17. Don't Ever Let Me Know (2:39)
18. Our Favorite Martian (2:49)
19. Those Memories Of You (2:00)
20. She's My Girl (2:31)
21. Keep A Knockin' (1:37)
22. Pamela (Unreleased) (2:12)
23. Only When I Dream (Mono) (2:15)
24. Wolfman (2:47)
25. King Of The Wheels (2:00)
26. Baby My Heart (Unreleased Single Version) (2:15)
27. High Heel Sneakers (Live At PJ's) (3:34)
28. Money - Shakedown (Live At PJ's) (4:10)
29. The Magic Touch (Single Version) (2:50)
30. Think It Over (Unreleased) (1:45)
A big thank you to c@tbyte for original post.
BTW ~ Thanx for this, he was a great.
Thank you!
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