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Hal Blaine (born Harold Simon Belsky 5 February 1929, Holyoke, Massachusetts) is an American drummer and session musician. He is most known for his work with the Wrecking Crew in California. Blaine played on numerous hits by popular groups, including Elvis Presley, Simon & Garfunkel, The Carpenters and the Beach Boys. Blaine is a member of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
Grammy AwardsA little known Grammy Awards record is held by Blaine who played on 6 consecutive Record of the Year winners:
- Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass in 1966 for "A Taste of Honey";
- Frank Sinatra in 1967 for "Strangers in the Night";
- The 5th Dimension in 1968 for "Up, Up and Away";
- Simon & Garfunkel in 1969 for "Mrs. Robinson";
- The 5th Dimension in 1970 for "Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In"; and
- Simon & Garfunkel in 1971 for "Bridge Over Troubled Water".
1.2. 1 hits- "Can't Help Falling in Love" - Elvis Presley (12/18/61)
- "He's a Rebel" - The Crystals (10/06/62)
- "Surf City" - Jan & Dean (06/22/63)
- "I Get Around" - The Beach Boys (06/06/64)
- "Everybody Loves Somebody" - Dean Martin (07/11/64)
- "Ringo" - Lorne Greene (11/07/64)
- "This Diamond Ring" - Gary Lewis & the Playboys (01/23/65)
- "Help Me, Rhonda" - The Beach Boys (05/01/65)
- "Mr Tambourine Man" - The Byrds (06/05/65)
- "I Got You Babe" - Sonny & Cher (07/31/65)
- "Eve of Destruction" - Barry McGuire (08/28/65)
- "My Love" - Petula Clark (01/15/66)
- "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'" - Nancy Sinatra (02/05/66)
- "Monday Monday" - The Mamas & the Papas (04/16/66)
- "Strangers in the Night" - Frank Sinatra (07/02/66)
- "Poor Side of Town" - Johnny Rivers (10/08/66)
- "Good Vibrations" - The Beach Boys (10/29/66)
- "Somethin' Stupid" - Frank & Nancy Sinatra (03/25/67)
- "The Happening" - The Supremes (04/15/67)
- "Windy" - The Association (06/03/67)
- "Mrs
. Robinson" - Simon & Garfunkel (05/04/68)
- "Dizzy" - Tommy Roe (03/15/69)
- "Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In" - The 5th Dimension (04/12/69)
- "Love Theme - Romeo & Juliet" - Henry Mancini (05/24/69)
- "Wedding Bell Blues" - The 5th Dimension (10/04/69)
- "Bridge Over Troubled Water" - Simon & Garfunkel (02/14/70)
- "(They Long to Be) Close to You" - The Carpenters (06/27/70)
- "Cracklin' Rosie" - Neil Diamond (08/29/70)
- "Indian Reservation" - Paul Revere & the Raiders (05/29/71)
- "I Think I Love You" - The Partridge Family (10/31/71)
- "Song Sung Blue" - Neil Diamond (05/13/72)
- "Half Breed" - Cher (09/01/73)
- "Annie's Song" - John Denver (06/15/74)
- "Top of the World" - The Carpenters (10/20/74)
- "The Way We Were" - Barbra Streisand (12/22/74)
- "Thank God I'm a Country Boy" - John Denver (04/05/75)
- "Love Will Keep Us Together" - Captain & Tennille (05/24/75)
- "I'm Sorry"/"Calypso" - John Denver (08/30/75)
- "Theme from Mahogany (Do You Know Where You're Going To)" - Diana Ross (11/22/76)
Additional factsBlaine recorded an all-instrumental album in 1965 entitled Psychedelic Percussion with Paul Beaver. Its 12 tracks each represented one month of the year.
In 1965, the Beach Boys and Dean Torrence of Jan and Dean recorded an off-the-cuff cover version of The Regents' 1961 hit song, "Barbara Ann". It was released as a 45 rpm single and on the Beach Boys Party LP in 1965. During the hectic instrumental break, one of the singers can be heard shouting off-mike, "It's Hal and His Famous Ashtrays!". This is a reference to Blaine, who was playing percussion at the session, and who accompanied this improvised song by drumming on a pair of overturned glass ashtrays.
In March 2000, Hal Blaine was one of the first five sidemen inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. (One of the other inductees was Hal's long-time friend and drumming colleague, Earl Palmer.)
Hal's trademark lick was a quarter-note triplet played on two toms simultaneously, typically played during the out chorus of a song. Drummer Max Weinberg once wrote about how he would occasionally throw that lick into one or another of Bruce Springsteen's songs; every time he played the lick, Bruce would yell out "Hal Blaine!" in joyful recognition.
Hal's long-time drum tech is Rick Faucher, who has also worked with Jim Keltner and many other L.A. studio drummers.
Copyright Citations
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