The “Golden Hits Of The 50s” 

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Hollywood Flames  

“BUZZ-BUZZ-BUZZ“

(J. Gray, Robert “BOBBY DAY’ Byrd)

Ebb 119

No. 11    January 27, 1958

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“The Flames originated in 1949, when we were all in our teens.  We met at the Largo Theatre in Watts.

in Los Angeles at a talent show,”Flames leader Bobby Byrd said in an article for Yesterdays Memories.

 “There were about 10-15 lead singers there, so the owner suggested that we get together to form several

groups.”

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Byrd (bass) circulated and wound up with David Ford (tenor) and Willie Ray Rockwell (second tenor).

After the show was over, the guys decided to remain together, and so the Flames were born.  Curley

Dinkins (baritone) was added, and the group started working the club scene.   Success was definitely

not an over-night operation: singles appeared on Selective, Specialty, Spin, Unique, and Recorded in

Hollywood.

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In 1953, Rockwell left to join THURSTON HARRIS’ group, the Lamplighters, and was replaced by

Leon Hughes; Hughes left to sing with the Coasters, and was replaced in turn by ex-Platter Gaynell

Hodge.  That same year, the group signed with Aladdin; Dinkins left shortly thereafter, but only

momentarily.  His brief replacement was Curtis Williams (who moved on the following year to form

THE PENGUINS and write “Earth Angel”).  After Aladdin, the Flames recorded more golden greats for

the Lucky, Swingtime, Decca, Hollywood, and Money labels.  The various companies released the

group’s records under an array of names–the Flames, the 4 Flames, the Hollywood 4 Flames, the

Hollywood Flames, the Eddtides, the Jets,  the Satellites, and the Tangiers.

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“We were very popular all over Los Angeles, but we just didn’t have a hit record,” Byrd wrote.   Hodge

left in 1957, and his shoes were filled by Earl Nelson.    Earl would later record as half of the Bob & Earl

team (originators of the “Harlem Shuffle”), and also charted in 1965 as JACKIE LEE.  Like Hodge, Byrd

also left the Flames in 1957, after waxing “Buzz-Buzz-Buzz.”

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“That was my song  and Earl sang lead,” Byrd explained.  “I wrote and arranged it and the financing

came from John Dolphin.  He sold the song to Lee Rupe, who was the ex-wife of Specialty Records’ Art

Rupe, and the owner of Ebb Records.

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“When the song became a hit, I found out I didn’t have any publishing  rights and only half the writer

credit.  Dolphin admitted he owed me $6, 000, but he was killed before I could get any of it.”  Less than

a year later, Byrd, recording as BOBBY DAY, got his just due when his “Rockin’ Robin” (#2) b/w “Over

And Over” (#41) became a double-sided smash.

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The Flames would continue for another ten years, with their line-up changing  more rapidly than the

seasons.   Never again, despite flashes of high-quality music, would the group win its place on the pop

charts.

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Bobby Day died of cancer, July 15, 1990.