Artist:Bobby HelmsSong:Jingle Bell Rock
Album:1960s Christmas
Yeah, I know it's not Christmas yet but I always get asked about Christmas songs and Jingle Bell Rock was a monster hit in 1957 and a perennial holiday favourite and I don't think most folks are familiar with country singer Bobby Helms. He was born Aug. 15,1933 in Blommington, IN. He grew up in bluegrass and played in his father Fred Helms' group Monroe County Jamboree and then performed with his brother Freddie as the Helms Brothers. He was noticed when he sang backup on an Ernest Tubb session in 1956 and Tubb recommended Helms to Decca Records. Helms' second single My Special Angel crossed over to the pop charts and reached #7 in Oct. 1957. But I don't think anyone knew how massive Jingle Bell Rock would become. It was released two days before Christmas but still reached #6 on the pop charts. But its strength is as a Christmas perennial and the song still gets airplay today. 1960s Christmas is a various artists CD including Brenda Lee, The Temptations, Ray Charles and others. It's a budget release on Warner Special Products and I'm not sure if it is still available. Bobby Helms continued to do well in the country market and died on June 19, 1997 at age 63. Here's a video of Jingle Bell Rock by Bobby Helms.
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