AccuRadio Song Of The Day-Rosie and the Originals

Artist:Rosie and the Originals

Song:Angel Baby

Album:Rock & Roll U.S.A. Vol. 2

Angel Baby was a top five hit in 1961. They were prevented from being much bigger by predatory record company contracts and attempts to hijack the song from lead singer and songwriter Rosie Hamlin. She was born July 21, 1945 in Klamath Falls, OR but she grew up in Anchorage, AK and then the San Diego suburb of National City, CA. Her father was a vaudeville performer. Her mother was Mexican. Rosie learned to play piano as a child. By age 13, Rosie was singing with a band and she wrote Angel Baby for her first boyfriend. Rosie and her friends recorded the song. After the record was played at a listening booth in a San Diego Kresge's store, Highland Records came calling and that's when the shenanigans started. They offered the group a record contract on the condition that they own the masters and the oldest member of the group David Ponce got the songwriting credit. They obviously thought they could get away with this because Rosie was underage. Rosie and the Originals opened for Jackie Wilson and appeared on American Bandstand. Angel Baby reached #5 on the Billboard Hot 100. As Highland was about to sell their contract to the much larger Brunswick Records, Rosie discovered she could not collect songwriting royalties as she was not listed as the songwriter. The legal action Rosie took to secure her copyright led to the split of Rosie and the Originals. Rosie signed a solo deal with Brunswick and released the 1961 album Lonely Blue Nights. Rosie wrote the songs with husband Noah Tafolla. When the album was unsuccessful, Rosie quit the music business. Rosie got some attention when John Lennon said in a 1969 interview how much he loved her voice. He recorded Angel Baby for his 1975 album Rock 'n' Roll but it was not released until 1986. Rosie returned to music in the 90s and toured the oldies circuit. Ace Records has attempted to release a Rosie and the Originals comp. But it has a lot of filler. So I recommend this Laurie Records various artists budget comp to get Angel Baby. Rosie Hamlin died on Mar. 30, 2017 at age 71. Here's Rosie Hamlin performing Angel Baby on a 2002 PBS oldies special.