About Robert "Bumps" Blackwell By Mike Anderson

Born:May 23,1918, Seattle, Washington, USA   Date of Death:9 March 9,1985, Los Angeles, California, USA

As a musician, arranger, studio band leader, songwriter, manager and producer, Robert "Bumps" Blackwell contributions were significant to early Rock-n-Roll,  which made him a true pioneer. Some of his songs written or co-written are still popular today, "Good Golly Miss Molly", "Ready Teddy", "Rip It Up", and "Long Tall Sally" along with the beautifully produced "You Send Me," demonstrating Bumps’ extraordinary skills as a producer and arranger.

It was Bumps’ influence in Sam Cooke’s musical career that took Sam from Gospel to Pop, and Bumps’ was extremely instrumental in Little Richards’ rise to fame. Notwithstanding, Bumps’ was associated with some of the top talent over the years, such as: Quincy Jones, who not only was in Bumps’ youth band in Seattle, but learned the art of producing from Bumps. Bumps was producing long before Quincy. But others such as; Ray Charles, Herb Albert, Lou Adler, Sly and the Family Stone, Sonny Bono, Big Joe Turner, Bob Dylan, Redbone, Phil Spector, Bessie Griffith, Wynona Carr, Preston Epps, Lloyd Price, Guitar Slim, The Chamber Bros., Jimi Hendricks, Billy Preston, Don and Dewey, Carol Kaye, Jewel Akens, Lou Rawls, The Valiants, Earl Palmer, Larry Williams, Thelma Houston, Tom Reed and Clint Eastwood. And to the many Artists that never made stardom, his wisdom, influence and mentoring in the music industry help provide the creative foundation they have today.

Bumps’ accomplishments are far too many to list, but to all of us whose lives he touched, we will be forever grateful for the opportunity to have felt his influence.

In closing, "Bumps" Blackwell was one of those stars that come only once in awhile, a pioneer and visionary ahead of his time.

As co-writer and producer:

    * 1956 "Long Tall Sally" (Blackwell/Johnson/Penniman) - Little Richard, US Pop #6, UK Pop #3
    * 1956 "Ready Teddy" (Blackwell/Marascalco) - Little Richard, US Pop #44
    * 1956 "Rip It Up" " (Blackwell/Marascalco) - Little Richard, US Pop #17, UK Pop #30
    * 1958 "Good Golly, Miss Molly" (Blackwell/Marascalco) - Little Richard, US Pop #10, UK Pop #8

 As producer:

    * 1957 "You Send Me" (Sam Cooke), US Pop #1, UK Pop #29
    * 1981 "Shot of Love" (Bob Dylan)