Bobby Bloom

Robert "Bobby" Bloom (January 15, 1946 ^[1] – February 28, 1974) was an American^[1] singer-songwriter. He is known best for being a one-hit wonder with the 1970 song, "Montego Bay", which was co-written with and produced by Jeff Barry.

Biography

In the early 1960s, Bloom had been a member of the doo-wop group, The Imaginations. He received a big break in 1969 when he was awarded a contract to write and record a jingle for Pepsi, paving the way for his later success with "Montego Bay." He also played a role as a songwriter for the Kama Sutra/Buddah group of labels,^[2] co-writing "Mony Mony" for Tommy James and the Shondells and, with Jeff Barry, "Sunshine" for The Archies.

Bloom worked as a sound engineer for musicians such as Louis Jordan and Shuggie Otis.^[2] Bloom often recorded demos of his songs at the recording studio of MAP City Records, owned by friends Peter Anders and Vincent “Vini” Poncia Jr., with chief engineer Peter H. Rosen^[3] at the controls. Early solo projects included "Love Don't Let Me Down" and "Count on Me."^[2]

The recordings that followed his success with "Montego Bay" in 1970, "Heavy Makes You Happy," which became a hit for the Staple Singers in 1971, "Where Are We Going" and The Bobby Bloom Album all used the same combination of pop, calypso, and rock.^[2]

Death

Having suffered from depression towards the end of his life, Bloom died on February 28, 1974 in an accidental shooting at the age of 28.^[2] He apparently shot himself while cleaning his gun. The surviving members of Bloom's family did not believe Bloom would have shot himself, and the investigation never followed up on leads.^[4] Jeff Barry was surprised to find out afterwards that he was the sole beneficiary of Bloom's life insurance policy.^[5]

Discography

Albums

• The Bobby Bloom Album (L&R Records, 1970), reached #126 in the U.S. Billboard 200 chart,^[6] and contained the following tracks:

1. "Careful Not to Break the Spell"
2. "Heavy Makes You Happy (Sha-Na-Boom-Boom)"
3. "Try a Little Harder"
4. "Oh, I Wish You Knew"
5. "Fanta"
6. "Heidi"
7. "This Thing I've Gotten Into"
8. "A Little on the Heavy Side"
9. "Brighten Your Flame"
10. "Give 'Em a Hand"
11. "Montego Bay"

• Where Are We Going (Buddah, 1971)

1. "Where Are We Going"
2. "Cracks In The Sidewalk"
3. "It's Love That Really Counts"
4. "Count On Me"
5. "Was I Dreamin'"
6. "Baby, Baby,"
7. "Valerie"
8. "Love Don't Let Me Down"
9. "Where Is The Woman"
10. "Pirates And Western Villians"
11. "Jill"
12. "The Game Can Be So Rough"

Singles

• "Montego Bay" (1970) U.S. Billboard Hot 100 #8, UK #3
• "Heavy Makes You Happy" (1970) - UK #31
• "Where Are We Going" (1971) - U.S. #84

^{[1] [7]}

See also

• List of 1970s one-hit wonders in the United States
• List of performers on Top of the Pops

References