Bobby Helms
Though his name is unfamiliar to most, Bobby Helms rules the airwaves every year around December 25th. His single "Jingle Bell Rock" first became a hit in 1957, and it reappeared on the charts four of the following five years to become an all-time Christmas classic. Before he was pigeonholed, though, Helms had a successful country career with two number one hits to his credit.
Born on August 15, 1933, in Bloomington, IN, Helms first performed on his father Fred's Monroe County Jamboree, singing while brother Freddie played guitar. The Helms Brothers, as they were billed, became a regional attraction. Bobby later cut a single called "Tennessee Rock and Roll," but then returned to Bloomington to appear on the Hayloft Frolic television show. While on the program, he was encouraged to go to Nashville to sing background vocals on an Ernest Tubb session. Tubb recommended him to Decca Records, and the label signed him in 1956. His debut single, "Fraulein," initially flopped in January 1957 but then hit number one on the country chart in April. (The song also hit the pop Top 40 in July of 1957.) In October, Helms released another number one, "My Special Angel," which stayed four weeks at the top and crossed over to number seven pop.
Helms' next recording was "Jingle Bell Rock"; though Decca released it only two days before Christmas 1957, the single still peaked at number six on the pop chart. Two 1958 singles -- "Just a Little Lonesome" and "Jacqueline" -- hit the country Top Ten but flopped elsewhere, though a reissue of "Jingle Bell Rock" made the pop Top 40. The country single "Lonely River Rhine" hit the Top 20 in 1960, but subsequent new material from Helms had little success. (Decca reissued his Christmas hit each year from 1960 to 1962 with diminishing returns.)
Helms toured throughout the '60s and recorded two albums for Kapp in 1966, I'm the Man and Sorry My Name Isn't Fred -- a nod either to brother Freddie or father Fred. Two years later, he released All New Just for You on the Little Darlin' label. Several singles placed modestly on the country charts during 1967-1968, including "He Thought He'd Die Laughing" and "So Long." The 1970 Certron single "Mary Goes 'Round" was his last hit, but Helms recorded Pop-a-Billy for MCA as late as 1983.
© John Bush /TiVo
Similar artists
-
Jingle Bell Rock (English Version)
Christmas Music - Released by Jingle Bell Rock Music on 14 Aug 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Jingle Bell Rock (English Version)
Christmas Music - Released by Jingle Bell Rock Music on 14 Aug 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Jingle Bell Rock (English - Hindi Version)
Christmas Music - Released by Jingle Bell Rock Music on 15 Sep 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Jingle Bell Rock (English - Croatian Version)
Christmas Music - Released by Jingle Bell Rock Music on 15 Sep 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Soldiers Prayer
Pop - Released by Jingle Bell Rock Music on 1 Apr 2024
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
My Special Angel
Pop - Released by Jingle Bell Rock Music on 4 Mar 2024
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
-
-
The Sweet Sixties
Pop - Released by The Sweet Sixties on 3 Jul 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Essential Collection
Pop - Released by Essential Collection on 6 Nov 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Best of Bobby Helms (Vintage Charm)
Rock - Released by Don't stop the music on 25 Feb 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
My Magic Christmas Songs (Remastered)
Jazz - Released by Happy Holidays Recordings on 9 Dec 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
My Music My Mood My Soul (Remastered)
Pop - Released by Classics Works Recordings on 9 Dec 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
The Magic Song - Bobby Helms
Rock - Released by ISIS on 2 Feb 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
All the Best Tracks (Remastered)
Rock - Released by Classics Works Recordings on 20 Aug 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Time Songs Imagination (Remastered)
Jazz - Released by Time Songs Imagination Music Rec on 8 Dec 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Frauleins, Jacquelines and Special Angels
Country - Released by Jasmine Records on 13 Dec 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo