 Howard and David continue to prove that the trail they’ve
ridden to fame has been as unique as their music itself—music that is now
celebrating 30 years of success.
The road that started on the pop music charts in the ‘70’s, took a winding turn
into country music in the ‘80’s, paving the way for duos to come, such as Brooks
& Dunn, Montgomery Gentry, Big & Rich, and previously—The Judds. But before the
road forked into country, the musical odyssey of brothers Bellamy started
creatively smoldering in their home state of Florida, before exploding
nationally amidst the ’70’s pop music culture of L.A.
The brothers first official gig was in 1968, playing a free show with their
father at the Rattlesnake Roundup in San Antonio, Florida. They honed their
early skills playing black clubs throughout the south, and singing backup for
artists such as Percy Sledge, Eddie Floyd, and Little Anthony & The Imperials.
Within a few months, the brothers moved north, immersing themselves and their
rock/country sound in the Atlanta market, where the Allman Brothers were the
emerging kings of the music world.
With the dawning of the Age of Aquarius on the horizon, and America embroiled in
a smoke haze of drugs, civil unrest and an unpopular war, The Bellamy's music
picked-up the hard driving edge that bespoke the times. Songwriting had become
David Bellamy’s drug of choice during the long road gigs he and Howard were
regularly pulling bodies and equipment to and from. It was his songwriting that
was posed to soon provide the duo a national breakout.
The break came in the form of the hit, “Spiders & Snakes,” written by David and
recorded by Jim Stafford. The song became a smash, eventually selling more than
three million units worldwide. It became the catapult that rocketed the brother
onto the L.A. music scene. Young and impressionable, Howard and David fell into
the musical circle of the greats of the day: Bob Dylan, James Taylor, and Van
Morrison, as well as West Coast based country rockers like Poco and the Byrds.
David and Howard’s latest effort has been the corroboration with thirty or more
guest artists from all genres of music recording their vocals on over twenty of
the Bellamy’s greatest hits plus three new selections. The release of “Angels &
Outlaws - Volume One” (Curb/Bellamy Brothers Records) features such songs and
artists as “You Ain’t Just Whistlin’ Dixie” with Alan Jackson; “Old Hippie” with
Montgomery Gentry; and “If I Said You Had a Beautiful Body” with none other than
Ms. Dolly Parton (whose interpretation makes it sound new all over again). Cuts
from Volume One have charted here as well as in Europe. (As reported, “The
Bellamy Brothers Country Music Duo makes history by scoring the Top 3 Slots on
Europe’s Hotdisc Chart.”) Willie Nelson, George Jones, Tanya Tucker and many
more also contributed their talents to this CD proving these hits from the past
still resonate today. Once again, The Bellamy’s “Let Their Hits Flow.” Stay
tuned for Volume II and another 30 years.
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