Dan Hamilton (musician)

Dan Hamilton
Birth name Daniel Robert Hamilton
Born (1946-06-01)June 1, 1946
Spokane, Washington, United States
Died December 23, 1994(1994-12-23) (aged 48)
California, United States
Genres
Occupation(s) Musician, bandleader, singer
Instruments Guitar
Labels
Associated acts The Avantis
The Ventures
The T-Bones
Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds
Hamilton Brothers[1]

Dan Hamilton was a musician who played in The Ventures during the 1960s. He was a member of The T-Bones with his brother Judd Hamilton, and later lead singer of the soft-rock group Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds. He also composed the hit "Fallin' in Love". Hamilton also has a place in history with surf music.

Background

Hamilton was a martial artist and reached the level or 3rd degree black belt.[2]

Early life

Dan Hamilton was born on June 1, 1946, in Spokane, Washington. He was the younger brother of Judd Hamilton.[3]

Career

1960s

Hamilton became a musician at the age of 16 and was a songwriter and session musician.[4]

In 1963, he was a member of The Avantis. The group was made up of Mexican-Americans brothers, Pat and Lolly Vegas who were from The Fresno, California, Hamilton and drummer Mike Kowalski. When the brothers came to LA, Pat said to his brother Lolly that they needed a new guitarist. Lolly said to his brother that they didn't and Pat replied "Maybe we do". Then Hamilton joined. The group became a support act for the Beach Boys. Later in 1963 the group changed their name and were going by the name of Pat & Lolly Vegas, and Pat & Lolly worked as the house band of LA's Haunted House Nightclub.[5][6]

He composed the song "Diamond Head," which has been covered by The Ventures,[7] Aqua Velvets,[8] and Susan & The Surftones.[9] For the week ending March 13, 1965, "Diamond Head had moved up two notches from #4 to #2 in the Hong Kong Top Ten.[10] The following week it had reached #1 there.[11] The song became Japan's first million-seller and sold more than 1,850,000 copies there. It was a hit in Iran and got to #70 in the US.[12]

Following the success of "Diamond Head", Hamilton had the encouragement to write more songs for the group. The songs included "Escape" which was originally called "Target", "Wild And Wooly", "Kandy Koncoction", "The Gallop" and "No Exit".

Two of his compositions - "Bullseye" and "No Exit" - were recorded by Mel Taylor and the Magics and appear on the In Action! album which was released in 1966.[13]

Around 1966, he was a member of The T-Bones. After leaving The T-Bones, Dan Hamilton along with Joe Frank Carollo and Tommy Reynolds, also members of The T-Bones, played the clubs around Los Angeles. They were called The Brothers.[14]

1970s

In 1970, Hamilton and Tommy Reynolds co-founded Hamilton Joe Frank & Reynolds with Joe Frank Carollo. They had a million dollar smash hit with "Don't Pull Your Love".[15] Hamilton was the guitarist and main songwriter for the group. Along with Ann Hamilton, he co-composed the hit "Fallin' in Love" which was a hit for HJF&R, reaching #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1975. It was later a hit for La Bouche in 1996 with their version reaching #35 in the Hot 100.[16]

In Hamilton's final years, he and his brother were recording a country music album as The Hamilton Brothers.[17]

Death

Hamilton died on December 23, 1994 at the age of 48 of complications from Cushing's syndrome.[18]

Later years

In 2012, Hamilton's widow Fredricka Hamilton successfully sued Henry Marx and his Music Force publishing co., and were awarded $562,317 in revenue from the song "Fallin' in Love".[19]

References

  1. ↑ The Music of Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds, By Robert Reynolds - Page 14
  2. ↑ Songfacts - Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds
  3. ↑ The Music of Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds, By Robert Reynolds - Page 14
  4. ↑ Rock Obituaries: Knocking On Heaven's Door, By Nick Talevski - Page 240 Dan Hamilton
  5. ↑ 45Cat - Artist: The Avantis (Los Angeles), Label: Sundazed / Chancellor Catalogue: S 287
  6. ↑ Written in Music, 22 februari 2017 - Pat ‘Redbone’ Vegas heeft nog steeds een droom - Ans van Heck
  7. ↑ AllMusic - The Ventures, Surfin' Guitars
  8. ↑ AllMusic - Aqua Velvets, Radio Waves, Track Listing - Disc 1
  9. ↑ Discogs - Susan & The Surftones – All The Beat... Live!!! All The Best
  10. ↑ Billboard, March 13, 1965 - Page 22 Billboard Hits of the World, Hong Kong
  11. ↑ Billboard, March 20, 1965 - Page 22 Billboard Hits of the World, Hong Kong
  12. ↑ Walk-Don't Run - The Story of the Ventures, By Del Halterman - Page 116
  13. ↑ Discogs - Mel Taylor And The Magics – In Action!
  14. ↑ The Vinyl Dialogues: Stories Behind Memorable Albums of the 1970s as Told by the artists, Mike Morsch - Not a law firm Self-titled Hamilton Joe Frank & Reynolds
  15. ↑ Rock Obituaries: Knocking On Heaven's Door, By Nick Talevski - Page 240
  16. ↑ Who Did It First?: Great Pop Cover Songs and Their Original Artists, By Bob Leszczak - Page 67 F
  17. ↑ Soundclick - Judd Hamilton
  18. ↑ The Billboard Book of One-hit Wonders, Wayne Jancik - Page 198
  19. ↑ The Hollywood Reporter, September 20, 2012 - Music Publisher Hit With $500,000 Jury Verdict Over '70s Hit 'Fallin' in Love' by Matthew Belloni
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