Chan Romero
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Chan Romero | |
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Background information | |
Birth name | Robert Lee Romero |
Born | Billings, Montana, U.S. | July 7, 1941
Died | April 21, 2024 | (aged 82)
Genres | Rock and roll |
Occupations | Singer, musician, songwriter |
Instruments | Guitar, vocals |
Years active | 1959–1966 |
Labels | Del-Fi Records |
Robert Lee "Chan" Romero (July 7, 1941 – April 21, 2024) was an American rock and roll performer, best known for his 1959 song "Hippy Hippy Shake".[1]
Early life
[edit]Romero was born in Billings, Montana. His father was of Spanish and Apache descent, while his mother was a mixture of Mexican, Cherokee, and Irish. Both had migrated to Montana during the Great Depression, seeking employment as migrant farm workers. The nickname "Chan" was bestowed on Romero by his grandfather. Since Romero often ran around without footwear, the nickname, from a Spanish phrase meaning "little boy with pig's feet" seemed appropriate.
Career
[edit]Romero said Elvis Presley's 1956 performance of "Hound Dog" on The Steve Allen Show was a turning point in his life. He hitchhiked to East Los Angeles, California, in 1958 while still a teenager, where he wrote "Hippy Hippy Shake" and launched his career. An uncle introduced Romero and his music to an A&R representative from Specialty Records: Sonny Bono. Bono was particularly taken with a song called "My Little Ruby" and asked Romero to polish the song and to return in a few weeks. But since Romero needed to return to school in Montana, he never returned to Specialty.
Romero's career skyrocketed with the release of "Hippy Hippy Shake" in July 1959. Released first in North America and later in Australia and the UK, it soon came to the attention of Paul McCartney who liked the song and sang it at the Cavern Club in Liverpool and the Star Club in Hamburg during his early years with The Beatles. It also did well enough in Australia for Romero to do a tour there with Jerry Lee Lewis. The 1964 version by The Swinging Blue Jeans hit number one across Europe.[2]
Romero became the first Latino to be inducted into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame.[3]
Personal life
[edit]Romero's work bore a resemblance to that of Ritchie Valens, and the two ended up on the same record label. After Valens died in a plane crash, Romero was introduced to Valens' grieving mother, with whom Romero became close. Her home served as Romero's home during his visits to Los Angeles; he slept in Valens' bedroom. He remained close to the Valens family and performed at the Ritchie Valens memorial concert held yearly in Pacoima, California.
Romero's first visit to Palm Springs, California in 1964 inspired him to make the area his home. In later life, he still resided in the area and divided his time between Palm Springs and Billings.[3] Romero's daughter stated in 2023 that Chan no longer received royalties for his music.[3]
Romero died on April 21, 2024, at the age of 82.[4][5][6]
Discography
[edit]Albums
[edit]Title | Note |
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Hip Shakin' Chan Romero | [7] |
Bought with a Price |
Singles
[edit]A-side | B-side | Year | Note |
---|---|---|---|
"Hippy Hippy Shake" | "If I Had a Way" | 1959 | [7] |
"I Don't Care Now" | "My Little Ruby" | 1959 | |
"Funny Things" | "Funny Things" | 1965 | |
"Humpy Bumpy" | "Humpy Bumpy" | 1966 |
References
[edit]- ^ Candelaria, Cordelia; García, Peter J.; Aldama, Arturo J. (2004). Encyclopedia of Latino popular culture. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 137. ISBN 978-0-313-33210-4. Retrieved April 19, 2011.
- ^ "Chan Romero Discography". Discogs.com. July 7, 1941. Retrieved April 13, 2016.
- ^ a b c "Still shakin': Billings native Chan Romero reminisces on rock 'n' roll career". Q2 News (KTVQ). March 16, 2023. Retrieved May 14, 2023.
- ^ Williams, Richard (April 22, 2024). "Chan Romero 1941–2024". The Blue Moment. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
- ^ "Billings native Chan Romero, who wrote 'The Hippy Hippy Shake', dies at 82". KTVQ. April 22, 2024. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
- ^ "Chan Romero, musician who had a hit with the rock'n'roll classic Hippy Hippy Shake – obituary". The Telegraph. May 1, 2024. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
- ^ a b "Chan Romero". Discogs. Retrieved May 14, 2023.