After winning a nationwide talent contest at the age of four and starring in the motion picture Valley of the Sun Marches On, he continued his acting career on TV in the Amos 'n Andy Shows, the Jack Benny Show, and others, making his first solo recording as Pee Wee Barnum in 1950.[1][2]
He then joined doo-wop groups The Dootones and, in 1956, The Robins (later The Coasters), for whom he played piano. In 1960, under the pseudonym "Dudley" he recorded the radio hit "El Pizza," a parody of Marty Robbins' "El Paso." In 1961 he had the only hit under his own name, the instrumental "Lost Love", and in the same year recorded the first version of "Nut Rocker", credited to Jack B. Nimble and the Quicks. He also recorded three albums as a singer-pianist during the 1960s.[1][2]
Since that time he has become most widely known as an arranger, for a very wide range of performers including Count Basie, O.C. Smith, Frank Sinatra, The Supremes, Aretha Franklin, Little Richard, Gladys Knight, Al Wilson, and the Pump Girls.[1][2] Barnum also produced, along with Johnnie Walls of JWP Productions which distributed the record, the 1985 hip-hop comedy song "Rappin' Duke." He produced "The Fish Song" by The New Creation.
H.B. Barnum had an album recorded by the Novells, a Los Angeles area band, titled, That Did It! in 1968. The album which never was properly promoted surprisingly re-emerged as an import some 40-years later when it was released in the United Kingdom in July of 2005 and again in December of 2007 by Radioactive Records.[citation needed]
H. B. Barnum is the older brother of backup singer Billie Barnum.
References
^ a b c Biography by Jason Ankent at Allmusic.org
^ a b c Biographical note at SoulWalking.com
Smokey Joe's
H.B. Barnum Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On Broadway
They say there's always magic in the air
But when you're walkin' down that street
And you ain't have enough to eat
The glitter rubs right off and you're nowhere
They say the women treat you fine
But lookin' at them just gives me the blues
How ya gonna make some time
When all you got is one thin dime
And one thin dime won't even shine your shoes
They say that I won't last too long
On Broadway
I'll catch a Greyhound bus for home they all say
But they get wrong, I know they are
'Cause I can play this here guitar
I won't quit till I'm a star
On Broadway
On Broadway
On Broadway
H.B. Barnum's song "Smokey Joe's" is a poignant reflection on the harsh realities of life on the streets of Broadway, New York City. The use of imagery in the lyrics, such as the neon lights and magic in the air, sets up the expectation of a glamorous and exciting lifestyle. However, the lyrics quickly turn to the grim reality of not having enough food to eat, and the glittery facade becoming dull and unappealing.
The lyrics touch on the objectification of women, as the singer notes how they may treat men well, but looking at them only brings him sadness. He laments not having the means to even shine his shoes, emphasizing the dire state of his financial situation. Despite this, the singer persists in his dreams of becoming a star on Broadway, using his guitar as his means of achieving success.
The chorus repeats the hopeful desire of becoming a star on Broadway, undercutting the bleakness of the verses. By using the repetition of "On Broadway," the song becomes a declaration of resilience, as the singer refuses to give up on his dreams even in the face of adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
They say the neon lights are bright
People say that the lights are bright on Broadway
On Broadway
They say there's always magic in the air
People believe that there is always a sense of magic and wonder when you're on Broadway
But when you're walkin' down that street
And you ain't have enough to eat
The glitter rubs right off and you're nowhere
However, when you're walking down the street and you're starving, the glitz and glamour fade away leaving you stranded.
They say the women treat you fine
On Broadway
But lookin' at them just gives me the blues
People believe that the women are great on Broadway, but seeing them just depresses me.
How ya gonna make some time
When all you got is one thin dime
And one thin dime won't even shine your shoes
When you only have a dime and can't even shine your shoes, how are you supposed to have any fun?
They say that I won't last too long
On Broadway
I'll catch a Greyhound bus for home they all say
People keep telling me that I won't last long on Broadway.They think I'll be riding a Greyhound bus back home soon.
But they get wrong, I know they are
'Cause I can play this here guitar
But they are wrong, I know they are because I can play this guitar so well.
I won't quit till I'm a star
On Broadway
On Broadway
On Broadway
I won't stop until I've made it big on Broadway, and nothing will stop me until then.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BARRY MANN, CYNTHIA WEIL, JERRY LEIBER, MIKE STOLLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind