They formed as The Flames in 1949, in Watts, Los Angeles, at a talent show where members of various high school groups got together. The original members were Bobby Byrd (lead), David Ford, Curlee Dinkins and Willie Ray Rockwell. Rockwell was sometimes replaced by Clyde Tillis, and Ford sometimes sang lead. Their first paying gig was at Johnny Otis's Barrelhouse Club. They first recorded in 1950 for the Selective label, and the following year, billed as The Hollywood Four Flames, released "Tabarin", a song written by Murry Wilson (father of The Beach Boys). They later recorded another Wilson song, "I'll Hide My Tears".
Over the years the group, under various names, is believed to have recorded for about nineteen different record labels, including Aladdin and Specialty. Although they had no big hits for several years, they were a successful local act in the Los Angeles area. The group also had a series of personnel changes, with Rockwell being replaced by Gaynel Hodge, and for a short while Dinkins being replaced by Curtis Williams. Hodge and Williams, with Jesse Belvin, were co-writers of The Penguins' "Earth Angel". In 1953 they released the sketch for this song "I Know" on the label Swing Time. Believed to be the first song to present the 6/8 piano-attacca known from later '50s hits such as "Only You" and "Ain't That a Shame".
By 1954, the group were usually billed as The Hollywood Flames, but also recorded as The Turks, The Jets, and The Sounds. David Ford and Gaynel Hodge recorded with Jesse Belvin and Hodge's brother Alex, as The Tangiers, before Hodge left The Hollywood Flames in 1955 to form a new version of The Turks. He was replaced by Earl Nelson, who had previously recorded with Byrd as The Voices, and with Byrd later formed the duo Bob & Earl.
In 1957, the group - Byrd, Ford, Dinkins and Nelson - signed with Class Records, where Byrd was renamed "Bobby Day". The group recorded as The Hollywood Flames, as Bobby Day & the Satellites, and as Earl Nelson & the Pelicans. In July 1957, Bobby Day & the Satellites recorded "Little Bitty Pretty One", which was covered more successfully by Thurston Harris. Later that year, The Hollywood Flames – with Nelson singing lead – released "Buzz-Buzz-Buzz", co-written by Byrd, which reached #5 on the R&B chart and #11 on the pop chart.
Byrd (alias Day) then left The Hollywood Flames, but continued to release singles, at first as Bobby Day & the Satellites, and then as a solo performer. His greatest success came in 1958 with "Rockin' Robin". On August 4, 1958, the Hollywood Flames appeared at the Apollo Theater, as part of a Dr. Jive show. Others on the show were Larry Williams, The Cadillacs, Little Anthony & the Imperials, The Skyliners, Frankie Lymon, the Clintonian Cubs, and Eugene Church.
After this, Curtis Williams quit. The new members were tenor Eddie Williams (former lead of the Aladdins) and baritone Ray Brewster who joined in 1958. (Ray had been in the Penguins in 1956 and both Eddie and Ray had been in the later Colts/Fortunes with Don Wyatt.) Then, the whole group picked up and moved to New York, after securing a contract with Atlantic Records' Atco subsidiary.
In December 1959, they had their first Atco release: "Every Day, Every Way" (led by Earl Nelson) b/w "If I Thought You Needed Me" (fronted by Eddie Williams). Atco arranged for them to appear at the Apollo Theater to push the record (the week of December 25). Others on the show were: Lloyd Price, Tarheel Slim & Little Ann, and The Five Keys. They were back at the Apollo on February 19, 1960 for another Dr. Jive show. This time they shared the stage with Johnny Nash, The Flamingos, Nappy Brown, Tiny Topsy, The Centurians, Eugene Church, Barrett Strong, Jean Sampson, and The Fidelitys.
In April 1960, Atco released "Ball And Chain" led by Earl Nelson. "I Found A Boy" was sung by Eddie Williams and an unknown female vocalist who recorded this one record with the Hollywood Flames. At the same session with Atco Ray and the Flames also recorded "Devil Or Angel" and "Do You Ever Think of Me".
The Hollywood Flames made one record for Chess out of their Chicago studio "Gee" and "Yes They Do", released in March 1961. In 1962 Ray left the Flames and became lead vocalist of the New York-based Cadillacs.
The Hollywood Flames continued to record for several more years, with a fluctuating line-up, the only constant being David Ford. The last version of the group split up around 1967. Earl Nelson, also known as Jackie Lee, died on July 12, 2008. Bobby Byrd died in 1990. (Not to be confused with the James Brown collaborator Bobby Byrd).
The song "Buzz-Buzz-Buzz" was featured in the 2001 film Blow.
Discography
Singles
Year Title Peak chart
positions Record Label B-side
US R&B
1952 "Young Girl" — — Recorded In Hollywood "The Glory of Love"
1954 "Peggy" — — Decca Records "Ooh La La"
1957 "Buzz-Buzz-Buzz" 11 5 Ebb Records "Crazy"
1958 "Strollin' on the Beach" — — "Frankenstein's Den"
"A Little Bird" — — "Give Me Back My Heart"
"Chains of Love" — — "Let's Talk It Over"
1959 "I'll Be Seeing You" — — "Just for You"
"Much Too Much" — — "In the Dark"
"So Good" — — "There Is Something on Your Mind"
"Every Day, Every Way
(I'll Always Be in Love with You)" — — Atco Records "If I Thought You Needed Me"
1960 "Ball and Chain" — — "I Found a Boy"
"Devil or Angel" — — "Do You Ever Think of Me"
"My Heart's on Fire" — — "Money Honey"
1961 "Gee" — 26 Chess Records "Yes They Do"
1962 "Elizabeth" — — Goldie Records "Believe in Me"
1963 "Drop Me a Line" — — Vee-Jay Records "Letter to My Love (Goodnight)"
1965 "Dance Senorita" — — Symbol Records "Annie Don't Love Me No More"
1966 "I'm Coming Home" — — "I'm Gonna Stand by You"
Buzz Buzz Buzz
The Hollywood Flames Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tweele, deedle, dee goes the bird
But the sound of your little voice, darling
Is the sweetest sound I've ever heard
I've seen the beauty of the red, red rose
Seen the beauty when the sky is blue
Seen the beauty of the evening sunset
But the beauty of you
Sweet as the honey from the honeycomb
Sweet are the grapes from the vine
But there's nothing as sweet as you, darling
And I hope someday you'll be mine
Well, buzz, buzz, buzz goes the bumble bee
Tweele, deedle, dee goes the bird
But the sound of your little voice, darling
Is the sweetest sound I've ever heard
I've seen the beauty of the red, red rose
Seen the beauty when the sky is blue
Seen the beauty of the evening sunset
But the beauty of you
Sweet as the honey from the honeycomb
Sweet are the grapes from the vine
But there's nothing as sweet as you, darling
And I hope someday you'll be mine
Hope someday you'll be mine
Hope someday you'll be mine
Hope someday you'll be mine
The Hollywood Flames' "Buzz Buzz Buzz" is a sweet, romantic love song that is focused on the beauty of the loved one. The lyrics use nature as a metaphor to express the singer's love appreciation for his sweetheart. The song begins by comparing the buzzing of a bumblebee and the chirping of a bird to the sound of his sweetheart's voice, which is the "sweetest sound" he's ever heard. The chorus repeats this sentiment and uses imagery to describe the beauty of his love. The singer sees the beauty of a red rose, blue sky, and sunset, but nothing compares to the beauty of his beloved.
The second stanza expands on this idea of sweetness, with the singer equating his love to the sweetness of honey and grapes. He expresses a deep desire that she will become his someday, repeating the final line of the song three times.
Overall, the song portrays a deep appreciation for the natural world and the beauty found within it, with the singer's love being the most beautiful of all.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, buzz, buzz, buzz goes the bumble bee
The sound that the bumble bee makes is a buzzing sound.
Tweele, deedle, dee goes the bird
The sound that the bird makes has a tweele, deedle, dee pattern.
But the sound of your little voice, darling
Your voice is what is being compared to the buzzing of the bee and the bird's song.
Is the sweetest sound I've ever heard
Out of all the sounds I've heard, your voice is the most pleasant to me.
I've seen the beauty of the red, red rose
I've seen the beauty in a red rose or flowers in general.
Seen the beauty when the sky is blue
I've seen the beauty in a blue sky or nature in general.
Seen the beauty of the evening sunset
I've seen the beauty of a sunset, specifically in the evening.
But the beauty of you
Your beauty is being compared to the beauty found in nature.
Sweet as the honey from the honeycomb
Honey from a honeycomb is known for being very sweet.
Sweet are the grapes from the vine
Grapes from a vine are also known for being sweet.
But there's nothing as sweet as you, darling
Your sweetness is being compared to the sweetness found in honey and grapes.
And I hope someday you'll be mine
The artist desires a romantic relationship with the person they are singing to.
Hope someday you'll be mine
The singer reiterates their desire for a romantic relationship with the person they are singing to.
Hope someday you'll be mine
The singer repeats their desire once more for emphasis.
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ROBERT BYRD, JOHN G. DOLPHIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@sauquoit13456
On this day in 1958 {January 12th} "Buzz-Buzz-Buzz" by The Hollywood Flames peaked at #11 on Billboard's 'Top 100' chart, thus just missing making the Top 10 chart...
"Buzz-Buzz-Buzz" was the Hollywood flames' only Top 100 record...
And from the 'For What It's Worth' department, the ten records that kept it out of the Top 10 were:
At #1. "At The Hop" by Danny and the Juniors
#2. "Great Balls of Fire" by Jerry Lee Lewis
#3. "Peggy Sue" by Buddy Holly
#4. "April Love" by Pat Boone
#5. "Stood Up" by Ricky Nelson
#6. "Get A Job" by The Silhouettes
#7. "The Stroll" by The Diamonds
#8. "Sugartime" by The McGuire Sisters
#9. "La Dee Dah" by Billy and Lillie
#10. "Raunchy" by Bill Justis and His Orchestra
@ryohn5468
The 1950s was the best time. America was a better country then. The cars, fashions, movies, music.
@joekauffman9690
This is an excellent song, it’s pure blues, Huey Lewis and the news brought me here, they did an excellent cover of this song
@pennyduncan6861
Me too! Big Huey fan. I danced with daughter to this song when she was little. At 24, she considers it to be part the soundtrack of her life. She chose it as one of her three songs to play during a sideshow of her life.
@eddiezigbaum5511
This is Eddie zigbaum I love this kind of music it will last for generations to come bring back all those memories
@robinhart304
Love this song, especially the horns blowing in harmony!
@darlahaines6928
We need more saxophones nowadays, and less of AGT!!
@tonyjablonski
Can't even imagine growing up in that era.. what a blast the 50's must have been. Everything coming out of the radio defined the foundation of Rock and roll as we know it. Sensational.
@thelakeman5207
Yep, the 50's was quite a hoot ! But, it was still a time of respect for parents, teachers and policemen. They said we were a bunch of wild animals. Compare our behavior to that of kids now a days. We weren't so bad, eh?
@georgephinn822
One of the true foundation of Rock N Roll - 1957 was the Year and Hollywood Flames had a Major hit on their hands with Buz Buz Buz. This IS Rock N Roll at it’s Best. It’s doesn’t get any better than this - I know I was there
@donaldjohnlong5330
Great classic R&B Doo-Wop song! Terrific echo effect and sax! This song was still on the charts in 1958.